O.C. IN BANKRUPTCY: THE GRAND JURY’S CHARGES

Reactions to Tuesday’s developments:

Ernie Schneider, Former county administrative officer

“I think this is a very sad and a very unfortunate situation.”

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Tom Hayden, State senator (D-Santa Monica)

“One can only hope it sends a message. But I’m afraid there is still a lot of denial about the message. . . . The system and the culture [that led to the bankruptcy] still thrive. . . . Until we have campaign finance reform, I don’t think the message will be heard.”

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Bonnie Hanson, Santa Ana resident

“I feel this was a necessary step in resolving the bankruptcy problem. But I don’t have a good feeling coming out of it. . . . I think the entire board at the time [of the bankruptcy] should be equally involved in this. We shouldn’t point fingers at certain people. All the board members attended the same meetings.”

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Harriett M. Wieder, Former Orange County supervisor

“Wow. I would not want to make a judgment or comment on what the grand jury felt they had to do. The whole scene of what happened with the bankruptcy has been a tragedy since that day at 3 o’clock in the morning when I was awakened. I thought I was going to somebody’s funeral, and I guess I was. The number of people who’ve lost their jobs, the upheaval in county government, the place just isn’t the same in any way.”

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Bruce Whitaker, Member of the Committees of Correspondence, a citizens’ watchdog group

“I think this could lead to some short-term uncertainty. I think with all the changes in the county over the last year, there is a need for leadership. To some degree, [Supervisor William G.] Steiner and [Board Chairman Roger R.] Stanton have been stabilizing forces on the board. . . . But in the long term, I think this will probably be cathartic for the county.”