At separate ceremonies Monday, Orange County's new top law-enforcement officers were sworn in, both pledging to help poor and underprivileged youth.
New Sheriff Michael S. Carona, speaking at his swearing-in ceremony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, urged residents to donate their time and money to needy children. If they do not, he said, those children will grow up to occupy jail beds at taxpayers' expense.
Carona also said the hallmark of his administration will be targeting criminals: "If you're a bad guy, if you're a drug pusher, I'm coming after you. If you're a gang member, I'm coming after you. If you're a child abuser or want to terrorize Orange County, I'm coming after you."
Meanwhile, new Orange County Dist. Atty. Anthony J. Rackauckas Jr. pledged at his inauguration in Santa Ana to crack down on gang violence and on parents who don't make child-support payments.
"Let deadbeat parents beware: Your free ride is over," he said.
Rackauckas made no mention of political corruption, though he made clear during his campaign that he would place less emphasis on misconduct than did his predecessor, Mike Capizzi.
Capizzi, who served nine years, drew criticism from county Republicans for prosecuting Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) and several GOP campaign aides involved in the special 1995 election to recall then-Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress).
Rackauckas stated during his campaign that he would prosecute political cases only if they are felonies and would turn over minor election law violations to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
In his speech Monday, however, he made no mention of that issue. Rather, he emphasized the tough-on-crime themes of his successful campaign against Assistant Dist. Atty. Wallace J. Wade. He said anti-gang units would be bolstered and efforts to collect child-support payments strengthened for "hard-working, single parents . . . who are struggling because they cannot collect court-ordered child support."
Collections of child-support payments have increased in recent years--more than doubling since 1993 to an estimated $107 million in 1998, according to a recent report--but Rackauckas said there is room for improvement.
Carona, too, emphasized youth programs in his speech. He said he will ask local philanthropists and civic clubs to help at-risk youth. Local leaders such as Donald Bren of the Irvine Co. and developer George Argyros will be hearing from him soon, he said.
