Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Orange; Supervisorial District 5

Protecting Us--Some Lessons

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat some of the same mistakes made in the past. In 1977, the California Legislature made a radical change regarding how long prisoners could be housed in prison. Those of us who lived through that tragic mistake saw the carnage caused by this bad choice. Criminals were set free before they could be rehabilitated. Predictably, crime rates shot up until we the people were tired of being victimized. Consequently many reforms, including Three Strikes, were enacted by the legislative process to send serious and violent recidivist offenders to prison for long sentences. Although controversial, these reforms turned out to be more effective at creating safer communities and lowering crime rates than the laws that were in place before the 1977 change.

In 2011, the Legislature enacted a "prison realignment" that profoundly changed where prisoners could be housed. This "experiment" has resulted in serious criminals remaining in our communities while simultaneously forbidding prosecutors and courts from sending these repeat offenders back to prison. Insufficient funds have been given to local jurisdictions to protect the public and rehabilitate the few criminals that are amenable to change. As predicted, crime rates are once again on the rise. More people are being victimized.

1. Keeping Us Safe For 35 Years Matters

With less money to protect us, I am the only candidate that has the practical experience, knowledge and know-how to effectively deal with this growing crime problem. I know what works to keep our communities safe. More importantly, I know what programs do not work and will waste tax-payers money. Since the safety and security of each one of us depends on making the right decisions, don't risk the security of your family to the politicians and hope they "might" make the right choice.

2. Independent Leadership Is Required

Being an independent prosecutor, I deal in facts. This is the only way to find the truth and to properly identify what needs to be done to solve our shared problems. In partisan politics, facts are fuzzy or spun and the truth seems to be elusive at best. This is also how corruption can flourish. As a non-partisan candidate, I don't have to answer to anyone but to the voters. I will find the facts, determine what is true, and attack the issues head on.

3. I Will Eliminate Corruption

Some corruption is intentional and criminal. But there is also unintentional corruption that occurs because of the way partisan politics are played. Often times, criminal corruption is exposed and dealt with. However, the systemic and unintentional corruption is ignored by those who benefit from it. It is this corruption that costs us the most money. Because I am an independent prosecutor, I will not allow our tax dollars be exploited for personal or partisan gain. We must end political pay back. As the only candidate who has attacked fraud and corruption, you can be sure I will fight to expose and eliminate corruption at all levels, no matter where it is.

4. End Politics As Usual--Find Common Ground & Do What Is Right For Us

Throughout the 35 years I have fought to keep us safe, I have learned that we MUST WORK TOGETHER to solve our shared problems. Like many of the tactics we use to rehabilitate those who want to change, we must approach resolving our problems in a similar manner by collaborative efforts--not partisan finger pointing and bickering. Instead of worrying about who might get the "credit" for a good idea, we must find common ground and support a good solution, wherever or from whomever it comes. We are all part of the fabric of Orange County--Republicans, Democrats and everyone in between. We are not enemies, but one people. As a non-partisan independent thinker, I do not care who caused the problem or who gets credit for solving the problem--I just care that the problem gets fixed and it is fixed right. The issue isn't about a party, it is about Orange County.

5. Transparency & Accountability

Transparency in government must be a top priority. Since I am independent of all political parties, I will take the veil off of contracts created in secret, especially back end change order type agreements. Although we must have efficiency in government, we cannot continue to allow emergency contracts to expand from relatively low dollar amounts to several hundred thousand dollars without public comment or Supervisor approval. This corruption must be stopped by making all contracts and change orders public. We also need to make it easier to find the voting records of Supervisors and the names of all who have contracts involving the County. Every person making money off of the taxpayer needs to be known to those who are paying the bill.

6. Priorities--Safety, Jobs, Schools

The California and U.S. Constitutions grant government limited powers. I will insist we act within that framework. Within that limited authority, the first priority is public safety. The success of every other duty depends on keeping us safe. Other priorities include improving the quality of life we enjoy. To maintain our quality of life, we must promote a great business climate that leads to economic vitality. This is best achieved when government gets out of the way. Great businesses also need a thriving community of families and individuals. These are cultivated when we create and maintain great schools, parks, recreation opportunities and other quality of life components. A flourishing community requires us to invest in great transportation and infrastructure projects. This infrastructure includes improving our energy sources and creating new water availability and storage. And as we know, by accomplishing these goals, the private sector will create jobs.

7. This All Must Be Done in a Fiscally Responsible Way

Prior bad decisions have created a debt that must be paid. Like each one of us, we must live within our means. We cannot continue to kick the can down the street. Our children and grandchildren will suffer. We must eliminate unfunded liabilities and insure each person pays their fair share. We also must eliminate the obscene profits made by political insiders and return that money to the tax payer. As a criminal prosecutor and as a non-partisan independent thinker, I am the best qualified candidate to eliminate this corruption and political payback.