Chriss W. Street’s campaign for Orange County treasurer-tax collector has lost the support of District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
The county’s top law enforcement officer withdrew his backing for Street, now assistant treasurer-tax collector and one of those credited with predicting the county’s 1990s bankruptcy, after an anonymous complaint was filed, according to Rackauckas’ office.
The complaint is related to a trustee who alleged in a Delaware bankruptcy court filing that Street had mismanaged an old pension plan.
Street has come out swinging in his defense of the allegations. He’s filed a defamation suit against Fruehauf Trailer Corp.’s new trustee, who accused Street of “mismanagement, conflicts of interest and greed” two months ago.
From 1996 to 2005, Street oversaw the trust of the truck trailer maker.
Street’s suit, which recently was filed in Orange County Superior Court, also names Michael Carre, a union leader with the United Employee Organizations of Orange County and of the Association of County Deputy Sheriffs.
Carre spoke at an April 25 county supervisors meeting where he referred to Street as having had “criminal charges” filed against him.
The allegations made against Street are the opinions of the new trustee and don’t represent criminal charges.
“He was defamed,” said Phil Greer, the Newport Beach-based lawyer representing Street in the suit filed against Carre and Daniel Harrow, the trustee who alleged that Street had mismanaged the pension plan of Fruehauf Trailer.
Neither Carre nor Harrow could be reached for comment Thursday.
Superior Court Judge Andrew Banks is scheduled to take up the suit next week.
Rackauckas originally endorsed Street to succeed outgoing treasurer John Moorlach, who’s running for county supervisor.
Rackauckas declined comment on the matter beyond a basic statement.
Brett Barbre, campaign consultant for Street’s bid for treasurer, suggested politics is at play with the complaint.
“Keep in mind, the timing of this is just four weeks from the election,” he said. “Even Stevie Wonder can see that.”
Even so, “Tony is doing the correct thing in suspending his endorsement pending his investigation,” Barbre said. “We are very comfortable with this and fully believe that once the investigation is concluded, Tony will reissue his endorsement.”
