New Sheriff For Orange County

New way to pick the sheriff. Let's see, who will it be?

For decades, Orange County's sheriff has been elected by voters. But after Sheriff Michael S. Carona stepped down in January to focus on his upcoming federal corruption trial, the board was given the task of hand-picking his successor. A federal grand jury indicted Carona in October on charges that he sold access to his office for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 26.

The finalists, identified in a nationwide search, include interim Sheriff Jack Anderson, former Sheriff's Lt. Bill Hunt, longtime Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Commander Ralph Martin.