Congrats to the Supervisors for doing the right thing.

They didn't explain their reasons they voted for Hutchens because they don't want people to know why they voted for her. It's that simple. They voted against Paul Walters because he's pro-deputy pensions. Also simple. He wouldn't be their puppet, and Hutchens will. Note her lack of a response when asked about 3% at 50.

Norby and Campbell also thought Mike Carona was a swell guy. Congrats to Hutchens and kudos to the rest of the Supervisors for not doing what the machine wanted them to do.

Yet another reason justifying my opposition to Janet Nguyen. Four years can't pass quick enough for those of us that ACTUALLY LIVE in the First District. SOLORIO IN 2012!!!!

Say what you want about the voting, by let's remember the BOS was privy to the backgrounds that were recently concluded. My guess is that something in Walter's could have done him in. Someone entering police work with 100K in debt wouldn't get hired. Why would you want to hire a sheriff who can't keep his affairs in order?

Wiglet:

"he's pro-deputy pensions - 3% at 50"

These are the issues that make Walter’s an attractive candidate for Republicans/Conservatives?

"He wouldn't be their puppet"

He was the union candidate, won't take the lead from Moorlach on cutting the ridicules spike that is hurting taxpayers??? I pray we had an army of Moorlach "puppets" in county government , I doubt Hutchens will be a puppet but she's not going to be the union candidate.

Thanks for the post at least someone is now being honest to who/and what Walter’s was about.

"Someone entering police work with 100K in debt wouldn't get hired."

Paul Walters is not 100K in debt and that rumor was part of a misinformation campaign by sleazy individuals.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but good job Janet.

On In The Know:

Hutchens won, so you can now stop lying.

"Paul Walters is not 100K in debt and that rumor was part of a misinformation campaign by sleazy individuals"

Sean- Paul Walters himself ADMITTED to being 100K in debt here: "In an interview, Walters declined to discuss how he ran up so much debt.

But he said it would be paid off as soon as his former wife began receiving her share of his pension, which she obtained as part of the divorce settlement."

Jubal said:
On In The Know:

Hutchens won, so you can now stop lying.

Does that mean you'll stop poutting?

I'm disappointed. But honest disappointment is preferable to dishonest sleazery.

Hutchnes can do what the board failed to do when given the opportunity to radically alter the OSCD culture, and that is, seize the moment and take it upon herself to change it from without, not as Walters wanted to do – heal from within.

As we stated before, now the political future of the Lucky Four (with the exception 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 (read Huntistas), 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.

Congratulations to the New Sheriff Hutchens.She has a very difficult and challenging job ahead of her and wish her the best of luck.

"They voted against Paul Walters because he's pro-deputy pensions."

From Winglet---

I agree agree. So the taxpayers dodged getting hit with the Union candidate - thanks to Moorlach.

I was watching the video feed before it crashed and I have to agree with Jubal that, for something so important and for which the Supes had months to prepare, the whole proceeding was not as professional as one would expect....

Here is how we got our new Sheriff:

1. Moorlach's irrational hatred of unions

2. Irresitable gender appeal to two female Supes

There you have it....and the second lowest rated canidate wins !!! OC politics.....what entertainment value. Facials anyone?

Can someone explain the rationale behind Janet calling for a secret ballot? How pathetic.

She was elected to make tough decisions and here is one of the toughest she has had to date and she wants to weasel out of it.

Clearly another one of her patented attempts to play both sides of the fence.

So, Walters supports 3% at 50 pensions?

Hutchens is a 53-year old retiree. Is she collecting 3% at 50? And if so, does she support 3% at 50? Or does she support it for herself and oppose it for others?

Inquiring minds want to know.

You have it backwards. Hutchens used to be a union rep and a bunch of union types quietly lobbied for her. There probably isn't much difference between the two on workers issues and there couldn't be another top down management team after the last fiasco, but most union members prefer the person who is fully in their corner and that was Sandi. This vote was Janet's payoff for not having serious opposition in the primary and the other two went with Hutchens becaused they agreed with her on policy issues. Calling for an audit of the department before making any changes was not a small thing and it impressed the members of the Board who thought that Walters was a little too open in his politicking. As usual Moorlach trusted his instinct more than his view of the issues when he made his choice.

