Candidate for
Public Administrator; County of Orange

As ASSISTANT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR since 1999, I manage a professional staff who protects the property of those who die in Orange County when no one else is available or legally appropriate. We also locate relatives, arrange burials, pay bills, and perform other services consistent with decedents' wishes. Our fiduciary relationship with our clients, which places our clients' interests above all others, is the basis of my philosophy and actions.

Orange County residents deserve accountability, diligence, integrity, and continuous service improvements from their PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR. This includes implementing recommendations from clients, the Superior Court, Grand Jury annual reviews, and others who receive our services and review our work.

While the PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR and Public Guardian positions have traditionally been held by the same person, it is important to recognize that these are separate roles, without a legal requirement that the same person serve as both.

The PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR is elected by Orange County voters and, as explained above, protects decedents' estates. The Public Guardian is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to investigate the need for conservatorship and to act as conservator when appointed by the Superior Court. Each of these separate roles is narrowly focused, dedicated to each clients' specific best interests, and is unlike the roles of most other officials who represent more broad-based concerns. Additional information about the PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR and the Public Guardian is available at <http://www.oc.ca.gov/csa/papg/>

The Public Guardian's role is to investigate the need for conservatorship, a last resort option for individuals unable to care for themselves, usually due to mental illness or severe dementia. Our society values freedom, including adults' rights to self-determination - to decide how and where they live. Non-conservatorship alternatives are identified for MOST senior adults to assist them in maintaining their independence, such as help with housekeeping or transportation to medical appointments.

Under a legal system designed to protect individual rights and freedoms, the Public Guardian investigates referrals and presents its findings and recommendations to a Superior Court judge. If the judge decides the adult needs the protections of conservatorship, the judge may choose a private, private professional, or public conservator. The Public Guardian seeks to recommend a responsible family member or friend of the adult to become a private conservator. If no one else is available or appropriate, the judge appoints the Public Guardian. All conservators have the same legal responsibilities for managing the conservatee's life, health, and finances, and are accountable on a regular basis to the Superior Court regarding their actions.

As the ASSISTANT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR/Assistant Public Guardian, I am personally and professionally committed to protecting our clients' freedoms, rights, and property.

An example of my commitment is my work on AB 1957, signed into law by the Governor on September 19, 2002. AB 1957 allows the Public Guardian access to criminal background information on potential conservators to protect conservatees and their assets, as recommended by the 2001 Grand Jury. As Assistant Public Guardian, it was a pleasure to work through the legislative process - drafting language, testifying before the Senate Public Safety Commitee, and meeting with many others concerned with the safety of our citizens - with many individuals to make this happen, including Assemblyman Robert Pacheco and his staff.

Please visit http://www.vickilandrus.org.