Supervisors’ Disdain of the Ballot Box

Re “O.C. Bucking Voter Will on Tobacco Fund,” Nov. 21:

It appears the Board of Supervisors not only recklessly disregards the will of the people, i.e. Measure F and Measure H, but now [Supervisor] Cynthia P. Coad decides to redefine the terms in Measure H to suit her own agenda. The Times article stated Coad “doesn’t agree with the definition of ‘health issues’ as interpreted by health care leaders.”

The supervisors are the most incredible pieces of work anyone with an ounce of decency can imagine. The real problem is there is no way to stop them. Their disregard for the will of the voters, their unstoppable use of taxpayer money to sue those same taxpayers who voted their wills, is unadulterated arrogance. The courts, other government officials and most residents remain silent and allow the arrogance and the deceit to continue. Their power is obviously unlimited, unchecked and unstoppable.

Why do we even bother to vote? Our Board of Supervisors regards the ballot box as only a minor deterrent to their own priorities and personal agendas.

PAUL L. HUTCHINS

Laguna Woods

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Isn’t it time for the three supervisors who comprise the majority in Orange County to begin to follow the will of the people of Orange County?

Sixty-seven percent of the people approved Measure F, and the county is spending money for legal fees to try to thwart the will of the majority. The people approved Measure H, and the county now wants to oppose that measure in court. Their own Measure G, which would have reduced the amount of the tobacco money to be used for medical care, lost, and they want to take medical care away from the needy to pay down the debt.

If they really want to reduce the county debt, let them stop throwing away money on legal fees in which they are fighting the people on airports and medical costs. These costs have run to over $40 million, and they are still mounting.

Isn’t it time for the people to recall these three supervisors and elect others who are more in tune with the wishes of the people?

JACK HEILPERN

Laguna Woods

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If county supervisors start to divert funds from the tobacco settlement against the voters’ wishes by taking advantage of a legal loophole, they deserve nothing less than a recall or impeachment.

In normal business conduct, this action would be considered illegal fund diversion and is likely a felony. As fellow felons, they do not deserve our support or respect. It is truly a sad day for democracy when our presidential race is being decided by loopholes and our elected officials are sabotaging the health of our county with the same process.

JOHN T. CHIU

Newport Beach

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Anyone asking for a recall of Supervisor Charles V. Smith and others with the arrogance to deliberately try to overturn what a large majority of their constituents voted for not once but twice may have my signature. One man, one vote, remember.

NORMA BERRY

Westminster

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The overwhelming passage of Measures F and H meant nothing to Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad. Heck, they’d probably try to circumvent their own recall. Let’s find out.

KURT PAGE

Laguna Niguel