When Chriss Street was running for County Treasurer, Steven Greenhut stepped up to his defense when county unions raised concerns over his appointment as Assistant Treasurer by then Treasurer Moorlach.
Street and Moorlach are two birds of a feather and until now they have been sticking together. But after reading the story by Norberto Santana, Jr. and Peggy Lowe tonight, it already looks like Moorlach is already trying to distance himself from his protege.
It is really too late for that John. As the saying goes, you can judge the character of a person by the character of the people they hang out with. In this case Moorlach and Street are two of a kind. Hey Steven, care to change your mind on this one? ÂÂ
April 26, 2006
Street: Much ado about nothingFrom Steven Greenhut:
Is it that hard to figure out where these attacks on the next county treasurer, Chriss Street, and on the current treasurer and soon-to-be supervisor, John Moorlach, are coming from?
As Norberto Santana’s story in the Register today makes clear, the county unions are making a fuss over the tiniest of technicalities over how Street was hired to the assistant post on a temporary basis. By all means, let’s make sure all the right procedures were followed, but it’s clear that the unions are desperate to stop Street and Moorlach from advancing politically.
Moorlach has been a true friend of the taxpayer as treasurer, one of only a few politicians you will find in this county who is willing to stand up against the unsustainable level of demands and benefits that union members are seeking and getting. Moorlach and Street warned about the bankruptcy, even as they were jeered and ignored, and now they are warning about problems with pension, health-care and other liabilities. The unions want the gravy train to continue. They have no arguments on their side, so they are trying to use these sorts of attacks on their political foes. They much rather have a union-controlled treasurer’s office, where unhappy news can be glossed over and taxpayers can be quietly rolled in favor of union members. And they sure as heck don’t want the outspoken Moorlach on the Board of Supervisors, where he will help turn a pro-union board majority into a pro-taxpayer majority.
Note in Santana’s news story today that Tom Wilson, the only Republican on the board not to endorse Street, made this typical (for him) pronouncement: “I don’t endorse too early, prior to doing my homework, and ascertaining whether this is someone I want to attach my name to,” Wilson said. “It’s almost like an investment. And I like a good return on my investment.”
Yet Wilson was one of the board leaders for the massive union pension spike in 2004. He obviously didn’t spend much time researching his investment there. Ah, won’t it be nice to have a board with principled, straight-up members? No wonder the unions are jumping on this minor controversy like white on rice.
another interesting link: http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1114567.php
an excerpt:
In a report to the bankruptcy court last month, Street’s replacement as trustee, Daniel Harrow, said Street’s tenure was marked by “mismanagement, conflicts of interest and greed.”
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector John Moorlach named Street his top assistant in January and has endorsed his candidacy in the June election. Moorlach dismissed Harrow’s report as the work of a disgruntled subordinate.
If elected treasurer, Street would supervise the county’s $5.6billion treasury and $6billion pension fund.
Street had only a brief record of public service, and his stewardship of the Fruehauf bankruptcy offers the most detailed portrait of his management skills.
It seems that it was Greenhut who didn’t do his homework. Similarly to Moorlach’s legal argument on pension retroactivity. My legal friends (who are mostly conservatives) tell me the legal foundations are full of holes.
Cheese louise, these kooky folks never learn! Why the heck should anyone trust Moorlach’s judgment on just about anything? And why does Jabber the Greenhut always feel obligated to defend every gaffe Moorlach makes? Crazy.