ORANGE COUNTY IN BANKRUPTCY : REACTIONS TO TUESDAY’S HEARINGS

“One thing you can say about Bob Citron today: You couldn’t challenge him on being anything but forthright. But we all have to take responsibility over our own actions.”

THOMAS F. RILEY

Former county supervisor

*

“I am very disappointed in Bob Citron. I think he wanted people to feel sorry for him. He admitted he didn’t have any education or background, then why was he in it for all these years? I also think (County auditor-controller) Steve Lewis should be recalled. He knew what was going on and didn’t blow the whistle.”

CAROLE WALTERS

President of the Orange County Taxpayers Assn.

*

“(Citron) was playing the part of the country boy that was taken in by the city slickers. I’m sure that nothing could be further from the truth....His attempt to portray himself as the victim just didn’t ring true at all. The blame is and always has been on the Board of Supervisors. I saw nothing that could change that.”

TOM ROGERS

Chairman of Citizens Against Unfair Taxation in Orange County

*

“I’ve been on the board for nine days. I don’t know all of the answers about the bankruptcy. But I’m not very happy with a lot of the things I’m finding out.”

JIM SILVA

Supervisor

*

“It is unfair and wrong for some to try to make Merrill Lynch or me a scapegoat.”

MICHAEL STAMENSON

Merrill Lynch broker

*

“I have never heard so many proud and successful people converted rapidly to humility. I have never seen so may bright people turned into Forest Gumps. I congratulate you on proving that the power of a subpoena is greater than the power of a sword.”

TOM HAYDEN

State Senator (D-Santa Monica), as he left the hearing to attend an earthquake anniversary event in Los Angeles

*

“Our feeling is that although Mr. Citron is primarily responsible, he seemed to have some help from Merrill Lynch and maybe some other county officials who may have had a little more responsibility for checking what was going on....We would like to hear more testimony about what the county is going to do to refinance its losses instead of concentrating on how people are going to get cut back.”

JOHN SAWYER SR.

General manager of the Orange County Employee Assn.

*

“I haven’t been able to watch the (Sacramento) hearing because I’ve been in meetings, and we don’t have cable in my building. But I’ve got my VCR programmed, and I can’t wait to get home to watch.”

R.A. (BURT) SCOTT

Director of the Orange County General Services Agency

*

“Bob Citron is not dishonest. Bob Citron is arrogant, that is the story. He was as humble today as I’ve ever seen him and I’ve dealt with him for 15 years.”

BERNIE MICHAEL

A representative of Sutro and Co., a consulting firm representing the creditors committee

*

“I think anyone in elected position, if they don’t read reports, that’s not the responsibility of the person who wrote them... they can’t pass responsibility on to someone else.”

CATHIE WRIGHT

State Senator (R-Simi Valley)

*

“It’s apparent two things could have prevented this: adequate oversight and disclosure to investors. There was unquestionably too much trust placed in Citron’s policies and not enough questions were asked.”

MARIAN BERGESON

Supervisor

*

“(Citron) can’t say all those things and then say he was unsophisticated and was led down the garden path by Merrill. It just doesn’t wash.”

PAUL CRITCHLOW

a Merrill Lynch spokesman

*

“I don’t know anymore than I knew before. It’s kind of a ‘he said, you said’ type of an explanation.”

JUDITH A. FRANCO

Newport-Mesa Unified School District board member.

*

“How could someone who has been investing in the bond market for 20 years, dealing in billions, refer to himself as a layman dependent on Merrill Lynch?”

JOHN M.W. MOORLACH

Certified public accountant and Citron election opponent

*

“We were wondering how he was dressed. We heard a rumor he wasn’t going to wear his turquoise jewelry...I think what he has to say is more important than what he’s wearing. But first impressions stay in some people’s minds.”

BELINDA QUAN

An employee in the tax collector’s office for seven years.

*

“They’re all in a big cover-up of their responsibilities. The supervisors are just as responsible for what he did as he is.”

LARRY BALES

Auditor-appraiser in assessor’s office for 26 years