Embattled Executive Officer of Orange County Steps Down

SANTA ANA — Orange County Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier, who was instrumental in leading the county out of its bankruptcy only to draw flak for her approach to planning a new airport at El Toro, stepped down Tuesday after a closed-door vote by the Board of Supervisors.

Mittermeier, who clashed with supervisors over the last few years and survived three ouster attempts, will be replaced on an interim basis by Health Care Agency Director Michael Schumacher.

Supervisors stopped short of saying Mittermeier was fired, insisting that their 4-0 vote was prompted by her threat to sue them for creating a separate El Toro office outside her control earlier this month. Mittermeier, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, said it violated her contract and effectively terminated her after five years as chief executive.

Mittermeier said she held no ill will toward the board and had never threatened legal action. Mittermeier will receive about $198,000 in severance pay, said her attorney, Wylie Aitken.