COUNTYWIDE : Bradbury Asks for Nepotism Exception

Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury urged the Board of Supervisors in a letter Thursday to waive personnel rules and allow a married couple to keep working together on his staff.

Bradbury’s 14-page letter was the latest salvo in an ongoing battle with the county Civil Service Commission, which has accused him of violating county anti-nepotism rules. Civil Service Commission Chairman Robert Embry has accused Bradbury of sanctioning “blatant nepotism” by allowing Child Support Division head C. Stanley Trom and division ombudsman Margaret Escobar Trom to continue working together.

Bradbury responded in his letter Thursday, “You would think that instead of simply having two long-term employees marry, our office organization chart resembles my family tree.”

The Civil Service Commission’s report cited “numerous complaints against Mrs. Trom,” who allegedly “was perceived as one who enjoyed ‘most favored status.’ ”

Bradbury’s letter replied that only three complaints about the Troms’ situation were received by the chief family support officer, who resolved them.

He said the commission’s closed-door meeting, to consider allegations by “nameless faceless people” against the Troms, was “unethical conduct that could result in removal if committed by a judicial officer.”