Spitzer Criticized For Politicking, Activism In Orange County

Three Orange County supervisors Tuesday criticized Supervisor Todd Spitzer for breaking protocol and venturing into their districts politicking, particularly when he whipped up opposition against his colleagues regarding a plan to set up emergency shelters for transients in Irvine, Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel.

At issue was a "district prerogative," an "honor code" among the supervisors that they won't go to events in each other's districts unless invited by the fellow supervisor. Spitzer fired back that he felt his fellow supervisors were being hypocritical, noting events that some of them have attended in recent years without giving the supervisor of that district a heads up.

The tension among the supervisors flared up last month after they voted, 4-1, with Spitzer dissenting, to explore the possibility of erecting tents -- or what are technically known as sprung structures -- in Irvine, Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel to have enough emergency shelter beds for transients coming off the Santa Ana riverbed under a settlement overseen by a federal judge.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do said he put the issue on the agenda to see if he could get some feedback on changing the "district prerogative" policy and to see if the board could consider curtailing funding for expenses related to staff accompanying a supervisor outside their district.

Do noted how he was invited to address the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and getting criticized later by Spitzer for attending an event in Spitzer's district.

"This year, it seems you have been everywhere in every district practically and sometimes I would see (social media) postings from your staff going with you to these events at chambers of commerce and city councils outside your district," Do said to Spitzer, who is a candidate for Orange County district attorney.

Spitzer said when he was chairman he called for supervisors to travel more through the county because of the growing number of regional issues they all face.

Spitzer said he did not recall confronting Do on the Irvine Chamber of Commerce event.

Do asked Spitzer how the Aliso Viejo City Council's Christmas Tree lighting was a regional issue. Spitzer said the city's Mayor Dave Harrington, who is a friend, invited him. Harrington is running for Orange County sheriff and shares the same political consultant as Spitzer.

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said Spitzer "got after my staff member" who attended an event for Bartlett at Chapman University.

"Supervisor Spitzer called my staff member and said, `Don't you ever go into my district again unless you get my approval,' " Bartlett said.

Spitzer denied that, prompting Do to say, "You can't tell us we're both wrong."

Bartlett told Spitzer, "There's no reason for one supervisor to go to a tree lighting ceremony in another's district."

Bartlett argued that it confuses constituents who then wonder who their supervisor is. She said it could also "step on toes" when a supervisor is working with local officials and another supervisor parachutes in without "knowing the whole picture."

Bartlett was also clearly angered that Spitzer "showed up" at a Laguna Niguel City Council meeting on the homeless tent issue. Bartlett took heat from residents for voting for the shelters with some even threatening a recall.

Spitzer "showed up at that meeting saying he would be the champion of keeping the homeless out of Laguna Niguel," Bartlett said.

"It was fear mongering," Bartlett said of Spitzer's rhetoric. "And it was not appreciated."

Bartlett accused Spitzer of claiming "all the homeless are going to come to Laguna Niguel," and then going to an Irvine City Council meeting and telling residents there that "they were coming from Laguna Niguel to Irvine."

Supervisor Shawn Nelson said Spitzer's appearances at the local city council meetings outside his district "inflamed the crowds," and added, "not only is it outrageous, there's only one reason to do that and it's all campaign related."

Nelson said he would "vote to cut the budget" for supervisors' staff at events outside of the district if it came to it.

"I was embarrassed when I saw the video in Laguna Niguel," Nelson said, adding Spitzer was "stirring up a bunch of lies and nonsense just to get the local residents upset at a fellow colleague. If we start to cross that line then it's a free-for-all for this body and it will degenerate it really fast... It's so far over the line it shouldn't even have to be explained."

Spitzer accused Nelson of having "land use" discussions with the mayor of Irvine and others outside his district.

"I have every right to express my point of view in the cities throughout this county," Spitzer said.

If Nelson wants to have a "bright line" on issues outside each supervisorial district then "stop negotiating... behind my back," Spitzer said.

Do eventually cut off the debate saying "We can't legislate human behavior," but that it was "important we put it all out on the record. There is no district prerogative. We do whatever we want and we move on from here."

Supervisor Todd Spitzer, photo