Todd Spitzer

Todd Spitzer (born November 26, 1960) is the District Attorney of Orange County, California. Spitzer successfully ran for Orange County District Attorney in 2018, against incumbent Tony Rackauckas.[1] Spitzer had previously served as a deputy district attorney from 1990 to 1996 and, under Rackauckas, as assistant district attorney from 2008 to 2010. On November 6, 2018, Spitzer defeated Rackauckas in an election to become District Attorney of Orange County.

Todd A. Spitzer
Orange County District Attorney
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
Member of the California State Assembly from the 71st district
In office
December 2, 2002 – 2006
Preceded byBill Campbell
Succeeded byJeff Miller
Personal details
Born (1960-11-26) November 26, 1960
Whittier, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
  • UC Hastings College of the Law
ProfessionLawyer, Politician, Business Owner

Spitzer was previously an Orange County Supervisor from 1997 to 2002 and again from 2012 to 2018. He was also a member of the California State Assembly from 2002 to 2006, serving three terms representing California's 71st assembly district. As an assemblyman, he co-wrote California's Megan's Law.[2] He also served as spokesman and campaign manager for the successful campaign to pass Marsy's Law in a 2008 initiative.

Early life and education

Todd Spitzer was born on November 26, 1960, in Whittier, California,[3] to Phyllis Ann (née Kirschenbaum) and Leonard Spitzer.[4] He has a sister, Susan, who also went on to be an attorney.[4] Todd played leading roles in the Schurr High School department of performance arts' productions of the musicals Hello, Dolly! (1975)[5] and Li'l Abner (1976).[6]

Spitzer attended the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1982. He then completed a fellowship at the California State Senate.[7] In 1984–85, Spitzer worked as an English teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.[7] He graduated in 1989 with a master's degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[3] While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, given to law students dedicating their career to public service.[8]

Career

Early career

Spitzer joined the Orange County District Attorney's office in 1990 as deputy district attorney.[7] 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.[9] He served in the position until 1996.[7]

From 1990 to 2000, Spitzer also served as a volunteer reserve police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department.[10] Spitzer's first elected office was as a trustee to the Brea Olinda School Board in 1992.[11] Serving in the position until 1996,[7] 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.[12][13]

Orange County Board of Supervisors
Spitzer speaking at the California budget bill signing on June 6, 2004.
Spitzer speaking on the "No on Proposition 66" campaign on June 20, 2004.

In 1996, Spitzer ran against Assemblyman Mickey Conroy in a heated election for the 3rd supervisorial district seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.[14][15] Described by Los Angeles Times as "a decided underdog", Spitzer came in second in the March 1996 primary among seven candidates,[15] leading to a general election between him and Conroy. Spitzer won the general election[16] and was sworn-in in January 1997.[7][17]

While serving on the board, he successfully opposed the conversion of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into an international airport and instead advocated for a "Millennium Plan" for a mixed-use commercial and residential development for the 4,700-acre (1,900-hectare) property.[18][19] Spitzer also advocated for the immediate release of a map of registered sex offenders living in Orange County.[20]

California State Assembly

In 2002, Spitzer ran for a seat in the California State Assembly to represent the 71st assembly district. He was challenged by the Democratic candidate Bea Foster, a teacher from Santa Ana.[21][22] After defeating Foster in the election, Spitzer was sworn into the State Assembly on December 2, 2002.[23]

As an assemblyman, Spitzer served on the judiciary and public safety committees[11] and was a proponent for stronger legislation against sex offenders. In April 2004, he co-wrote Megan's Law for tougher penalties for people convicted of sex offenses and co-wrote legislation to publish the registered sex offenders database on the Internet.[24][2]

Spitzer was re-elected to the State Assembly in November 2004, defeating Bea Foster again with a vote margin of 69.1% to 30.9%.[25] In 2006, Spitzer served as co-chair of the High Risk Sex Offender Task Force, formed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to review the law vcs governing the monitoring of high risk sex offenders living in California.[26] He also advocated for the passage of Proposition 83, a law against sexual predators based on Jessica's Law.[27] He also helped write Marsy's Law,[28] an amendment to the state's constitution to expand the legal rights of victims of crime which was passed in 2008.[29] He served as spokesperson and campaign manager for the initiative to pass the amendment.[30][31] Spitzer later served as legal affairs director of Marsy's Law for All, an organization representing victims of crime.[32]

