According to the January 28, 2011 edition of the San Bernardino Sentinel [SBCSentinel@yahoo.com] in an article entitled "Supervisor Mitzelfelt Denies Nepotism Accusation":
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“In January of 2007, the board of supervisors appointed a new supervisor to the board [i.e., Brad Mitzelfelt]. The spouse of the supervisor was introduced into employment within the supervisor’s district in August of 2007. I believe this contract that was approved violated the [California] Government Code 1090 to 1099, as the supervisor, by the hiring of a spouse, illegally obtained monetary compensation in the form of her salary due to this hiring.” Government Code section 1090 prohibits an elected official from participating in a decision in which he or she has a financial interest. Winkler further charged that Megan Blaney-Mitzelfelt’s hiring by the county, while Brad Mitzelfelt is in office, constituted an “unfair hiring practice under the laws of California, an equal opportunity employer.” In response to Winkler’s assertions, which were made during the public comment portion of the meeting, Brad Mitzelfelt said, “I had nothing to do with my wife getting her job. I’d suggest you get your news from more credible sources. I also want to put you on notice that anyone who spreads rumors about my wife will be sued by me.”
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Blogger Bob's comments:
(1) Mrs. Mitzelfelt (who by the way appears to be a nice lady and I will assume for now is qualified for the position) was introduced early on in Brad's campaign as the horse loving spouse that stood (I just had one of his old campaign flyers in my hands--wierd timing) next to Brad; it would have been interesting to have known she worked for the Sun, in front of which Brad was going for an endorsement!
(2) I find Brad's perception of legal rights challenged at best (maybe that's from all those super-lawyers he's voted to hire)--since when does a public official have legal standing to sue for his wife's alleged defamation?? The plain and simple fact, is that he does not have that right--she might, depending on what is said, where and when assuming the Anti-SLAPP statute(s) do(es) not apply, but Mitzelfelt as a former media rep for the USMC and former chief of staff for a first district supervisor, knows that, so what can this little outburst be really reflective of? Surely Brad knows that the appearance of impropriety in these charged times can be everything, esp if it its a soft job. Heck didn't someone just get convicted (Rex Gutierrez) for having a job (that his former boss,also a first district supervisor) that he did not do much work at?
(3) Besides, unless Megan did not live at Mitzelfelt's house and used another name, don't ya think County HR knew who she was? Who would risk a career ender by not hiring Brad's wifey?
(4) As for the hiring and whether it was illegal or an unfair labor practice, it will be what it is, if the DA's office gets off its duff and scrutinzes this (opps-- I forgot, this is the same DA's office that endorsed Brad and visa versa);
(5) We know the union and or any personnel commission did not file an unfair labor practice when Mrs. M. was hired-- with the county being so broke, a number of wage hikes were not only approved by the Board of Supervisors shortly after Brad got in, but pushed through by Brad as its newest Chair--so was wifey's job (assuming for the sake of argument it was a challengable hire from a personnel commission and or unfair labor practice standpoint) grievance-proofed by the global deal he made sure was approved?
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Where's Jeff Wright when you need to shake things up?
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