I arrived back at Casa de Jubal a while ago from the historic Board of Supervisors meeting that accomplished two firsts: the first time in county history the Board of has appointed a Sheriff, and the OC's first woman Sheriff.

Obviously, it was a good day for Sheriff-designate Sandra Hutchens. There's no question in my mind Santa Ana Chief Paul Walters was the better choice, but Hutchens is the one who garnered three votes. Since she's going to be the Sheriff, it's in Orange County's interest that she succeed, and I hope she'll successfully meet the challenges ahead.

On the other hand, it was an embarrassing day for the Board of Supervisors -- or rather, the three who voted for Hutchens. I urge readers to watch the online archive video of the vote when it's available later tonight. Peggy Lowe and Steve Greenhut have already recorded their observations on this sham.

The mantra during the sheriff selection process was this was an opportunity to make a merit appointment and take the politics out of the Sheriff's office.

Yet, ironically, the Board majority today made a completely political selection -- and went into contortions attempting to evade public accountability thought the device if a secret ballot.

They Are Women, Hear Them Roar
The reality, which no one really likes to say out loud, is this was a gender-driven appointment. When Sandra Hutchens made the final cut with Walters, the California Women's Leadership Association geared up to lobby for Hutchens. That wouldn't have happened if Hutchens had been a man, and if CWLA hadn't mobilized I've no doubt it would have been a 4-1 vote for Paul Walters.

But mobilize the CWLA did and rolled through Supervisors Bates and Nguyen like German Panzers through the Ardennes Forest. And instead of a defiant "Nuts!" they cried "Uncle!"

Score a big win for the CWLA, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking Bates and Nguyen cast their votes out of a conviction Hutchens was better qualified to be Sheriff than Walters. In my opinion, they were simply unable to withstand the CWLA's intense lobbying effort.

The Silence of the Lambs
One of the most striking aspects of the vote was reticence with which Bates, Nguyen and Moorlach chose Hutchens.

Supervisors Chris Norby and Bill Campbell articulated compelling, well-reasoned and thought-out reasons why they considered Walters to be the better candidate. They strongly believed in their choice and weren't afraid to voice their reasons.

Moorlach, Nguyen and Bates, in contrast, were practically mute. Janet didn't provide any insight into her support for Hutchens. In fact, she had more praise for Walters. Pat Bates strained credulity by contending Walters and Hutchens were exactly even in their qualifications, and then tossed out the fig-leaf of  "regional policing experience" as a rationale for her vote.

John Moorlach, who is rarely at a loss for words, gave no explanation of his support for Hutchens until after her appointment was a fait accompli. Even then, all he really said is his office got a lot of calls and they ran 50-50 between Hutchens and Walters.

Let me put it this way: if the Supervisors had been arguing their case before a jury, it would have been a unanimous verdict for Walters -- that's how weak Moorlach, Bates and Nguyen's arguments (if they qualify as such) were.

Now, if a Supervisor is proud of the choice they've made for Sheriff and the reasons for which he or she made that choice, they should have no compunction about explaining them to the public. And since this is the single most important appointment any of these Supervisors will make, they owe it to the public to give their reasons in that open forum.

Lord knows Supervisor Norby tried valiantly but vainly to extract some reasons from them. He practically begged them to try and persuade him. Their refusal to oblige him in the slightest speaks volumes.

Three Short Straws
The hinkiest part of the whole charade was the attempt to select the sheriff via a secret straw vote.

Chairman John Moorlach first voiced his desire to have a straw vote prior to a formal vote -- which Norby promptly ignored and made a motion to appoint Paul Walters, which was seconded by Bill Campbell.

Then, Janet Nguyen, reading from a prepared statement (what a shocker) called for having a straw vote in which the supervisors wrote their choice down on a piece of paper at the same time and handed them to the Clerk -- as if this were the Final Jeopardy round, and not the Board of Supervisors. Apparently, she was so confident in the correctness of her choice that she wanted to voice it in secret.

Pat Bates chimed in that this was a terrific idea.

Not that the three of them had worked this out ahead of time or anything.

But why a straw poll?

A non-binding straw poll would make it clear Hutchens had the votes, and hopefully lead Campbell or Norby or both to be team players and make it unanimous.

Otherwise, you have an official 3-2 vote -- meaning Bates, Nguyen and Moorlach would each be the deciding vote for Hutchens. And if this appointment goes south, then each of themm would be on the hook.

With a 5-0 vote, everyone -- and therefore, no one -- is at fault. That's especially helpful to say, Janet Nguyen, when she explains to the police chiefs and elected officials in her district why she voted against their preference for Sheriff.

All in all, today's Board vote was one of the most embarrassing displays of political wimpiness I have seen in a long time.

So congratulations again to Sandra Hutchens. Best of luck to you.