The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

July 2008 ISSUE

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts!

The New Sheriff in Town and the Gender Card

The question is whether Hutchens has made any pacts with the devil, and if so, you can be sure that the OCSD and the Lycky Four will die from 1,000 bug bites – as in Palmetto Bugs.

June 10, 2008

Amidst a mud wrestling battle rivaling the WWF the Orange County Board of Supervisors scored a 3-2 split decision between Sandra Hutchens and Paul Walters. During the days leading to this vote, charges and countercharges were hurdled, including claims that supporters of OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens had been mounting a vigorous whisper campaign in the OC blogosphere “taking on the aspect of a sleaze campaign against Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters” reads a comment in the Red County Blogs, including “Three themes are prevalent: attacking Walters with a false and discredited account of his divorce settlement; claiming he is an appendage of the OC GOP "Machine"; and claiming that his appointment would somehow lead to "Carona II."”

Other charge that some so-called Hutchens supporters are merely “Huntistas” - Lt. Hunt supporters jockeying for position.

We previously reported anent the previous supervisors' vote that the “only conclusion is that the vote provides ample political coverage for all the supervisors with the exception of Norby: Bates can claim that she defended the current organization, but wants change. Moorlach can claim that he defended gender vote as well as the search firm’s recommendations. Moorlach and Bates can also claim having voted for Martin, knowing Martin will surface again. In all cases, the board can claim that it was the search firm’s fault that Lt. Hunt and chief Anderson rated so low”, and so it came to be.

Interestingly enough, and reminiscent of how Coto de Caza selects its local governing body- blaming legislature loopholes to hold SECRET elections - supervisors Bates and Nguyen lobbyied to have their votes be considered “secret”. Now, the political future of the Lucky Four (with the exception of supervisor Norby), will be directly tied to the future of the OCSD and Hutchens performance. The question is whether Hutchens has made any pacts with the devil, and if so, you can be sure that the OCSD and the Lycky Four will die from 1,000 bug bites – as in Palmetto Bugs.

Loopholes, the OCWWF and the next OCSD You cannot be part of the solution when you have been part of the problem, as in Lt Hunt. The Spin Machines for Hutchens and Walters for OC Sheriff are full throttle trying to persuade the Orange County Board of Supervisors that their gal or guy is the right person for the job. So much dirt is flowing in both directions putting SUV commercials to shame. Then, there are the Lt. Hunt supporters doing a Hilary impersonation tying to get their guy the number two spot, or any spot for that matter, in the new OCSD.

Star Search – for the OCSD – The Final Episode SetAlthough the process used by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to winnow down the number of candidates to replace much maligned OC Sheriff Michael Carona was at best flawed, the final two candidates represent not necessarily the best of the field, but not necessarily the worst, either.

The OCSD Culture Thing – It is not my Job! - The leading OC Sheriff candidates agree that the OC Sheriff’s Department needs an organizational culture makeover, the OC District Attorney finds the current OCSD’s culture lacking, the Orange County Board of Supervisors demand changes to the OC Sheriff’s Department’s organizational culture, and the President of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s Wayne Quint agree that a culture change is required.

OCSD Insiders Make Paper Cut - How? We do not know We understand that a "paper cut" has been performed by Bob Murray and Associates, the talent search firm being used to hire the next OC Sheriff. We have contacted a number of the cut candidates - apparently, they did not know they were no longer viable candidates.

Working to Serve or Serving to Work? - AOCDS Fundraiser
The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) is launching a fundraising drive, for the first time in the association?s history, according to a piece of direct mail, targeting the communities they serve.

Working to Serve, Or Serving To Work - Letter to OC Register Columnist
Another good column. I was wondering if there was ever any serious consideration to any non-union government employee for the position of publicly elected Sheriff by either the Register or Supervisors? That is all I see in your Top Five selection and.

The Coto de Caza Board of Directors to Help Hire the new OC Sheriff?
A cursory review of the criteria used to winnow down the Orange County Sheriff candidate?s list to seven, (the seven are then to be interviewed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors) indicates that Governor Mit Romney, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,...

The Three OC Blind Mice
OCDA's Rackauckas says that 9-month grand jury probe of jail beating death did not find evidence of criminal wrongdoing by sheriff's personnel, although sheriff's personnel does only bare minimum to keep their jobs.

The OCSD Fox Guarding the Hen
According to the OCRegister, ?Thousands of pages of transcripts released Monday by the Superior Court showed a jail system out of control, with deputies failing to perform even cursory patrols of the jail barracks, instead relying on jail ?shotcallers? ?...

OC Board of Supervisors Full Of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing!
The Orange County Board of supervisors came into the current term with a fiery agenda rivaled only by Senator?s Obama?s spiritual advisor?s Wright ?s rhetoric - ?Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, the creeps in this petty county come to roost from...

Public Safety Owners and Orphans
Invariably when we publish public safety statistics, proponents of the status quo ridicule our analysis and detractors use the law of attributions to invoke the proverbial ?it?s not mine/their job?.

A Chat with OC Sheriff Candidates - Coto de Caza's Own Ralph Martin
We have offered the seven identified OC Sheriff candidates; Jack Anderson, Bill Hunt, Craig Hunter, Kevin Keyes, Ralph Martin, Ken Maddox and Paul Walters, the CotoBuzz Journal as a platform to communicate with their respective potential supports. We...

OC Sheriff personnel not criminally liable in death of Chamberlain- OCDA
OCDA Tony Rackauckas announced today the conclusion of the criminal portion of a grand jury investigation into the beating murder of inmate, John Chamberlain and the indictment against three former inmates. Nine former inmates, in total now, face murder...

Winter Cleaning at the OCSD Continues
The fallout of Sheriff Carona?s resignation continued to unfold Friday, as his former second-in-command, Assistant Sheriff Jo Ann Galisky was released, and Assistant Sheriff Steve Bishop, head of investigations, announced his immediate retirement

A Chat with OC Sheriff Department Candidate: Craig Hunter
What the OCSD needs is a new leader with a proven track record in law enforcement who will be a strong role model, lead by example with integrity and provide a new vision of teamwork and accountability - Hunter

A Chat with OC Sheriff Candidates: Kevin Keyes
The first and most important priority is to restore honor to the office that was taken by its last office holder- Kevin Keyes