I don’t understand O.C. Register editorial writer Steven Greenhut’s man-crush on Paul Walters. He wrote yet another editorial slamming the selection of Sandra Hutchens in Sunday’s paper. This time he flat out called Hutchens the “Affirmative Action Sheriff.”
But Greenhut once again ignored the fact that Walters was being advised by disgraced former Sheriff Mike Carona’s old adviser, former State Senator John Lewis. And he ignored the fact that Walters endorsed Carona after the latter hired his son to be a Deputy Sheriff. And he chose to disregard Walters’ personal life – which includes massive credit card debt, according to the L.A. Times – and a bitter divorce topped off by Walters marrying a much younger woman, who by his own admission is the singer of a garage rock band (Walters mentions this on his city bio page).
And Greenhut ignored the fact that OC Good Old Boy network hack Matt “Jubal” Cunningham was cheer leading for Walters. When Cunningham shills for someone you KNOW that person is the favorite of the OC GOP machine – just like Carona was. Come to think of it Cunningham used to shill for Carona too.
Clearly Walters had both baggage and bad political connections. Nonetheless Greenhut summed up the Hutchens appointment like this, “Bottom line: The board chose novelty over a proven record of reform even though the county faces an unprecedented chance to reform a dysfunctional department.”
And this brings me to the most egregious oversight by Greenhut. He utterly ignored the fact that Santa Ana has become a crime cesspool under Walters’ watch. Just this past year we have had multiple carjackings (you don’t see those happening anywhere else in Orange County); a Santa Ana Councilwoman had her purse stolen – a few miles from the SAPD headquarters; a judge in West Floral Park suffered a home invasion and robbery; gang shootings have gone up massively as has gang violence in general; and graffiti is completely out of control in Santa Ana.
Why would the Supervisors want to reward Walters for his utter failure in Santa Ana? The fact is they hired the better candidate in Hutchens. Walters was clearly going to be yet another push over for the Deputy Sheriff’s union – which according to the O.C. Register has been ripping us off for years.
I am glad Walters got punked by the Supervisors. Too bad Greenhut cannot connect the dots correctly this time around. He is usually spot on.
I would have never known this, so thanks. I point to this as another great reason that justifies me never reading the OC Register. I can get b.s. for free, I dont have to pay for it or be seen carrying it around.
You make a good point about the Deputies having a friend in Walters. By this you mean the Deputies collective arm, the Union. But then you have to realize that negotiating with cops is unlike any other negotiations. The Deputies come to the table better prepared and with a well thought out strategy to get where they want to go. The Board of Supervisors negotiators are almost at a disadvantage. They might be sharp but its like taking a knife to a gunfight, sharp ain’t good enough.
I think the rank and file may have a friend in Hutchins to tell the truth. Lots of times when you get this good old boy mentality there is a correlation of rank and file being made to tow the line on unwritten rules. Now this works out for those in positions of power it also means that somebody is going to be taking it in the shorts that shouldnt have to.
Most people nowdays are happy to let that good old boy crap dry up and blow away along with Lewis, Rohrabacher, Schroeder and the rest of the failed Golden Boys. Quick, before they’re indicted!
I have to say, I’m rather disappointed in Greenhut. You’d think he would know better. ‘Affirmative Action Sheriff, huh?’ Now here’s a man who just doesn’t get it this time.
SMS
” and a bitter divorce topped off by Walters marrying a much younger woman, who by his own admission is the singer of a garage rock band”
What does this have to do with anything?
His new wife Mary, whom I have known for more than 20 years, has worked in the computer field and even started a successful golf clothing line.
The personal attacks on the Chief are petty and in large part blown out of proportion. He is not in massive debt and this is just propaganda being put out by those hellbent on keeping him from getting the job.
The Chief had real world experience running a successful jail with minimal problems and Hutchens merely work in a jail. The Chief had a plan to hit the ground running and Hutchens is going to take at least four months to formulate one.
Greenhut nailed it. Hutchens was nothing more than an affirmative action hire. She was the political choice, done to appease a bunch of meddling rich south county Republican women who have too much time on their hands and use their husbands money to buy influence and clout.
Yea, Sean isn’t sexist AT ALL.
…because Sexism is alive and well in the OC.
How am I the sexist? I didn’t cast a vote for Hutchens just because she was a woman like Janet and Pat Bates.
You’re outed as a sexist when you say “Republican women who have too much time on their hands and use their husbands money to buy influence and clout.”
