The role of corporations in influencing politics in Orange County is a recurring topic in the headlines. From FBI wiretaps at the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce to elected officials in Santa Ana comparing their police union to an organized crime syndicate, it is clear that corporate interests have a significant impact on the political landscape of the county. Gonzales, chairman of a committee, never scheduled a hearing on the bill because he said the Orange County delegation opposed it. In Irvine, most of the spending came from the Lincoln Club, a conservative donor group based in Orange County.
In an unprecedented move, the Legislature created the Reedy Creek Improvement District from Orange and Osceola counties and exempted it from state land use and other laws to attract Walt Disney to invest in Florida. Ely Flores, executive director of the Orange County Community Organization for Responsible Development (OCCORD), believes that if candidates refuse to accept money with special interests, they need to have a strong organizing campaign on the ground to win the elections. Before the legislative session began, the Orange County delegation unanimously voted in favor of the bill. John Moorlach's fiscal rectitude is well-known; he was one of four senators who voted against a 3% salary increase for guards last year.
It is not surprising that guards would prefer the Orange County senator to retire in November. We fully embrace the values of disclosure and transparency in corporate political spending, as reflected in the company's high score on the Center for Political Accountability-Zicklin's Zicklin Index, which measures political outreach and accountability. In its quasi-judicial function, the Board of Supervisors can resolve lawsuits filed against the county and can review and audit the accounts of all county officials with regard to the administration and disbursement of funds.
