Alvarez Won’t Run for Supervisor

Orange Councilman Michael Alvarez has decided not to run for a vacant seat on the county Board of Supervisors, leaving four candidates in the race.

The pressures of mounting a campaign swiftly for the Jan. 28 ballot -- plus a lawsuit challenging the validity of the election in the 3rd District -- created too many hurdles, Alvarez said.

“With the lawsuit hanging overhead, I didn’t want to continue spending money not knowing if there would be an election,” he said.

An Orange County Superior Court judge will consider a request by a group of citizens next week to halt the election. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of voters’ approval in March of a county charter, which calls for elections to fill board vacancies instead of appointments by the governor.

The supervisorial seat was vacated last month by Todd Spitzer, who was sworn in Dec. 2 to the state Assembly representing portions of Orange and Riverside counties.

Spitzer on Friday endorsed former Assemblyman Bill Campbell to replace him. Spitzer took Campbell’s seat in the 71st District.

Spitzer said Campbell would “continue to fight pro-airport forces, will protect taxpayers and ensure that we maintain our quality of life.” He was referring to county plans, killed by voters in March, to build an airport at the former El Toro Marine base.

Alvarez’s departure leaves former Tustin Councilman Jim Potts, Robert L. Douglas of Orange and Douglas Boeckler of Orange in the race with Campbell. Candidates have until Monday at 5 p.m. to file paperwork to run.