Wade May Seek D.A.’s Job Again

Spurred by what he calls a “crisis of integrity” in his office, a veteran Orange County prosecutor has taken the first step to challenge Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas in the March election.

Wallace Wade, a prosecutor for more than two decades and a failed candidate for district attorney in 1998, filed papers in July disclosing his intention to oppose his boss. The move follows a series of highly public controversies within the office, including accusations of impropriety against Rackauckas that prompted a state attorney general’s investigation.

“Mr. Rackauckas’ stewardship of that office leaves a lot to be desired,” said Wade, a deputy district attorney. “The deputies in the office are doing a great job. The problem is leadership and the message it’s sending to the community about fairness in the D.A.’s office.”

Rackauckas said he believes his prosecutors’ success in battling gang crime and improving child-support collection will lead voters to reelect him, no matter who opposes him.

“The performance of the office has been terrific. We’re doing a lot of things better than we have in the past, and I feel that’s my record,” said Rackauckas, who won 62% of the vote the last time he faced Wade.

Wade said he will decide whether to run for election in several weeks, after gauging community support. He said he began considering a second campaign after seeing news reports of alleged favoritism by Rackauckas.

In one of those cases, Rackauckas ordered deputies to withdraw a consumer protection lawsuit against a business owned by George Argyros, a Republican fund-raiser who contributed to Rackauckas’ campaign.

Eventually, Rackauckas withdrew from Argyros’ case and asked the state attorney general to take over. The state investigation continues. Meanwhile, Argyros awaits approval as President Bush’s nominee to become ambassador to Spain.

In February, three prosecutors traveled to Sacramento and told state prosecutors that Rackauckas was using county employees in work for his nonprofit charity, prompting an ongoing investigation.

Rackauckas later fired one of those prosecutors, Assistant Dist. Atty. Mike Jacobs, saying that his comments to state prosecutors and the news media violated department policy. Jacobs filed a civil-rights lawsuit against Rackauckas last month. That case is pending.

Political insiders say it could take several hundred thousand dollars to wage a formidable challenge to Rackauckas, who expects to raise as much as $500,000 in his reelection bid. Wade declined Monday to discuss his fund-raising.