POLITICIAN TO WATCH: JOHN MOORLACH

John Moorlach, the 1,000-pound gorilla of county politics, intends to change cages next year.

He's giving up the "lifetime" security and higher pay of county treasurer in order to run for the term-limited 2nd District seat on the Board of Supervisors now held by Jim Suva.

Moorlach, whose warnings about Bob Citron's investment schemes went unheeded prior to the 1994 county bankruptcy, has had an almost sainted status since then.

During 10 years as treasurer he has been an advocate of reform and transparency in government.

He says as a supervisor he'd be better able to curb county government spending and rein in pension costs which, he contends, could be more ruinous to the county than the bankruptcy.

Moorlach's also a big backer of the controversial plan to drill a tunnel through Cleveland National Forest.

No serious candidate has emerged to challenge Moorlach in the 2nd District, which includes Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and part of Garden Grove.

But Moorlach is loathed by public employee unions, and his ideas for pension reform could have statewide ramifications.

Don't be surprised if a labor-backed candidate emerges.

-Rick Reiff