“Orange County is the safest major county in California for a reason – I prosecute the bad guys, enforce the law, and hold violent criminals accountable. I am running to ensure it stays that way, and to protect and preserve the wonderful quality of life we all enjoy,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told the Asian Journal.
Spitzer has dedicated his life to keeping families safe and public service, whether it has been as an Orange County Supervisor, former California State Assembly Member, or now, as the Orange County DA seeking reelection.
The DA’s office regularly goes after hard-core gangs, sex offenders, human traffickers, drunk drivers, skinheads, animal abusers, smash and grab crews, and other violent offenders with the full force of the law.
“I have created one of the most aggressive hate crimes units in the country and has prosecuted more hate crimes in the first two years of my administration than were prosecuted in the past 25 years by previous administrations. I am running to keep Orange County safe,” he explained further.
A champion for public safety, DA Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally. Spitzer chaired the ground-breaking campaign for Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, the nation’s most comprehensive Victim’s Bill of Rights, and served as State Co-Chair for Proposition 83, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law as well as Proposition 69, which requires the collection of DNA samples from all felons.
Fighting to protect the community, he joint-authored Megan’s Law on the Internet, the landmark legislation requiring the release of public information related to sex offenders, and as a former deputy and assistant district attorney, he handled complex criminal matters while managing line prosecutors.
“My top priority is, and always will be public safety. As District Attorney, it is imperative that I do everything within my power to create a safe environment for Orange County residents to live, work, and raise a family,” Spitzer said. “To that end, I will continue to prioritize victims’ rights, combatting hate crimes, addressing homelessness, mental health, and addiction, the opioid crisis and fentanyl deaths, and accountability and reform within the criminal justice system.”
As Third District Supervisor, he secured Orange County’s first year-round, supportive housing shelter for the homeless, established an Ethics Commission, gained passage of pension reform measures, and strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review.
Five of California’s top ten safest cities are in Orange County – one of the safest major counties in America. Whether that continues to be true will be entirely dependent on the outcome of the most important District Attorney’s race in Orange County’s history, according to Spitzer.
“The safety we enjoy is not an accident and should not be taken for granted. A clone of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon named Pete Hardin is running to be Orange County’s next District Attorney, and unless voters are paying close attention, our public safety will be destroyed by the same reckless policies that turned Los Angeles and San Francisco into warzones. Hardin supports the Gascon agenda, including no cash bail, no sentence enhancements, a blanket policy to never charge juveniles as adults (even in the case of rape and murder), and a promise to ignore thefts and other crimes that affect the quality of life,” Spitzer said.
Spitzer earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA (1982), a master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service.
Spitzer is a former high school teacher and reserve police officer assigned to DUI enforcement and patrol duties. He is a doting father of a son and daughter and a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, Associate Chief Judge for the South, Division of Workers’ Compensation. n
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