Voices

“There’s a general feeling of basically disappointment ranging all the way to disgust. At a minimum, an effort could have been made to publicly consider other candidates. . . . [The board] is not representative of what the constituency is.”

--Jess Araujo, Santa Ana attorney, Latino activist and general counsel to the Mexican Consulate

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“I was very pleased that South Orange County at last has someone to represent them. Tom is very capable of doing the job.”

--Larry Porter, former Laguna Niguel councilman

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“I think it’s an absolute slap in the face for women in this county to be so overlooked.”

--Harriett M. Wieder, who retired in 1994 after 16 years as the county’s first female supervisor

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“The governor made an excellent choice. He gave us what we asked for--a South County official who is strongly opposed to an airport. I appreciate the governor’s sensitivity on this issue.”

--Melody Carruth, Laguna Hills councilwoman

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“Lest we [think] that the 20th century has reached Orange County, it hasn’t. Orange County is still a male-dominated system. I think the people Wilson looks to help him make his decisions in Orange County--[developer George L.] Argyros, Donald Bren, the Irvine Co.--are much more comfortable sitting around a table with a man than a woman.”

--Eileen Padberg, political consultant

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“He’s very well-respected. Tom’s really a first-class guy.”

--Stan Oftelie, chief executive officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority

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“I was very, very surprised. I really thought that the governor was going to appoint a woman, and there were a number of qualified women. There is great value in having the board reflect the makeup of the county, and more than 50% of the people in the county are women.”

--Dan Wooldridge, political consultant

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“Tom Wilson was not the choice of the majority here in South Orange County.”

--Eddie Rose, Laguna Niguel councilman