Return to Orange County District Attorney's office
Spitzer in 2007 speaks out against the early release of state prisoners with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

A June 2004 Los Angeles Times article described a "long-simmering feud between Orange County [District Attorney] Tony Rackauckas and [...] Spitzer."[33] In October 2004, Spitzer accused Rackauckas of "[poisoning] trust in local law enforcement". According to OC Weekly, in 2004, Spitzer was not only running for re-election to the State Assembly, he was privately seeking advice, support, and building a campaign to challenge Rackauckas in 2006.[34] Spitzer eventually decided not to run and instead reached an agreement with Rackauckas to become a prosecutor and run in the 2014 election with Rackauckas's blessing.[35][36]

In 2008, Rackauckas appointed Spitzer as assistant district attorney.[37][38] As a prosecutor in Orange County, Spitzer handled criminal matters and supervised line prosecutors.[39] He was fired two years later in 2010.[37] Rackauckas said that he fired Spitzer for inappropriate behavior in the workplace and intimidating other workers.[39] Spitzer was inquiring for information from the Orange County Public Administrator and Public Guardian, John Williams, at the behest of a domestic violence victim.[36][38] According to the news website Voice of OC, the fact that Rackauckas's fiancée, Peggy Buff, was Williams's deputy further fueled the controversy.[40] By this point, Spitzer had also indicated his intention to run in the 2014 District Attorney election but Rackauckas announced that he planned "to run for another term in 2014 to stop [him]".[39] Spitzer returned to private practice and prepared to run for a Board of Supervisors seat in 2012.[41]

Re-election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors

In June 2012, Spitzer beat Deborah Pauly, a fellow Republican, to again become a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, serving the same 3rd supervisorial district he had represented from 1997 to 2002.[42]

By early 2015, Spitzer had become Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.[43] In April 2015, Spitzer, a former reserve police officer, handcuffed a man who he felt was behaving aggressively towards him, then called 911 at the Wahoo's Fish Taco restaurant in Foothill Ranch, California.[44] The man was questioned about the incident, but was released by Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies.[45] At the time, Spitzer had with him a bag containing his handgun and a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon.[46] When news of the incident was reported in the press in September 2015, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said that she did not "think [Spitzer] did anything wrong … He perceived a threat. He acted upon that … It was resolved; nobody got injured, and it was over."[46] In August 2017, as the result of a Superior Court lawsuit, Orange County was required to cover the legal fees that Voice of OC spent in order to get the county to release emails and other documents.[47]

In September 2017, Christine Richters, a former aide to Spitzer, also sued the county alleging that Spitzer had a "raging temper" and that she was wrongful terminated.[48] The county reached to an agreement with Richters for a $150,000 settlement approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors including Spitzer.[49]

Orange County District Attorney

Spitzer challenged Rackauckas in the 2018 Orange County District Attorney election. The first round was held in June 2018 with Spitzer earning 35% of the vote to Rackauckas's 38%, leading to a second round.[50] On November 6, 2018, Spitzer earned 53.2% of the vote to win against the incumbent.[51][52] Replacing Rackauckas who had held the position since 1999, Spitzer became the county's first new district attorney in 20 years when he was sworn-in on January 7, 2019.[53]

As District Attorney, Spitzer has criticized the moratorium on the death penalty in California, ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2019. Spitzer has put public pressure on Newsom to rescind the order, holding press conferences with the families of murder victims whose convicted murderers are serving time on death row.[54][55]

Personal life

In mid 2009, Spitzer, whose mother had died the year before from colon cancer, was himself diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. He underwent successful radiation therapy treatment at the UC Irvine Medical Center [56] and has said that he "never missed a day of work."[39]

Spitzer is married to Jamie Morris Spitzer[57] who serves as the presiding judge on the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.[58] They have a son and a daughter.[53][58]