Perfectly fine for a good old boys network with too much time on their hands like the Lincoln Club to raise money to buy influence and clout.
We interrupt this flight into fantasy to bring you a message from the real world:
Art, the “garage band” at which you wag your Pharisaical finger is comprised of Mary Walter’s siblings. They play together a few times a year.
Besides being – as Sean points out — completely beside the point, you can’t even present the most basic facts without twisting them into something bad.
But it’s part and parcel of your “the ends justifies the means” political morality.
“Perfectly fine for a good old boys network with too much time on their hands like the Lincoln Club to raise money to buy influence and clout.”
What you seem to have failed to remember is that Art claimed that Hutchens selection was a thumbing of noses at a poltical selection. She was in fact the political choice.
The Republican women went all in to get her appointed. The 2 women on the BOS fell for it and Moorlach figured he would get his puppet in Hutchens.
At least the Good Ol’ Boys in the Lincoln Club are spending their own money and not their wives money.
Greenhut was right. Hutchens = Affirmative Action.
Jeez Art, why do you have such a man-crush on Janet Nguyen?
“Sexism is alive and well in the OC”
Funny that Hutchens supporters want to make opposition to her a debate about “sexism”, just as Obama supporters want to make the opposition to him a debate about “racism”.
Clearly Paul Walters was the most qualified person for the job, but three BOS members caved to lobbyists and supported Hutchens.
In the initial ratings by those hired to rate the applicants Hutchens finished at the bottom while Walters finished 2nd to Randy Adams of Glendale.
This wasn’t about hiring the best of the best, it was about appeasing a bunch of rich south county Republican women and Moorlach trying to control the department. The three Hutchens supporters failed the residents of Orange County.
Matt/Jubal,
When I was 17 I hung out with a friend’s punk band. But I was 17. Paul Walters is in his 60’s (yes he does appear to be coloring his gray hair).
When a guy his age suddenly dumps his wife and marries a much younger woman – and remember that Walters himself mentions her affiliation with this garage band on his website – what it usually means is that the old guy is having a mid-life crisis. Is that really someone you want to hand the keys to the Sheriff’s Department to? I would think not.
Let me put this another way – Hutchens is FAR more stable right now that Walters. It’s not even close. She clearly was the better choice. Who knows, a year from now Walters might be a full-blown emo! God help us…
“Hutchens is FAR more stable right now that Walters. It’s not even close.”
How can you justify a statement like this?
Chief Walters divorced his wife and remarried. People do that all the time. That does not make them unstable.
His wife Mary, may she forgive me for saying this, is not a “much younger woman”. Yes she looks great for her age (the sexist in me is showing again), but she is not as young as you are trying to make it seem. Even if she was much younger it is irrelevant to the Chief’s qualifications.
Yes Mary plays in a band. Is that a crime? She does this on the side as a hobby. She has had a successful career in “IT” and started a successful golf clothing line. She is not some ditz in a “punk band”, as Jubal points out it is a family band.
Do you know anything about Hutchens home life? Not that it matters, but maybe she has had some marital problems in the past. Would that disqualify her in your eyes?
Pedroza/Art:
When a guy his age suddenly dumps his wife and marries a much younger woman – and remember that Walters himself mentions her affiliation with this garage band on his website – what it usually means is that the old guy is having a mid-life crisis. Is that really someone you want to hand the keys to the Sheriff’s Department to? I would think not.
Translation: I have no idea why Paul Walters and his ex-wife divorced, but I’ll engage in sleazy character assassination anyway.
Hutchens has a divorce under her belt, as well. Funny how you don’t try to make hay out of that.
When I was 17 I hung out with a friend’s punk band. But I was 17. Paul Walters is in his 60’s (yes he does appear to be coloring his gray hair).
You’re in your forties and you still gossip like your 17.
Matt/Jubal,
Give me a break. Did Hutchens’ ex get a restraining order? I don’t think so. Face it – Walters’ divorce was UGLY.
I am glad Walters did not get to become our Sheriff. Now I hope he will pack up and leave Santa Ana altogether.
It is very funny BTW to see you and Sean agreeing on Walters. When you two agree on something it CAN’T be good for the people of Orange County. The ultimate irony is that you are both shilling for different machines…
“It is very funny BTW to see you and Sean agreeing on Walters. When you two agree on something it CAN’T be good for the people of Orange County.”
