(Picture created by Gustavo Arellano of the OC Weekly’s Navel Gazing Blog)
What a month it has been for Santa Ana Clowncilman “Busty” Bustamante. He had to resign last week from two State Commissions that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had appointed him, in the wake of his scandalous comment to SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters after Sandra Hutchens was appointed to be our new Orange County Sheriff.
Things won’t get any better for “Busty” this week as the City of Santa Ana announced their new “Code of Ethics.” Let’s explore the ways “Busty” has already breached these “Codes of Ethics.”
Bustamante LIED after he told Walters that maybe he should have worn a “water bra” in order to better compete with Hutchens. Bustamante told the press that he NEVER said that. But his buddy Matt “Jubal” Cunningham, the Editor of the hard right Red County Blog, and an L.A. Times reporter both heard Bustamante make his incredibly stupid comment – and they quickly verified that he did in fact utter those words. Bustamante LIED. That would be strike one.
Did Busty treat Sheriff Hutchens with respect when he made his infamous comment about the water bra? No! So apparently Busty has NO RESPECT for appointed or elected officials who are women. And Busty certainly did NOT “conduct himself in a courteous and respectful manner” when he made his “water bra” comment – while in a public place. Strike Two!
Here is what the folks at the Liberal OC had to say in a post today about Busty’s proper use of public resources:
The problem with that story is that “Busty” is the Director of Administration, responsible for the OC Public Works Department Budget. He was required to be present at the Board of Supervisors meeting because of the budget hearings that day. As a county manager, “Busty” is paid for a full day of work if he shows up for two hours. Because he was present for the Budget hearings, he was most likely paid for the full day, although the County refuses to confirm this.
When “Busty” is attending the meetings of the Business Bank during his work day, is he taking time off in the form of vacation time? Or, like when he made his comments about Hutchen’s appointment, is he being paid by the taxpayers for a full day while conducting his personal business?
Is it a proper use of public resources for Busty to get paid for a full day of work, by the County of Orange, for going to a meeting for two hours? Is it a proper use of public resources for Busty to go to Board Meetings of the Santa Ana Business Bank while he is on the County dime? No! Strike Three!
Why does the City of Santa Ana have a Code of Ethics for elected and appointed officials if they are not going to enforce any of it after one of the Santa Ana Clowncilmen has violated three distinct aspects of this Code?
As I said at the time the ethics code was on the ballot, “Having unethical people write and then administer a code of ethics is a joke, a bad one at that. It will never be enforced.” Those of us who live here deserve better than this.
Carlos, as one who supported your initial election, I am ashamed of your behavior as an elected official. My apologies to everyone for my prior support of Carlos.
Ah, come on now….does this surprise you? Naa….Let’s now see how long it will be before it surfaces that the other ‘clowncil’ members have CONTINUOUSLY violated the code as well.
By the way…I just recently discovered this website; great format. I get my morning ‘political chisme’ fix. I now have a renewed interest in the local political arena.
#2,
Thanks for reading the Orange Juice – I am glad you found us.
This Code of Ethics was drafted when I and several of my other bloggers served on City Commissions. But think about it – this Code also will keep me from running for the City Council. How am I supposed to promise to respect these clowns? No way! That is why they adopted the Code – as a poison pill to keep me off commissions and to prevent me from running for the Clowncil.
The irony is that none of the Clowncil Members intend to obey their own Code of Ethics…
Art,
The notion that the Code of Ethics stops you from running for Council is absurd. That isn’t how you felt when you told an OC Register reporter that you “suppose” you will run against Carlos if nobody else does. The Code asks you to respect people and behave with decorum…you can still disagree with their positions. It’s basically the Golden Rule…someone on your lofty moral perch should be able to understand that.
Besides, how is it that the Code prevents you from running for anything you want to run for, yet it’s not stopping Thomas from running for Mayor?
#4 and 5,
Thomas and I write very differently. The Code by the way was just posted yesterday. I spoke to the reporter last week.
The City Clowncil obviously drafted the Code with me in mind. They know I have no respect for them – why should I? They are clowns and they are easily the worst City Council in Orange County.
C’mon Art…both you and Thomas have written on this blog in very strong terms regarding the Mayor and this Council. In addition, Thomas was voted off his Council Commission…you merely resigned. One would think that would give him greater pause regarding running for office than it would you.
Let’s just get real for a moment…the reason you won’t run is that you have absolutely zero chance of defeating Carlos Bustamante.
C’mon Art, you and Thomas have BOTH written here about the Mayor and Council in very strong terms. In addition, Thomas was voted off his Commission, whereas you merely resigned. One would expect that would give Thomas even greater pause about running for office than it would you.
Let’s be real for a moment…the reason you won’t run is because you have absolutely zero chance of defeating Carlos Bustamante. The Code of Ethics has nothing to do with it. You’re using it as an excuse to backpedal from the comment you made in The Register last week.
One a horndog, always a horndog.
Vote Carlos “Busty” Bustamante out of office Nov. 11.