Tom Coad Just Misses Bid for Board

A day late.

That was the bad news delivered to Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad’s husband, who had hoped to become one of several candidates running in January for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

County Counsel Benjamin de Mayo issued an opinion Thursday saying that in order for Tom Coad to qualify as a candidate, his voter registration form had to have been mailed and postmarked by last Saturday. Tom Coad said he put the form, showing a new address in the 3rd District, in the mail Sunday.

Elections officials said they received it Thursday -- postmarked Monday.

Tom Coad said he wouldn’t challenge the ruling.

He blamed his missed opportunity on Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who abruptly resigned this week. That pushed up the date of the election -- and the residency requirement for candidates to run. Had Spitzer stayed on the job until Dec. 2, when he will be sworn into the state Assembly, Tom Coad would have had another week to re-register.

“I’m very disappointed that Supervisor Spitzer used a calculated trick to thwart my candidacy,” Tom Coad said. “I’m so disgusted and disillusioned with the Machiavellian methods that some political people think are so clever. I hope citizens will realize that there are morally bankrupt people in politics.”

Spitzer was in San Diego attending a retreat for Republican Assembly members and couldn’t be reached for comment. When he resigned Tuesday, he said he was leaving early because he couldn’t devote enough time to his county job while preparing for his new role in the state Capitol.

Tom Coad announced a month ago that he would run to replace Spitzer. The Coads live in west Anaheim but are building a home in North Tustin. The house isn’t ready for occupancy, so Tom Coad registered at a neighbor’s guest house to satisfy the residency requirements. Other candidates include 71st District Assemblyman Bill Campbell, whom Spitzer is replacing, and Orange Councilman Michael Alvarez.