Facing Harassment Claims, South County Legislator Urged To Retire

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —Embattled Orange County Republican Assemblyman Bill Brough is being urged to retire at the end of his term in 2020, according to OC Republicans.

Brough, under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment and campaign finance violations, claims his troubles emerged following his introduction of Assembly Bill 1273. The bill aims to "to rein in the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agency" more commonly known as the Toll Road Agency.

The state ethics committee is investigating Brough's campaign spending, and allegations of sexual misconduct are both being investigated.

Brough has denied all claims made against him and did not immediately respond to a request for comment specifically about the vote taken Monday night by the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee's leadership.

The resolution goes so far as to ask Brough to end his re-election.

"Be it resolved that based upon the totality of the circumstances and controversies surrounding the Assemblyman, the Republican Party of Orange County calls on Bill Brough to not file for re-election to the state assembly at the end of his current term," it reads.

In August, Brough sent an email to the OC GOP, attempting to "set the record straight" regarding the accusations of OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett from earlier in the summer.

"I have worked in Republican politics for the last quarter-century on campaigns, as a staff person and the last decade as an elected official," he wrote. "One thing I learned over the years is when you kick the beehive, the bees come out. This is exactly what is happening to me since I introduced Assembly Bill 1273, a measure to rein in the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agency (the toll road agency)."

Brough initially introduced the bill in February of 2019.

Brough's sexual misconduct accusers -- Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Jennifer Rodriguez, and Heather Baez, issued a joint statement regarding their claims:

"Bill Brough's sexual misconduct and predatory behavior has already caused each of us great pain and anxiety. As if that was not enough, now he is using his position of power to shame and intimidate us. Unfortunately for Bill, his actions have given us more resolve than ever to stand up against his bullying tactics and tell people the truth about his behavior. We are not scared of him and will not be silenced."

In June, Bartlett spoke out against an endorsement of Brough during a meeting of the Republican Central Committee in Costa Mesa.

She alleged that while the two served on the Dana Point City Council on March 2011, he made an unwanted pass on her after a city council meeting. Bartlett accused him of clutching her from behind and putting an arm around her shoulder while inviting her out for a drink.

Brough attempted to rebutt Bartlett and Rodriguez's claims in his email, saying that there was no evidence supporting any of the claims and that they only surfaced after his introduction of saying:

"My scrutiny of the toll roads has threatened the livelihoods of politicians and their acolytes. I won't stop until we right the out-of-control nature of the toll roads," Brough wrote. "It's the right thing to do for the taxpayers of Orange County and California."

The TCA has said they "strongly oppose" the bill, as it "silences local government voices.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer's chief of administrative services, Melanie Eustice, has announced that she will seek to unseat Brough, as has another Republican, Laguna Niguel City Councilwoman Laurie Davies, Mission Viejo Councilmember Ed Sachs, and Democrat, Scott Rhinehart.

The top two candidates from the March primary will face off in the November 2020 election.

Related: The TCA (Toll Roads) And Local Politics Are Colliding

City News Service, Patch editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.