Last 2 Positions Filled on Cigarette-Tax Commission

Orange County supervisors on Tuesday filled the final two spots on a new county commission that will oversee the millions of dollars raised by a voter-approved cigarette tax.

Appointed were Peter A. Hartman, Saddleback Valley Unified School District superintendent, and Alberto Gedissman, a pediatrician for a private medical group in Orange.

Hartman was recommended to the commission by Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer. He was appointed to a four-year term. Supervisor Cynthia Coad recommended Gedissman, whose term is two years.

Both men join a nine-member panel that has the potential to be one of the most powerful entities in the county.

Proposition 10, which voters approved last November, imposes a cigarette tax of 50 cents per pack to help fund childhood development programs. About $690 million is expected to be raised statewide in the first year. Orange County’s share is estimated at $50 million, which is more than the county allocates to its Health Care Agency.

Sixty-six candidates from community-based organizations, the education and child care fields and the medical community had applied to the commission.

Already, $606,000 has been put into a special account to establish the local commission. Funds may also be used to hire a consultant to help guide panel members through a 12-month planning process.

Other commission members include: Crystal Kochendorfer, a member of the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees; Hugh Hewitt, an attorney and television co-host; Kimberly Chavalas-Cripe, president of Children’s Hospital of Orange County; and Dr. Maria Minon, vice president of medical affairs for Children’s Hospital.

They join three members from county government: Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles V. Smith, Health Care Agency Director Don Oxley and Social Services Agency Director Larry Leaman.