Awards and recognition

As deputy district attorney of Orange County, Spitzer developed an interest in victims' rights. Spitzer was voted Outstanding Prosecutor by the Orange County District Attorney's office in 1994[15][59] and the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored him with its Outstanding Prosecutor Award in 1996.[60]

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.[61] 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.[62]

In 2007, Spitzer was inducted into the Schurr High School Hall of Fame.[63]

Electoral history

Orange County, California District Attorney
Orange County, California District Attorney election, 2018[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Tony Rackauckas (incumbent) 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[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Todd Spitzer 484,830 53.2%
Nonpartisan Tony Rackauckas (incumbent) 425,764 46.8%
Total votes 910,594 100.0%
gollark: Hey, if you're trying to reconnect the auxiliary CPU alarm, you'll need to do better than posting a vaguely code-looking thing which doesn't work.
gollark: But it definitely would't *work* in anything.
gollark: I mean, maybe esolangs which work by character and ignore invalid ones, sort of thing.
gollark: Seriously. I don't think that's valid syntax in *any programming language at all*.
gollark: That would literally work in no programming languages.

References
  1. Elmahrek, Adam (July 10, 2017). "Todd Spitzer will challenge Tony Rackauckas for Orange County district attorney post". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  2. "Megan's Law Coauthor Seeks Probe of E-Mail 'Threat'". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 9, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  3. Pasco, Jean O. (November 20, 2002). "Spitzer Quits O.C. Board Early". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  4. "Spitzer, Phyllis Ann (72)". Los Angeles Times. March 8, 2008. p. B9. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. "'Hello Dolly' Will Open". Southeast Edition. Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1975. pp. 4H. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. "Musical Opens". Southeast Edition. Los Angeles Times. May 20, 1976. p. 2H. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. Pasco, Jean O. (November 4, 1997). "Spitzer Shakes Up County With Aggressive Approach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  8. "A Tribute to Mayor George R Moscone". Hastings Community. Hastings Alumni Publications. 74: 1. Summer 1988.
  9. Todd Spitzer, County of Orange, Personnel File, 1990-1996; 2008-2010.
  10. Gerda, Nick (July 5, 2017). "Spitzer Wahoo Documents Released". Voice of OC. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  11. Rappattoni, Linda (September 11, 2003). "Lawyer-Lawmaker Has Tailored His Life Toward AG's Job". Daily Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  12. Wilgoren, Jodi (July 27, 1994). "Brea Olinda Graduated Some Who Lack Credits: Education: Principal also knew of the grade-changing but did not tell his superiors: 'I think that was a bad decision on my part.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  13. "Grade Scandal Blamed on Confusion". Los Angeles Times. October 11, 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  14. Hall, Len (September 20, 1996). "Conroy's Obscene Gesture at Rival Shocks GOP Rally". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  15. Hall, Len (October 6, 1996). "Conroy, Spitzer Battling Over High-Stress Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  16. Grad, Shelby (December 23, 1996). "Divergent Political Styles, Same Political Destination". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  17. Grad, Shelby (December 6, 1996). "New Supervisor Sworn In; Airport Vote Nears". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  18. Muñoz, Lorenza (May 1, 1998). "Spitzer Tries to Avoid Hard Landing Over Airport Issue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  19. Robinson, Janine (October 31, 2002). "Turning GOP in O.C." Jewish Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  20. "Web Maps to Point to Sex Offenders' Neighborhoods". Los Angeles Times. October 15, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  21. Pasco, Jean O. (April 10, 2002). "Campbell Wants Spitzer's Office". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  22. Pasco, Jean O. (April 11, 2002). "Special Election Caps Are Pushed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  23. Pasco, Jean O. (November 20, 2002). "Spitzer Quits O.C. Board Early". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  24. Bharath, Deepa (April 10, 2004). "Megan's Law Web database receives backing". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  25. "Statement of Vote" (PDF). California Secretary of State. December 10, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  26. "High Risk Sex Offender Task Force Makes Recommendations to Governor on Placing, Overseeing Sex Offenders in Communities". News Releases. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. August 15, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  27. "Protecting Californians against sex offenders". Orange County Register. September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  28. Jolly, Vik; Koerner, Claudia (March 4, 2014). "Victims' rights law unfairly limits parole hearings, judge rules". