THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:

How candidates feel about handing over harbor patrol duties to Newport Beach city officials won’t figure in to Orange County Board Chairman John Moorlach’s pick for a new sheriff, he said Wednesday.

“I don’t see that as one of the serious, overreaching reasons to hire someone,” Moorlach said.

The supervisor’s comments come after Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) announced earlier this month that he would shelve a bill that would keep the reins of the harbor patrol firmly in the hands of the county.

Assembly Bill 2873 would have blocked any agency in Orange County from taking over harbor patrol duties from the sheriff’s department unless that agency was able to provide the same manpower and training the sheriff’s department can.

Solorio said he would wait until county officials chose a new sheriff before deciding whether to resurrect the bill.

Moorlach said he thanked Solorio personally for placing the bill on inactive status during a recent visit to Sacramento. The supervisor was outspoken in his opposition to the bill, which he viewed as an imposition on the county’s powers.

County supervisors questioned nine candidates for the county sheriff’s spot earlier this week in a marathon interview session that stretched from 9 a.m. until after 9 p.m.

Moorlach said his early favorites for the job include Sandra Hutchens, a retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s division chief, and Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Ralph Martin and Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters also impressed him during interviews, Moorlach said.

MANSOOR RUNS FOR COUNTY GOP COMMITTEE

Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor is on the list of 12 men running for a seat on the Orange County Republican Central Committee in the June 3 primary election.

The committee, which has six seats open in the 68th Assembly District, guides GOP policy and decides which candidates to endorse in elections.

“It’s an opportunity to get a little more involved at the local level,” Mansoor said.

He does not plan on actively campaigning for the position.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected]. ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].