I think the fact that Matt and I agree on this says something about Paul Walters and his ability to lead the OCSD. The fact that we have found common ground on this when we rarely agree on anything speaks volumes.
Dan,
I thought you said you were a technical writer? Surely you know that you can’t have a man-crush on a woman.
Sean,
Not really. We all know you are shilling for Pulido and his cabal and Matt is shilling for the OC GOP old boy’s network. I doubt either of you are sincere about Walters.
But I am certainly happy that both your machines got punked!
“We all know you are shilling for Pulido”
Does Miguel know this?
I hate that I never get invited to the cabal meetings despite the fact that, as you say, I have sold out to the Pulido machine.
Oh, Forgive Art, Its a JAN-crush
We all know you are shilling for Pulido and his cabal and Matt is shilling for the OC GOP old boy’s network.
What do you mean “we” kemosabe? your claim is only true in Art fantasyland, where there is no distinction between what is true and what Art wishes were true.
But I am certainly happy that both your machines got punked!
And as Sean (everyone with eyes to see) has pointed out, the only organized GOP political effort mounted was in favor of Hutchens.
Mr. Greenhut has always been out of step with the main stream of thinking in OC, playing instead to the Libertarians and others who basically despise government and anyone associated with it. Fortunately, his self-promoted importance has never been a major force, and it is rapidly declining along with the circulation of his newspaper. So, who cares what he has to say about the selection of a new Sheriff? It is past time to move on.
#22 Older, you just about got me to reconsider writing this. You are sooo right.
#11 Sean, I was only refering to the comments on this post. Which is great! I love a bastion of free speech unfettered by political correctness where a guy can say what he thinks and others can tell him he’s a sexist. You are a sexist Sean.
Art, I agree with you. Why anyone would think a Chief with two Gang Wars in his city, and SWAT on patrol hoping the whole place doesn’t go up in flames and a hail of bullets, is successful or qualified to head another department. If Walters is as good as you say, let him clean up his city and then go for the Sherrif job.
Oh I see the job opened up sooner than he expected. Damn you Corona!
BTW, whats with SAUSD eliminating school security? Dont they know there are two gang wars going on?
Why didn’t anyone notice who the first person seen being hugged by newly appointed Sheriff Hutchens was? After the announcement was made, OC/GOP good old boy” Ron Cedillos was that person seen in the Register photo. Isn’t this the same badge & gun-carrying “special” reserve deputy who also helped get Carona in office? The Republican women of OC weren’t the only ones behind the scenes. Stand by.
With all this “bitch-slapping” you are ignoring the real issue, why would nayone put a person who can’t keep up with graffitti and shopping carts in our city the Sherrif of the entire County.
It will not take a magician to fix the OCSD just someone that can keep a shopping cart where it belongs. Don’t get me started on the $$$ paid by our fair city to “round up” the carts.
Sorry I did NOT spell check!!!!!!
Art let me draw you a picture so even you can understand. NO ONE CARES APPEARS about your opinon or what you think. ALSO IF Walters is doing so bad how come the city council or the newpapers ever mention how bad he is doing. OH I forgot it some conspiracy and your the only one that sees whats going on. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#27,
And yet here you are commenting on my post…on my blog which is currently rated #3 in the state – and has been rated as such for weeks. Whatever.
I think Walters COULD have been our Sheriff – but he tainted himself by retaining John Lewis and by earlier endorsing Carona. There was no way that the OC Supervisors were all going to vote for another Carona.
Me thinks #27 (18vetern) is a paid shill for Walters.
Perhaps that is why Walters is so much in debt!
Art get used to the Fact Walters will be Chief as long as he like and there is nothing you can do or say that will change that fact.
#29 I (CQT96) think your a Shill for Art.
MMmmm,
I think you might have a point there 18vetern, but if you let your hair grow out, no one will notice it.(barump ba!)
Also, your grammar leads me to believe you never mastered the English language.
You may be right there that Art might not be able to do anything to have Walters leave his overcompensated position, but he can surely blog about Walters’ long list of deficiencies and I applaud him for doing so.
IMO, the Supes did not do an extensive enough search for a new sheriff. Otherwise, why in the heck would you “promote” a person with such a bad job performance as in Walters if not for shady backroom politics.
Walters’ popularity within the SAPD never transcended into lower crime in the streets of SA.
And why wouldn’t his men be happy with him. They are some of the best paid in the country. The problem arises when performance is not tied into pay. The cops make out like bandits and the general poulation of SA are left to suffer the inadequate police service.