VOICES

“It sends a message that Orange County is back. We are vibrant, strong, healthy and doing what needs to be done. It’s a wonderful message to send the rest of the state and country.”

--Supervisor Don Saltarelli

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“This is a great day for county employees. Recognizing the tragedy that could have developed, we have to be very pleased with the way things have come out.”

--John Sawyer, general manager of the Orange County Employees Assn.

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“This has had such a dramatic effect on people in so many ways. I’m glad it seems like it’s finally over.”

--Elizabeth Thomas, Irvine parent and school fund-raiser

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“This recovery has a price. We are still giving a lot of money to outside people, and that’s not good. It’s costing the taxpayers a lot of money. . . . Right now, it seems like the attorneys are getting wealthy off this, not the county.”

--Carole Walters, leader of the Committees of Correspondence, an anti-tax group

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“Everyone can take a great deal of pride that we are here now.”

--Supervisor Marian Bergeson

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“This is a real victory and a major accomplishment. . . . I think the road is clear at this point.”

--Board of Supervisors

Chairman Roger R. Stanton

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“It’s a tremendous step forward. . . . I knew Orange County was strong enough to solve this problem without a tax increase.”

--Supervisor Jim Silva

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“This is a major step in moving out of bankruptcy. From our standpoint, this is a milestone. I think we kept our eye on the ball and stayed the course. It happened a lot sooner than anticipated, but I’m not surprised that we reached this point.”

--Irvine City Manager

Paul O. Brady Jr.

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“It’s good that we are at this point. But we sure went through a lot of pain and travail to get here.”

--Orange Mayor Joanne Coontz