Supervisor Todd Spitzer is an Orange County Supervisor and former California State Assembly Member and who has dedicated his career to public service. A former high school teacher, reserve police officer and prosecutor, Spitzer is a leader who understands the challenges facing everyday people. Supervisor Spitzer is dedicated to enhancing public safety, strengthening fiscal responsibility and improving vital infrastructure.
In his current term as Third District Supervisor, Todd Spitzer secured a location for Orange County’s first year-round homeless shelter, placed an Ethics Commission on the ballot, authored and gained passage of pension reform measures, and strengthened public safety oversight and transparency by expanding the Office of Independent Review. He earned the Visionary in Victim Services Award from Community Service Programs.
Supervisor Todd Spitzer serves on the Association of California Cities – Orange County of Orange, Emergency Management Council, Local Agency Formation Commission, OC Public Libraries Advisory Board, Orange County Community Corrections Partnership, Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Flood Control, Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Orange County Transportation Authority, Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency, Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership and Transportation Corridor Agency – Foothills/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills.
Todd Spitzer has a long record of advocating for public safety and led the successful campaign to pass Marsy’s Law for All, the nation’s most comprehensive victims’ Bill of Rights. In 2008, Spitzer served as the Statewide Chair and Campaign Manager of Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, which was named after Marsy Nicholas, who was murdered by an estranged ex-boyfriend in 1983. California voters approved Marsy’s Law by 54% of the vote, despite widespread opposition from all of California’s major newspaper editorial boards.
As a champion for public safety in the State Assembly, he was asked by crime victim Bruce Harrington, whose sister and brother-in-law were murdered, to serve as statewide Co-Chair of Proposition 69, the DNA Initiative. Proposition 69 requires collection of DNA samples from all felons, and from adults and juveniles arrested for or charged with specified crimes.
In 2006, Spitzer served as Statewide Co-Chair for Proposition 83, Jessica’s Law, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law. Proposition 83 was approved by more than 70% of California voters.
On August 24, 2004, the Governor of California signed Spitzer’s landmark legislation, AB 488 (Parra/Spitzer), which put Megan’s Law on the Internet. Spitzer was also picked to Co-Chair the first-ever High-Risk Sex Offender and Sexually Violent Predator Task Force.
As an Assistant District Attorney in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Spitzer handled complex criminal matters and supervised line prosecutors. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) honored Spitzer with its Outstanding Prosecutor Award and Spitzer’s colleagues voted him the office’s Outstanding Prosecutor.
In 2002, he was recruited to run for State Assembly and was re-elected to two additional terms by large margins. Spitzer quickly became recognized as an expert on public safety issues and was named by the Assembly Speaker as Chairman of the Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations. Spitzer also served in the Legislature as Chief Whip, the key spokesman for public policy issues on the floor of the house for his party.
In 1996, Spitzer was first elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where he is credited with exposing fraud in the Housing and Community Development Rehabilitation Program and established the first County restaurant rating system.
Todd Spitzer is a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, and a loving father to their two children.
TODD SPITZER, J.D., M.P.P.
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley M.P.P., Masters in Public Policy (1986-1989)
University of California, Hastings College of the Law J.D., Law (1985-1989)
Harvard Kennedy School of Government "Driving Government Performance" Public Policy Program (2013)
University of California, Los Angeles B.A., English (1978-1982)
EXPERIENCE
Orange County Board of Supervisors – Third District Supervisor January 2013-Present
Sworn into office as the Third District Orange County Supervisor on January 7, 2013 for a four year term
Statewide Co-Chairman – Proposition 69, DNA Fingerprint Initiative 2004
Orange County District Attorney's Office – Assistant District Attorney 2008-2010
Supervised line Deputy District Attorneys; advised the District Attorney as to his budget and relations with the County Board of Supervisors; conducted serious felony jury trials as lead Counsel
California State Assembly – Elected Assembly Member 2002-2008
Elected to three consecutive two-year terms representing the 71st Assembly District
Los Angeles Police Department – Level One Reserve Police Officer 1990-2000
Worked as a sworn volunteer reserve police officer; Primarily worked patrol duties and led the Hollenbeck DUI Enforcement Team; Trained police officers and detectives in the law and investigative skill building
Marsy's Law For All – Director, Legal Affairs September 2010-Present
Californa Statewide campaign manager for Propostion 9 (2008) Marsy’s Law; develop curriculum to teach law enforcement, victims' groups, and the community about victims' constitutional and enforceable rights in the criminal justice process
Spitzer Law Office – Victims' Rights Attorney/Marsy's Law Expert September 2002-Present
Advise business on strategic planning and legal issues; Of Counsel to Private Law Firms since 2002; statewide campaign manager for Prop. 9 (Marsy's Law, Victim Bill of Rights)
Orange County Board of Supervisors – Third District Supervisor 1997-2002
Elected as a relatively unknown candidate in a field of eight, against a well-financed and well-known State Assembly Member
Orange County District Attorney's Office – Deputy District Attorney 1990-1996
KFI AM 640 Radio – Producer of the Bill Handel "Handel on the Law" Show 1990
Los Angeles Unified School District – High School English Teacher 1984-1985
Taught high school English in order to give back to the community; taught core 10th grade English and also Advanced Placement English for 12th grade students; also taught ESL to adults in night school
California State Senate – Senate Fellow 1982-1983
Chosen as one of 12 Senate Fellows from a nationwide search to work in a one year Fellowship program in the California State Senate; wrote and researched laws, worked on legislation, and coordinated constituent services
PROJECTS/PUBLICATIONS
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Statewide Campaign Manager, Marsy's Law For All (California Victims' Bill of Rights) 2007 – 2011
- Statewide Co-Chairman, Proposition 69, DNA Fingerprint Initiative
- Orange County Chairman, Jessica’s Law, Anti-Child Predator Initiative
- Orange County Chairman, No on Proposition 66, Anti-Three Strikes Initiative
- Legislative Member, California Police Officers Memorial Foundation
- Volunteer Baseball Coach, South Sunrise Little League
- Crime Survivors, Inc., Volunteer/Speaker
- Orange County Bar Association
- California Bar Association
HONORS & AWARDS
- Victims' Advocacy Lifetime Achievement Award, Crime Survivors, Inc.
- Victims' Advocacy Recognition, Parents of Murdered Children, Orange County
- Outstanding Prosecutor Award, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Orange County
- Outstanding Prosecutor Award, Orange County District Attorney's Office
- Special Distinction Award, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorneys' Association
- Outstanding Assembly Member & Lifetime Career Achievement Award, California State Sheriffs' Association
- Visionary in Victim Services Award, Community Service Programs
