My Chief-of-Staff and older brother, Eric Norby, has accepted a position with the Orange County Health Care Agency. His new position will give him an important role in one OC’s largest departments and core responsibilities — public health. Eric now has the opportunity to serve the County beyond the end of 2010, when my term expires. At 61, he has no plans to retire.

Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and personal connections that are a tremendous asset. On behalf of my staff, I thank Eric for his past, present and future service to Orange County.

Phil Tsunoda will take over Eric’s responsibilities, until a formal office reorganization is announced. Phil currently serves as Supervisorial Special Assistant, having previously served as Director of External Affairs for Clerk Recorder Tom Daly. Phil is Mayor Pro Tem of Aliso Viejo, where he lives with his wife Laurie and two children.

I just heard on CNN how the “housing market in Florida is terrible.” It’s funny about good news and bad news. Which is which? When housing prices were rapidly escalating here in OC, it was lamented as a crisis. No one could afford to buy here. When they drop, it’s a crisis, too!

It all depends on perspective. Falling home prices are terrible for over-extended homeowners who borrowed against future equity growth. But it’s good news for those who built up a nest egg and waited to buy now. Yes, the economy is down. But there are opportunities for those who have been prudent.

On February 4, Supervisors and County Executive Officer received a letter from the Sheriff asserting her ownership and control of security recordings of Board meetings. The tapes are particularly sensitive because they zeroed in on the private papers of Supervisor Nguyen and me, as we sat on the dais. There were also a contingent of undercover officers scattered amidst the audience. This comes the same week of disclosures that top deputies used county-issued blackberries to send text messages belittling speakers at the January 13 hearing on CCW permits.

CEO Tom Mauk responded in a 7-paragraph letter made public to the OC Register. He echoes my sentiments, particularly in the third and final paragraphs:

“As respects to the suggestion that somehow we would compromise the identity of undercover officers, I am highly offended by that allegation. The exposure of undercover officers, as a result of the January 13th Board meeting rests squarely on the shoulders of the command staff of the Sheriff’s Department. I have remained silent on the undercover issue to date, but I’ve been around police agencies for my entire 40 year career and I am astonished by the decision to put undercover officers in a public meeting which is recorded on both the internet and video, and also is the subject of private photos and news cameras within the same Board room. To suggest that anybody other than the Sheriff and your command staff are responsible for the lives and safety of these officers and their families is at best mistaken and at worst simply tries to absolve the command staff’s extremely poor decision making as it relates to this issue.”

“Let me know how I can help you move forward in resolving this and all of the issues (particularly the budget problems) with the Sheriff’s office. Please let me know how I can help you and the entire Sheriff’s Department be successful as we go forward. An important part of that success in our office is the acceptance of responsibility and accountability. I highly recommend that approach to you as well”