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Todd Spitzer

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Todd A. Spitzer
Orange County District Attorney
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byTony Rackauckas
Member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from the 3rd District
In office
January 7, 2013 – January 7, 2019
Preceded byBill Campbell
Succeeded byDon Wagner
In office
January 6, 1997 – November 19, 2002
Preceded byDonald Saltarelli
Succeeded byBill Campbell
Personal details
Born (1960-11-26) November 26, 1960 (age 63)
Whittier, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
ProfessionLawyer, Politician, Business Owner

Todd Spitzer (born November 26, 1960) is the District Attorney of Orange County, California. He is a former Orange County Supervisor and former California State Assembly Member.[1][2] He led the successful campaign to start a committee in support of Marsy's Law for All, the organization formed after the 2008 passage of California's Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law.

As an Assistant District Attorney in Orange County, Spitzer handled criminal matters and supervised line prosecutors prior to being fired.[3] He has prosecuted felonies including attempted murder, attempted rape, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. Spitzer has tried about 100 jury trials to verdict.[4]

Spitzer joined the Orange County DA's Office in 1990 and served until he was fired in 1997 for inappropriate behavior in the work place and intimidating other workers.[5] During this period Spitzer developed his interest in victims' rights. The local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Spitzer with its Outstanding Prosecutor Award (1995), and he was voted Outstanding Prosecutor by the Orange County DA's office (1994).[6]

Spitzer ran for Orange County District Attorney in 2018, against incumbent Tony Rackauckas.[7]

On November 6, 2018, Spitzer defeated incumbent District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

Early life

Spitzer was born in Whittier, California and raised in nearby Montebello, 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. He excelled in academics, student government, music and theatre, and graduated from Schurr High School in 1978. On November 7, 2008, Spitzer was inducted into the Schurr High School Hall of Fame for his achievements in law and politics.

Education and early career

Spitzer earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA (1982), a master's degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989).

While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service. This scholarship provided full tuition and expenses while at Hastings. At Berkeley, Spitzer also received a full academic scholarship.

In 1984-85, Spitzer worked as an English teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Political career

Spitzer's first elective office was as a Trustee to the Brea Olinda School Board (1992–96), where he investigated a grading scandal at Brea Olinda High School involving a former registrar changing students' grades to enhance their chances of getting into college. As a result, the school's principal was terminated and the Superintendent forced into early retirement.[8]

Todd Spitzer, "No on Proposition 66" Campaign, 2004

In 1996, Spitzer was first elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.[9] While serving on the board, he established the first County restaurant rating system.[10]

Spitzer speaks out against the early release of state prisoners with Governor Schwarzenegger and San Diego County DA Bonnie Dumanis

On November 6, 2018, Spitzer won the Orange County District Attorney election against incumbent Tony Rackauckas.

Controversies

In April 2015, CBS Los Angeles and the Voice of OC reported Spitzer retrieved a gun and handcuffs from his vehicle, handcuffed a man who he felt was behaving aggressively towards him, then called 911 at a Wahoo's Fish Taco restaurant in Foothill Ranch, CA[11] The handcuffed man was questioned about the incident, but was released by OC Sheriff's Department deputies.[12] Video footage of the event was later released.[13] In August 2017, as the result of a Superior Court lawsuit, Orange County was required to reimburse approximately $121,000 in legal fees that the news site Voice of OC had spent in order to get Spitzer to release emails and other documents he had withheld that related to this event.[14]  

In September 2017, taxpayers paid $150,000 settlement to an ex Playboy Playmate and former aid, Christine Richters, who sued Spitzer for having a “raging temper” and work place harassment.[15]

On October 30, 2018, the Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisor declared, during Item 10 at hour thirty five minutes into the board meeting, Supervisor Spitzer used extortionary tactics in campaign fundraising from the dais during the Oct. 30, 2018, Orange County Board of Supervisor’s meeting.  The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors stated that Spitzer brought in throngs of television crews to forcefully announce the termination of GTL’s contract with the County of Orange during a previous Board of Supervisor’s meeting. Within days following of said meeting, GTL lobbyists made a $40,000 plus contribution to a Political Action Committee (PAC) supporting Supervisor Spitzer and sent out mailers on his behalf during the 2018 election cycle.[16]

