EXEC’S LETTER IS MADE PUBLIC

O.C. official who used to oversee Carlos Bustamante says she took leave because she feared retaliation.

Orange County on Friday released a redacted copy of a controversial letter written by a top administrator who went on medical leave a week after multiple sexual assault and battery charges were announced against Carlos Bustamante, a former executive in a department she oversaw.

The letter comes one day after Chief Executive Tom Mauk’s resignation in the wake of criticism over how the county handled allegations against Bustamante, accused of multiple crimes against seven women over a span of eight years. He has pleaded not guilty.

After the charges were announced, Alisa Drakodaidis, the deputy chief executive in charge of the public works department, among other duties, took a medical leave. The letter indicates that the absence was caused by fear of “retaliation” or “threatened retaliation” from the Board of Supervisors and the district attorney’s office.

Joel Baruch, Drakodaidis’ attorney, alleges in the letter that Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas has filed criminal charges against Bustamante in a “garden variety” sexual assault case, and that investigators were rude and threatening to Drakodaidis during their inquiry.

In an email, Rackauckas’ spokeswoman, Susan Kang Schroeder, called Drakodaidis’ allegations “ludicrous.”

The letter also alleges that Drakodaidis has been retaliated against because she has investigated sensitive political issues involving supervisors, objected to salary increases and levied equal employment opportunity complaints against various county board members and their staff.

Attached to the letter was a memo from Mauk to supervisors regarding the allegations: “I am not too concerned about those allegations because, as I have reviewed them, there is very little substance and they are easy to refute when and if that becomes necessary.”

Supervisor John Moorlach said Drakodaidis is a “disgruntled employee” who has made a proactive move.

“Whatever is in there that is accurate, we will do our professional best to remedy and review,” he said.

Drakodaidis was paid a total of $216,000 in compensation last year. Baruch said in an email that he has “documentary proof” of nepotism and equal employment opportunity complaints and violations.