Would you trust this guy? The O.C. Grand Jury doesn’t!
So is Orange County Public Administrator John S. Williams yet another O.C. Republican who talks like a conservative while he wastes public money?
Williams wrote a long response full of spin explaining himself, after the Orange County Grand Jury recently slammed him for mismanagement of public funds. Click here to read what Williams had to say for himself. As one might imagine, it is a load of B.S.
A more important document to consider is the Orange County Grand Jury Report about Williams and how he has screwed up royally and wasted our money. Click here to read that report. Here are a few excerpts from that report:
The Orange County Public Administrator/Public Guardian (PA/ PG) was the subject of a report by this Grand Jury, titled, The Guardian of Last Resort. After that report was published, on May 4, 2009, the Grand Jury received additional pertinent and compelling information regarding increasing management costs and additional inappropriate personnel practices. There are two significant events that are directly linked to findings contained in the original report. All of these actions are continuing to occur while Orange County is under severe financial stress, necessitating staff and service reductions. Consequently, this supplemental report adds further findings and recommendations based on the follow-up investigation conducted since the release of the original report.
At the time the PA/PG separated from the Health Care Agency in 2005, annualized hourly wages for individuals classified as managers amounted to $529,796. As of the end of May, 2009, the annualized hourly wages amounts to $1,156,002. This salary growth in the management category classification has now increased 118.2% over the last four years.
The redundancy caused with the addition of a second Chief Deputy position appears inappropriate. In January, 2008, a significant organizational change was made. PA/PG management stated, “We will no longer be using the working title of Chief Deputy Public Administrator-Public Guardian.” However, technically the chief deputy position was not eliminated from the department. After several questionable personnel changes, the PA/PG reinstated the Chief Deputy position in August, 2008. Since the prior Grand Jury report, the PA/PG has created a second Chief Deputy position, even though there does not appear to be a suitable organizational reason for taking that action. Prior Chief Deputies or Executive Managers had significant academic and/or legal experience in the operation of the PA/PG. Consequently, there was not a need for two Chief Deputies.
Williams is a hack – and I imagine that if the Grand Jury were to scrutinize all of the departments at the County of Orange they would find a ton of waste. I hope the next O.C. Grand Jury can keep up this fine investigative work!
Mr. Williams, a former County Marshal like another rather famous former OC Elected Official, insisted that his office be a free-standing organizational entity vs. being part of a larger agency or department within county government as had been the case for the previous 30 years or more. He and his conservative supporters convinced and wore down the Board of Supervisors to grant his department that status, making him a Department Head vs. being an Assisant Director in a larger department or agency. His demand for seperate status, and hanging on to the appointed (yes appointed, not elected) Public Guardian responsiblity telegraphed a ego-driven, expense rising future prone to cronyism. Seems the Grand Jury has simply discovered this reality. Maybe next they can look into just who and how Mr. Williams selects people to be appointed to administer and liquidate given estates. Follow the money.
The report was so biased and so negative,” Williams said. “It just wasn’t fair to my people who work here. Their feelings were so hurt and the hard work they do wasn’t recognized.”
I have not read one article or post criticizing the employees of the PAPG – only the department head and several of the managers. The issue is that Williams continues to promote his cronies as to reward them for covering his #@$$ while he is out of town or on the golf course! My other favorite part about the OC Register article was that the Grand Jury “just didn’t understand.” He then goes on to blame other O.C. departments and their personnel practices – however, one should note that the PAPG also has six supervisors in addition to 10 (TEN) managers (not nine as Williams lies to the press), so add that into the equation and see how his chart changes.
Did you catch the update to the OC register article printed on 7-7-09 “UPDATED 7/7/09: James Perez, foreman of the grand jury that published the two reports, said Tuesday that Williams was allowed to review both reports before they were published and that he did not raise concerns about their accuracy.
“He made no factual corrections,” Perez said. “What he said was, the facts are correct, but I dispute your interpretation of the facts.””
I think the writer Jennifer Muir captured the essence of Mr. Williams quoting Mr. Perez. Anyone can bend and twist an “interpretation” to fit his beliefs. Like it was said before….. spin spin spin….
Did you catch the Total Buzz blog at the OC Register on 7-17-09 titled “Memo’s may support alegations against Public Administrator”? I can’t imagine if and Orange Juice writer read this that it would go without comment. It is an awesome read. The CEO’s office made some vary drastic suggestion such as splitting the PA from the PG office. It was a very well thought out and well researched memo.
There is also a link to William’s formal response. It is shameful how he still blames this whole mess on past and current employees being disciplined. He plames the whole Grand Jury investigation on this and now the CEO’s memo. Time to do something about this “elected official” he can’t even take responsibilty for his own actions.
It is a GOOD read………
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..
VOTE FOR JOHN S. WILLIAMS… ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR..