Boy oh boy, are the unions upset about a recent move by Supe John Moorlach to replace Tom Lightvoet (pictured) on the Orange County Retirement System Board with his own canddiate, Patti Gorczyca.
Frank Eley, the president of the Orange County Employees Union, accused the board of dumping Lightvoet mid-term because he opposes the board’s lawsuit attempting to cut the deputies retroactive pension benefits. Eley said that the “abrupt termination” is being done since the board opted to sue OCERS in its legal move to cut the pensions.
“This smacks of petty infighting and bruised egos,” Eley said.
The county’s two union bosses, Wayne Quint and Nick Berardino, also opposed the move and asked the board to postpone a vote.
At the urging of Supe Bill Campbell, the supes did just that, postponing a vote until June 24. Seems there’s what they are calling a difference of opinion on just when Lightvoet’s term is complete — OCERs says it’s not done until December 2010.
In defending the move, Moorlach said he had been friends with Lightvoet for 25 years, but that he believes a “business relationship” Lightvoet has with the Association of Orange County Deputies is a conflict of interest. Lightvoet’s support from the unions, Moorlach said, “seems to make an interesting statement.”
“I have a concern about whether we are being properly represetned and whether there’s a conflict of interest,” Moorlach said.
“I have a concern about whether we are being properly represented and whether there’s a conflict of interest,” Moorlach said.
Moorloch, in case you forgot, YOU are suing the retirement board. So where is the conflict of interest? They (ocers) are not representing you.
Moorlach must stop playing these political games. He is acting like a bully because he knows he was suckered by the Law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, who took on this case for him. He realizes now that he is going to look like an idiot when the taxpayers are stuck with the legal fees from this firm. BTW, how much has money have we lined the wallets of Kirkland & Ellis thus far???
Peggy,
Why no mention of the lawsuits filed against your sources in the smear campaign against Hoa Van Tran?
It was big news when it went the other way. Me thinks you have a bias Peggy.