Orange County Register

Here’s the story I wrote on the GOP’s discussion tonight about the sheriff. It’ll be in tomorrow’s paper. I’ll post more on tonight’s meeting on the blog tomorrow:

The county Republican Party has launched a process to determine whether it will ask indicted Sheriff Mike Carona to resign, but the party stopped short Monday night of issuing any immediate pronouncement to the GOP endorsee.

The party’s resolution committee will study whether to seek Carona’s resignation, and could return with a recommendation for the governing Central Committee. The GOP’s scrutiny of Carona further heightens the tension surrounding the sheriff’s status, as he battles federal corruption charges.

– Martin Wisckol

An emergency proposal rejected by the Central Committee on Monday would have called for Carona to remain on a leave of absence until his indictment was resolved, but the measure failed to get the two-thirds vote necessary for consideration.

However, many of those voting against the proposal were nonetheless uncomfortable with the sheriff’s situation.

“He should take an extended leave of absence,” said Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman, a Central Committee member voting against Monday’s emergency measure. “(But) I thought there should be a full hearing of the issue. Give the sheriff a chance to show what he’s going to do, and see what more information comes out.”

When he heard of the proposed resolution well before the meeting, Carona said he would support it – because he already planned to continue his leave of absence until the indictment was resolved, said Carona spokesman Mike Schroeder. After the vote, Schroeder said he was satisfied that there was no action.

“People are troubled by the charges, but they haven’t seen enough facts,” Schroeder said.
The county GOP endorsed Carona’s reelection bid last year, but it took two tries before the Central Committee sided with the incumbent – and aroused controversy over whether the endorsement system had been manipulated.

Carona is currently on a self-imposed leave of absence for 60 days. State law says that if he does not perform his duties for three consecutive months, his post can be declared vacant and be filled by county supervisors.

Schroeder said details need to be worked out to allow Carona to continue on a leave of absence without losing his job. Possible options include returning to work one day every three months, although some supervisors have raised questions about him being paid while not working.

– Martin Wisckol

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