Mittermeier Faces Job Review

Orange County supervisors abruptly ordered Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier to appear this afternoon for a closed-door performance evaluation that could lead to her dismissal, sources said.

Mittermeier helped fuel the most recent speculation about her future by interviewing for the deputy director’s position at Los Angeles International Airport. On Monday, she refused to address questions about the LAX job or her review.

Board Chairman Charles V. Smith, who said he found out about the LAX interview through the media, said it was Mittermeier’s own action that prompted him to place a last-minute evaluation session on the board’s agenda.

“It was precipitated by the actions over the weekend,” said Smith, who said he would “neither confirm nor deny” that Mittermeier’s departure was imminent. While he expressed displeasure upon hearing of Mittermeier’s job search, he declined to discuss the CEO’s future.

“What happens is up to the board and I can’t speculate on what that may be because I don’t know,” he said.

Sources say Mittermeier considered the LAX job after learning about a proposal that would usurp her role overseeing planning for a proposed El Toro airport. That scenario had the board creating a separate department outside Mittermeier’s jurisdiction that would handle oversight of El Toro and John Wayne Airport, sources said.

As the county Hall of Administration was abuzz Monday with speculation about the beleaguered executive officer’s fate, support came from Robert J. MacLeod, general manager of the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, in a letter sent to supervisors.

“We believe that Jan Mittermeier has done a magnificent job as the county’s chief executive officer and we would like to see her remain in that position,” MacLeod wrote. “It appears, however, that a majority of the members of the board do not agree and Ms. Mittermeier’s departure appears very likely.”

Mittermeier earns $160,000 a year and has one year left on a contract that began Sept. 25, 1998. According to County Counsel Laurence M. “Lon” Watson, Mittermeier’s contract provides for an annual review by the board. If Mittermeier is fired, she could get a severance package worth $170,000, officials said.

Mittermeier was instrumental in helping the county recover from its historic bankruptcy and has been roundly praised by Wall Street as well as by most of the supervisors for her decisive management style. But her steely resolve, bluntness and no-frills style also alienated some of her bosses.

In recent years, Mittermeier has repeatedly fought with board members over the scope of her job. Many view Mittermeier as frustrated by and weary of the recurring battle over authority and an antagonistic relationship with the board.

Two years ago, the board reduced some of Mittermeier’s powers and also changed her title from chief executive officer to county executive officer, which some saw as an admonishment.

During the county executive’s tenure, she has became a lightning rod for controversy, especially over her handling of El Toro planning. Amid the county’s stalled plans for a new commercial airport and complaints of a secretive style of management, criticism of her has been mounting.

Mittermeier has angered Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson, for example, by failing to keep them informed of major decisions, particularly relating to El Toro.

Supervisor Cynthia Coad said she respects the work that Mittermeier has accomplished but is not happy with the recent victory of Measure F, the anti-El Toro airport initiative.

The March 7 passage of Measure F, which among other things restricts the county from building a new airport without another election, sparked a new round of criticism. Mittermeier’s office was also faulted for failing to present supervisors with an analysis of the measure’s restrictions and a contingency plan for dealing with them.

“I’m disappointed with the results of Measure F, but the county should be pleased with the fact we have a strong strategic recovery plan and business plans in place,” Coad said.

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Times staff writer Jean O. Pasco also contributed to this report.

* MEASURE F AFFIRMED

Judge lets county spending limits stand. B3