Board Is Quiet on Carona’s Advisor

Orange County supervisors Tuesday retreated from tough talk against a law firm that had advised Sheriff Michael S. Carona to suspend a department veteran who ran against him in the June 6 election.

Supervisors said last week that they wanted to review Fullerton-based Jones & Mayer’s contract with the county and were told it could be canceled immediately. But after a hearing in which supervisors emphasized that they should have been informed about the firm’s work, they took no action.

A day after he narrowly avoided a runoff to win reelection to a third term, Carona placed the runner-up, Lt. Bill Hunt, on paid leave pending an investigation into statements he had made during the campaign. The department contends that the statements are not protected by the 1st Amendment.

Two of Hunt’s supporters were demoted. One has been restored to his position on probationary status. A third said he had filed a claim with the county alleging that his dismissal as a sheriff’s academy instructor was political retribution.

The county hired Jones & Mayer in December for assistance with unspecified “peace officer personnel matters.” The contract barred the firm from working on legal matters involving Carona in “his capacity as a candidate for elective office.”

Martin J. Mayer, a lawyer with the firm, released a statement after the election saying that he had advised Carona months earlier that Hunt could be suspended. Supervisors, who had no contact with Mayer since the contract was signed, said they were surprised to hear of the firm’s role in the matter.

Dick Jones, Mayer’s partner, apologized to the board for the unexpectedness of the statement’s release but said he had been asked to do so by the Sheriff’s Department with the knowledge of the county counsel’s office. He also said he stood by the firm’s advice.

Much of the firm’s work remains cloaked in attorney-client privilege. The attorneys and county counsel said the firm had billed the county about $1,800 so far, less than 10 hours of work. Neither Jones nor Mayer would comment on whether the attorneys had performed any work other than advising the sheriff on Hunt. Carona said the firm had done other work but would not provide specifics.

Jones said the county counsel’s office was involved in Hunt’s dismissal. The lieutenant can remain on paid leave until July 1. The county chief executive must then approve any extension.

Carona declined to comment on how Hunt’s case would be resolved, saying only that a decision would be made “sooner rather than later.” He rejected any notion that Hunt’s suspension, and the demotion and firing of his supporters, was linked to the campaign.

“There’s no retaliation afoot,” Carona said. “It had nothing to do with politics.”

In his comments to the board, Jones also said the county had not paid his bill, now five months in arrears. As of July 1, he said, he would terminate his services unless he was paid.