Awards and recognition

CA Budget bill signing, Spitzer

Spitzer serves as an Honorary Board Member of the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau (Renamed Crime Victims Action Alliance) and as a Board Member of Crime Survivors, Inc., and the Orange County's Trauma Intervention Program (TIP). He also served as a member of the Orange County Bar Association Administration of Justice Committee. He is on the Advisory Board for the Orange County Council along with Ca. Assemblyman James Silva, and former State Senator Van Tran Boy Scouts of America.[17] In 2003, he received that organization's Visionary Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the attributes of the Scout Oath and Law, and who has demonstrated leadership and philanthropy in the Hispanic and Latino communities.[18]

From 1990 to 2000, Spitzer served as a Level 1 Line Reserve Police Officer in the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollenbeck Division in East Los Angeles, where he founded the Driving Under the Influence Task Force.

Electoral history

Orange County, California District Attorney

Orange County, California District Attorney election, 2018[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Tony Rackauckas (inc.) 209,148 38.5
Nonpartisan Todd Spitzer 191,346 35.2
Nonpartisan Brett Murdock 121,818 22.4
Nonpartisan Lenore Albert-Sheridan 20,890 3.8
Total votes 543,202 100.0
Orange County, California District Attorney election runoff, 2018[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Todd Spitzer 484,830 53.2
Nonpartisan Tony Rackauckas (inc.) 425,764 46.8
Majority 59,066 6.5
Total votes 910,594 100.0

References

  1. ^ "Feud escalates between OC Supervisor Spitzer and DA Rackauckas". MyNewsLA, by Debbie L. Sklar on October 25, 2016
  2. ^ "Censure vote falls short at Lake Forest council meeting". Orange County Register, Oct. 5, 2016. Nathan Percy.
  3. ^ "OC District Attorney Explains Why He Fired Top Deputy". NBC Southern California. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Todd Spitzer, County of Orange, Personnel File, 1990-1996; 2008-2010.
  5. ^ "OC District Attorney Explains Why He Fired Top Deputy". NBC Southern California. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  6. ^ Orange County District Attorney records; plaque displayed in District Attorney Library.
  7. ^ Todd Spitzer will challenge Tony Rackauckas for Orange County district attorney post
  8. ^ Wilgoren and Ko, The Los Angeles Times, Discipline Possible for Officials Linked to Grade Changing August 17, 1994; Bates, Betsy. Orange County Register. Brea Olinda grade changes are a tangled web, October 11, 1994.
  9. ^ Orange County Registrar of Voters records, 2006 election cycle.
  10. ^ Orange County Health Care Department: http://ochealthinfo.com/docs/regulatory/food/food_program_broch.pdf,
  11. ^ "Fearing For His Safety, OC Supervisor Says He Got Gun, Handcuffed Man At Restaurant". CBS Los Angeles. September 3, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Cuniff, Megan (October 29, 2015). "Armed O.C. Supervisor Todd Spitzer recalls his citizen's arrest, handcuffing of man in Foothill Ranch restaurant". Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Tawd Spitzer (January 28, 2018), The true story of Todd Spitzer handcuffing a citizen in a taco shop, retrieved November 22, 2018
  14. ^ "Orange County to pay news publication $121K in lawsuit over Spitzer's emails about citizen's arrest". Orange County Register. August 10, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  15. ^ "Ex Playboy Playmate and former aid to OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer receives $150K in wrongful termination settlement". Lariat. September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Board Meeting Morning - Oct 30th, 2018". ocgov.granicus.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  17. ^ OCBSA "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ http://www.ocbsa.org/events/visionary-awards-luncheon/, previous awardees referenced
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ [2]
California Assembly
Preceded by California State Assemblyman
71st District
2002–2008 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Orange County Supervisor
3rd District
1997–2002 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Orange County Supervisor
3rd District
2012– 		Succeeded by
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