The Orange County Register’s Editorial Board has endorsed Orange Council Member Teresa “Tita” Smith, a Democrat, for Mayor of Orange – discarding her government worker opponent Jon Dumitru. Here are a few excerpts from the O.C. Register’s column in support of Ms. Smith:
The Register’s Editorial Board endorses Ms. Smith, even though we have some reservations about some of her positions. She has the endorsements of both the firefighter and police officer unions. However, she sees the need for public-employee pension reform and wants to move city employees to plans that mirror those in the private sector, such as a 401(k).
We feel that Ms. Smith would work to promote fiscally conservative business practices and that she aims to bring more business to Orange. We do wish, however, that she’d be careful going forward about issues regarding open space.
Ms. Smith told us she was opposed to Measure FF, the city referendum on the proposed Orange Park Acres development. She said she wanted more open space in the city, but the burden for providing that open space should not fall disproportionately on a property owner who is already making available more than 20 times the parkland required by the city and state.
Jon Dumitru is on the right, literally and in the picture above
Dumitru, a Republican, seems incapable of being a real leader and he is too caught up in partisan politics. Congratulations to Ms. Smith! She has our endorsement as well.