THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:

Orange County Supervisors will take a second look at stripping county Treasurer Chriss Street of his investment powers next week, after they opted not to in September.

When supervisors meet Tuesday, they’ll consider a list of tighter controls for the treasurer’s office, from daily reports to ensure investments jibe with county policies, to putting the investment portfolio and treasurer’s 14 employees under control of the county’s chief financial officer.

Street is reportedly under investigation by county and federal prosecutors and other agencies for several issues, and he’s the subject of a lawsuit alleging he mismanaged a corporate bankruptcy trust. County Supervisor John Moorlach, a former supporter who helped Street get elected in 2006, asked the treasurer to resign because of the investigations, but Street refused and has denied wrongdoing.

Two county architectural employees are on leave during a county investigation into an allegedly falsified document, signed by Street, that describes bids to renovate the outside of the treasurer’s building, and now officials are questioning how Street divided up more than $300,000 in contracts to redo the treasurer’s offices.

State law requires public agencies to put contracts worth more than $5,000 through a bidding process to ensure the best value.

“It was all divided in these tiny little contracts that just do not make sense,” said Mario Mainero, Moorlach’s chief of staff. “Suddenly we’ve got 42 of these things that are under $5,000.”

Officials have said the county investment pool is not in danger. If supervisors vote to strip Street of his control over investments, the measure would become effective Nov. 26.

 Rep. defends friend, Blackwater president

A national controversy over Iraq security contractor Blackwater drew Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to defend his longtime friend who runs the company. Rohrabacher spoke in defense of company president Erik Prince this week, a man who in the early ’90s was an intern for the congressman.

Blackwater has come under public scrutiny after a Sept. 16 shooting in which its military contractors are accused by the Iraqi government of killing 17 unarmed civilians. The FBI is investigating the incident. But Rohrabacher said congressional hearings on the role of military contractors were politically motivated.

“I think this is ginned up by people who oppose the war and are looking for a target,” he said. “And they cannot take on military personnel directly, so they go after the contractors.”

Any large operation is going to have some mistakes made, Rohrabacher said — whether it’s a public operation or a private one. Blackwater can’t prevent having “a few bad eggs among your personnel,” he said.

“To throw it up at them, ‘Your guy got drunk on Christmas Eve and shot some guy,’” Rohrabacher said, was an unfair argument. “How many people in the world in service in hot spots get drunk and shoot somebody? Let’s not reflect any bad judgment or immorality they may have on Blackwater.”

 Forum to discuss new city hall location

As supporters and opponents of a ballot measure on where to build Newport Beach’s city hall get ready to rumble, voters will need to gather information before the Feb. 5 election. The West Newport Beach Assn. will sponsor a forum on the issue Oct. 24.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to place the measure on the ballot. It would require city hall to be built on a city-owned parcel on Avocado Avenue next to the central library. Opponents argue the site has long been promised as a park.

Ballot issue proponent Bill Ficker will speak for the measure, and City Councilman Keith Curry will present against it. The one-hour forum will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 3300 Newport Blvd.

ALICIA ROBINSON may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].