Antonovich, Ward Get Into Political Debate at Trial

The proceedings in San Fernando Superior Court on Thursday resembled more a political debate than a defamation trial--in fact, a 1988 political debate.

Even the judge and one of the participants, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, agreed.

It was the climactic day of a trial that pitted Antonovich against former Supervisor Baxter Ward. At issue was whether Ward had destroyed or removed the supervisorial office’s files before Antonovich took office in 1980. The accusation became a political issue in their rematch election in 1988, which Ward also lost.

Ward, who acted as his own attorney, cross-examined Antonovich and the two men often interrupted each other in mid-sentence, raising their voices as they argued political issues ranging from rail service to Proposition 13.

Ward again contended--over Antonovich’s protests--that he had supported Proposition 13 before it passed. Antonovich again assailed commuter rail service championed by Ward.

“The last time I heard this I had a full head of hair,” joked balding Judge David M. Schacter.

Schacter later said he felt like a moderator in a political debate and was going to limit discussion on each campaign issue to three minutes.

“I feel like I’m in the movie ‘Back to the Future,’ ” the judge said.

Ward had sued Antonovich, charging that Antonovich had defamed him by alleging in their 1988 campaign that Ward had gotten rid of the office’s records before Antonovich moved into the office in 1980. The unauthorized removal or destruction of public records is a felony criminal offense, but Ward has never been charged with such a crime.

Ward claims that the allegation cost him the 1988 election and is seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Whether the charge was political rhetoric or defamation will be decided by a jury, which is expected to begin deliberating today.

Antonovich testified Thursday that when he took over Ward’s former office in 1980, most of the file cabinets were empty. He said that since Ward was the last person to occupy the office, he had concluded that Ward removed the files or directed someone to do so.

Antonovich said he did not consider it to be a criminal matter but felt it was a legitimate campaign issue because it showed Ward’s contempt for constituents after his 1980 defeat.

“This is not a rape or a murder,” Antonovich told Ward. “This is an issue of ethics and not a . . . crime. I’m not interested in trying to send you to jail. It was a political issue.”

But Ward contends that Antonovich knew or could have easily found out that Ward did not remove the files. He charged that Antonovich recklessly and with malice continued making the accusation throughout the last days of the 1988 campaign.

Ward produced county records discovered in 1989 that show 177 boxes containing his files were moved into storage in 1981--a year after he left office--and were routinely destroyed in 1986. However, the records do not indicate who ordered that the boxes be stored in 1981.

The Saturday before the 1988 election, Ward said, he received an anonymous phone call telling him that one of his boxes was in a trash bin in the county building. Ward retrieved the box, claiming that it had proved Antonovich’s charge to be false.

However, Antonovich said the box could have been planted by Ward or one of his supporters.