It doesn't matter if she supports 3 @ 50 or not. She can't overturn it...it's law...it's in the government code.

Sean H. Mill @ 1:25pm:

You're anti-Nguyen bias is so blatant! You've been blogging for weeks for Hoa Van Tran and now you've already made Jose Solorio in 2012 your battle cry!

Supervisor Nguyen suggested that the board members cast their vote by ballot so that their votes would be simultaneous.

That made it so that no supervisor could cue off of the previous votes.

No supervisor, including Supervisor Nguyen, suggested a secret ballot. Supervisor Nguyen suggested a simultaneous ballot!

Seriously, Sean H. Mill - the election's over. Get on with your life and get your stories accurate when you write on "liberaloc."

Congratulations Sandra Hutchens, you'll make a great sheriff!

Does Art Pedroza EVER have anything intelligent to say?

Paul Walters has now double diped his salary at Santa Ana taxpayers expense. He has tried to leave for the LAPD, Marshal's, OCSD Twice and Riverside jobs. THE CITY COUNCIL MUST GET RID OF HIM OR FORCE DAVE REAM TO DO SO!

An outsider would be suprised on how many deputies will not go to patrol. Hopefully, hutchens will now make the slugs go, and if they fail training, fire them. Who becomes a Deputy to stay in the jails. Or at least offer an incentive for laterals to come over. Maybe patrol asap or after a year in the jail. I bet OCSD would get many laterals that way. The rate of deputies leaving or not going to patrol is extrememly high. The Deputy 2 thing and lack of desire for patrol is a joke in this department.

Jubal your funny about Walters being more qualified. You always bring up his big city jail experience. Remember COUNTY jail is vastly different then a rinky dink city jail. There is a reason Walters can't get hired in LA, riverside and so forth. His BACKGROUND issues. Hutvhes has worked a jail as a supervisor and also oversaw jail operation as part of her undersheriff duites.

Hutches bring in the LA way and let us move on in OCSD.

Station 18

In a self-congratulatory column, a local columnist exults his political acumen and rhetorically asks “ When two weeks ago, I devoted an entire column to Hutchens – and Hutchens alone among the nine candidates, didn't that tell you something”?, then goes on to conclude that “As for me, there was a sense the county had just done something pretty exceptional and pretty good” to describe the implications of Sandra Hutchens’ selection as the new Orange County Sheriff.

Sadly, before the columnist dedicated an entire column to Hutchins, we denounced the criteria used by the OC board of supervisors to winnow down the list of candidates to nine and compared it to the proverbial definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over expecting different results – consider that the criteria used would have deemed General Colin Powell as an inadequate candidate to lead the OCSD, for example.

We chastised the OC board of supervisors for failing to grab an Obama Moment – an opportunity that could have change the cultural and political landscape of the county – instead the board succumbed to the Deliverance Syndrome.

Then there is the question of the magic number nine – instead of selecting the top five candidates from the initial paper cut, the board chose to interview nine candidates? Why? So that Sandra Hutchens could be considered, even though she was not a top-five scorer, and extended the number of candidates to interview to nine, so that Lt. Bill Hunt supporters would be satisfied that due diligence had been used – understanding that certain candidates with potentially exceptional leadership qualities so desperately needed in the OCSD had already been eliminated.

Before the columnist had a chance to exercise his political forecasting prowess, we had already concluded that the final two candidates were not the best, but not the worst. We also concluded that in this case, the search firm would have been responsible for the selection of the new OCSD because it willingly participated in a process with obviously predictable results – the results materialized as we predicted.

We congratulate Sandra Hutchens as the new Sheriff in town – and although we hope she has not made any pacts with the devil, the rumor mill is that the devil is jumping for joy!

Sandra Hutchens is a great choice. Female or not, I bet Mr.Paul Walters "Street Cop" reume' can't compare to Sandra's. Hutchens policed THE TOUGHEST area in the United States. Sure, Santa Ana has it's problems, but nothing compared to Lynwood and the Unincorportated areas of Watts/Compton.

Sandra has truly "been there,done that". From foot pursuits, Officer involved shootings, and assisting the poorest of the poor, she is God's gift to the communiy. I challenge any O.C. Cop to say the same! Be thankfull.....you are lucky to have her.

Somebody here know why the three voted that way, best kept secret in the county. For once.