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  29. Mickadeit, Frank (January 26, 2012). "For now, D.A. wins in victim's case". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  30. Moxley, R. Scott (July 22, 2011). "Todd Spitzer is a Psychological Test Away From Joining Sheriff's Department". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. "Class Notes: '89". UC Hastings. Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association. April 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  32. Spitzer, Todd (September 24, 2011). "Todd Spitzer: DA made the right decision in Thomas case". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  33. Pasco, Jean O. (June 21, 2004). "Assemblyman-D.A. Rift Widens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  34. Pasco, Jean O. (October 7, 2004). "OC Law Enforcement 'Poisoned'". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on November 30, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
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  36. Srisavasdi, Rachanee; Bharath, Deepa (August 29, 2010). "Todd Spitzer says district attorney fired him". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
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  39. "OC District Attorney Explains Why He Fired Top Deputy". NBC Southern California. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
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  41. Edds, Kimberly (July 26, 2011). "Deputy Sheriff Todd Spitzer?". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  42. Galvin, Andrew (June 6, 2012). "Spitzer wins bid to return to O.C. Board of Supervisors". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  43. Moxley, R., Scott (March 21, 2015). "Supervisor Todd Spitzer Blasts District Attorney Tony Rackauckas For Corruption Scandal". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  44. "Fearing For His Safety, OC Supervisor Says He Got Gun, Handcuffed Man At Restaurant". CBS Los Angeles. September 3, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  45. 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.
  46. Cuniff, Meghann M. (September 15, 2015). "Supervisor Todd Spitzer renews lapsed gun permit". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  47. Graham, Jordan (August 10, 2017). "Orange County to pay news publication $121K in lawsuit over Spitzer's emails about citizen's arrest". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  48. Graham, Jordan (March 28, 2017). "Former Spitzer aide sues Orange County over supervisor's 'raging temper,' alleging wrongful termination". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  49. Gerda, Nick (September 28, 2017). "Former Spitzer Staffer to Receive $150,000 Settlement Over Labor Law Violation". Voice of OC. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  50. Lehman-Ewing, Paula (November 1, 2018). "Grudge Match In Orange County DA Runoff". Daily Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  51. "Orange County: 2018 General Election". Orange County Registrar of Voters. November 6, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  52. Newberry, Laura (November 7, 2018). "Orange County voters appear to oust longtime Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  53. Brazil, Ben (January 9, 2019). "Todd Spitzer, Orange County's first new D.A. in two decades, takes the oath of office". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  54. Lehman-Ewing, Paula (May 10, 2019). "DAs, Victims' Families Seek To End Death Penalty Moratorium". Daily Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  55. "Newsom should reverse California's death penalty moratorium, prosecutors say". Los Angeles Times. May 10, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  56. "Vocal cord cancer patient still talking strong". UCI Health. March 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  57. "Conroy's Suit Against Spitzer Dismissed". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1997. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  58. "District Attorney Todd Spitzer". Office of the District Attorney. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  59. Platte, Mark (August 27, 1995). "Misreading Law Allowed Leniency: Crime: Orange County prosecutors reduced or dismissed charges against suspects caught with drugs in jail. Officials say they erred on the side of caution". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  60. Canalis, John (November 9, 1996). "MADD Lauds Officers With Top Arrest Marks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  61. OCBSA "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  62. "Visionary Awards Luncheon". Boy Scouts of America. 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  63. "Hall of Fame". Schurr High School. Montebello Unified School District. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  64. "Orange County: 2018 General Election" (PDF). Orange County Registrar of Voters. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Donald Saltarelli		 Orange County Supervisor
3rd District
January 6, 1997 – November 19, 2002		 Succeeded by
Bill Campbell
Preceded by
Bill Campbell		 California State Assemblyman
71st District
December 2, 2002 – 2006		 Succeeded by
Jeff Miller
Preceded by
Bill Campbell		 Orange County Supervisor
3rd District
January 7, 2013 – January 7, 2019		 Succeeded by
Don Wagner
Preceded by
Tony Rackauckas		 District Attorney of Orange County, California
January 7, 2019 – present		 Incumbent
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