Orange County citizens protest against District Attorney Todd Spitzer

As the Orange County District Attorney’s race heats up, activists work to push for unity and equity at a Jan. 30 rally. Photos by DANIEL PEARSON, Photo Editor

The sidewalks of Main St. in Orange were covered with protestors Jan. 30. Many signs held by the protestors had #SpitoutSpitzer written on them — a popular phrase in the movement to remove District Attorney Todd Spitzer from office. 

Spitzer, who is running for re-election on June 7, and his supporters have their own slogan — #NoLaOC —to rally against progressive Los Angeles values on crime coming to Orange County. Some have taken offense to this motto, feeling it distracts from the work that needs to be accomplished in Orange County. 

“Instead of trying to unite people, (Spitzer) wants to divide people by saying Orange County is better than (Los Angeles),” Freedom Fight X, an Orange resident who attended the protest, told The Panther. “I am personally affected by his racism and felt compelled to join the Orange is the New Blue Commission to help get rid of him.”

The Orange is the New Blue Commission was created by local residents, organizers, activists and supporters who have come together to collectively get rid of DA Spitzer. 

Alicia Boyce, an Anaheim resident, who also attended the protest described the atmosphere as peaceful.

“(The protest was a) beautiful representation of what it means to come together as a community, in solidarity,” Boyce said. 

Spitzer is heavily campaigning that his opponents will be soft on crime. Meanwhile, some believe that Spitzer’s tough-on-crime stance has been ineffective. 

His opponent in the re-election, Marine Corps Veteran and former prosecutor Pete Hardin, notes that drug-related crimes have been the most prosecuted under Spitzer. Hardin wants the district attorney's office to prioritize treatment over punishment. 

The incumbent has faced criticism for failing to meet his campaign promises of addressing systemic racism and helping those experiencing homelessness in Orange County. In fact, Hardin said that — during his time as a prosecutor — he saw the same people recycled through the system due to unaddressed underlying conditions, 

“All too often their actions stem from problems with mental illness, addiction or homelessness,” Hardin said. “Until we recognize that those are public health crises and not simply deal with them in the criminal justice system, we’re going to continue a system that relies on over-incarceration particularly in communities of color and marginalized communities.”

Hardin believes Spitzer has put resources towards prosecuting drug-related crimes over prosecuting violent crimes. 

“Since Todd Spitzer became District Attorney our community has experienced a wave of violence not seen since the 1990s,” Hardin said. 

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, homicides in Orange County have reached the highest rate in 22 years. 

Spitzer decided to place his focus on LA County during his press conference in La Palma Park. He took aim at LA DA’s George Gascon to charge juveniles as adults for violent crimes and criticized the ban Gascon placed on dispatching prosecutors to oppose the parole of state prisoners.

“We cannot allow Los Angeles to deteriorate or to happen in Orange County,” Spitzer told the crowd. 

Mike Jacobs, a former prosecutor with 30 years of experience, joined the District Attorney race Feb. 1.

“Both of the other candidates have problems in their backgrounds and a lack of experience,” Jacobs told the Orange County Register. 

Jacobs was fired from the DA’s office in 2001 for reporting then DA Tony Rackauckas to state prosecutors. 

The primary for the District Attorney election will take place June 7 of this year. The general election will be held Nov. 8.