Orange County Board of Supervisors


The Orange County Board of Supervisors is the five-member governing body of Orange County, California along with being the executive of the county.

Membership

The Board consists of five Supervisors elected by districts to four-year terms by the citizens of Orange County. The Supervisors represent districts of approximately 600,000 people.
Supervisorial elections take place in June, with run-off elections in November. Supervisorial terms begin the first Monday after January 1 after the election. Vacancies on the Board are filled via special election since Orange County voters adopted a county charter in March 2002. Prior to the adoption of the charter, vacancies on the Board were filled by appointment by the Governor of California. The December 1996 appointment of Laguna Niguel City Councilman Thomas W. Wilson by Governor Pete Wilson was the last time that a gubernatorial appointment was used to fill a supervisorial vacancy. The January 2003 special election of former State Assemblyman Bill Campbell was the first time that a special election was used to fill a supervisorial vacancy.
The current members of the board of supervisors are:
The board makes decisions relating to land use, public utilities, and transportation, both directly and indirectly through its power over budgets and appointments to boards, committees, and commissions. Services that are ultimately managed by the board include regional parks, water, sewers, animal control, buses, freeways, and commuter rail.

History and issues

In the conservative political climate of Orange County, a number of the problems and controversies encountered by the board in its history have been related to questions of the proper size and role of government.
Until the 1970s, there was no countywide bus service. At the urging of supervisor Ralph B. Clark, city buses were bought, and the city bus system later became the Orange County Transportation Authority. In 2009, supervisor John Moorlach questioned whether OCTA should continue to exist.
In 1994, Orange County declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy due to a high-flying investment scheme created by treasurer Robert Citron, a Democrat.
In the 2010 supervisorial race, one of the main issues was county relations with unions.
In 2015, the board of supervisors called for the resignation of Judge M. Marc Kelly after Kelly gave a 10-year sentence to a convicted child molester, deviating from the state-determined minimum 25-year sentence.

Supervisorial Districts

2012–present

The First Supervisorial District consists of the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Westminster, the unincorporated community of Midway City, and the northernmost three square miles of the city of Fountain Valley north of Warner Avenue, including Mile Square Regional Park.
The Second Supervisorial District consists of the cities of Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Stanton, along with two-thirds of the city of Fountain Valley that are south of Warner Avenue and southwestern portions of the City of Buena Park. It also includes the unincorporated area of Rossmoor.
The Third Supervisorial District consists of the cities of Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda, most of the City of Irvine, as well as the Anaheim Hills area in the city of Anaheim. It also includes the unincorporated areas of El Modena, MCAS El Toro, Modjeska Canyon, Olive, Orange Park Acres, Santiago Canyon, Silverado, Trabuco Canyon, and Tustin Foothills.
The Fourth Supervisorial District consists of the cities of Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, the portions of the city of Anaheim outside of Anaheim Hills, and most of Buena Park.
The Fifth Supervisorial District consists of the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano, along with small southwestern portions of the City of Irvine, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, and Las Flores.

2002–2012

The First Supervisorial District consisted of the cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, as well as the eastern half of the city of Garden Grove.
The Second Supervisorial District consisted of the cities of Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Stanton, as well as the western half of the city of Garden Grove. It also includes the unincorporated areas of Rossmoor, Sunset Beach, and Surfside.
The Third Supervisorial District consisted of the cities of Brea, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda, as well as the Anaheim Hills area in the city of Anaheim. It also includes the unincorporated areas of El Modena, MCAS El Toro, Modjeska Canyon, Olive, Orange Park Acres, Santiago Canyon, Silverado, Trabuco Canyon, and Tustin Foothills.
The Fourth Supervisorial District consisted of the cities of Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, as well as the portions of the city of Anaheim outside of Anaheim Hills.
The Fifth Supervisorial District consisted of the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, and Las Flores.

Special elections

Since voters adopted Measure V, the creation of the county charter, in March 2002, vacancies on the Board of Supervisors have been filled by special election.

January 28, 2003, Third District special election

The first special election used to fill a vacancy on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was held on January 28, 2003. Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer had resigned on November 19, 2002 in preparation for taking office as a member of the California State Assembly on December 2 to replace the term-limited Bill Campbell. Campbell, in turn, easily won the special election to fill the remaining two years of Spitzer's term.
CandidateVotesPercent
Bill Campbell26,20674.6%
Jim Potts4,69213.4%
Douglas Boeckler2,0855.9%
William A. Wetzel1,5484.4%
Robert Louis Douglas5851.7%

February 6, 2007, First District special election

The second special election used to fill a vacancy on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was held on February 6, 2007. First District Supervisor Lou Correa had resigned when he took office as a member of the California State Senate on December 4, 2006 to replace the term-limited Joe Dunn. Garden Grove City Councilwoman Janet Nguyen won the special election to fill the remaining two years of the term by seven votes over Garden Grove Unified School District Boardmember Trung Nguyen after a protracted recount battle. Both Nguyens had unexpectedly finished ahead of the front-runners, recently retired State Assemblyman Tom Umberg and Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante.
CandidateVotesPercent
Janet Nguyen10,91924.1%
Trung Nguyen10,91224.1%
Tom Umberg9,72521.4%
Carlos Bustamante7,46016.5%
Mark Rosen2,1814.8%
Brett Elliott Franklin1,7393.8%
Kermit Marsh1,3352.9%
Larry Phan4170.9%
Lupe Moreno3830.8%
Benny Diaz2730.6%

June 8, 2010, Fourth District special election

The third special election used to fill a vacancy on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was held on June 8, 2010, and was consolidated with the regular primary election for the next term for the seat. Fourth District Supervisor Chris Norby had resigned when he took office as a member of the California State Assembly on January 29 to replace Mike Duvall, who had resigned from the Assembly in the wake of a lobbyist sex scandal. Fullerton City Councilman Shawn Nelson won the seat by 12% over Anaheim City Councilman Harry Sidhu.
While Nelson won the special election to fill the remaining seven months of Norby's term, the special election was consolidated with the regular primary election, so Nelson and Sidhu advanced to a November run-off election to win the four-year term due to begin in January 2011. Nelson won the election for the 2011–2015 term by a 63%–37% margin, and would go on to hold the position until January 2019.
CandidateVotesPercent
Shawn Nelson18,73930.4%
Harry Sidhu11,42118.5%
Lorri Galloway10,03516.3%
Art Brown9,98616.2%
Rose Marie Espinoza7,61612.3%
Richard Faher3,8736.3%

January 27, 2015, First District special election

The fourth special election used to fill a vacancy on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was held on January 27, 2015. First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen had resigned when she took office as a member of the California State Senate on December 1, 2014 to replace the term-limited Lou Correa. Ironically, Nguyen had been elected as First District Supervisor in a February 6, 2007 special election to replace Correa, who had resigned when he took office as a member of the California State Senate to replace the term-limited Joe Dunn.
Former Garden Grove City Councilman Andrew Do, Nguyen's supervisorial Chief of Staff, won the special election to fill the remaining two years of the term by 43 votes over Correa.
CandidateVotesPercent
Andrew Do18,90539.1%
Lou Correa18,86239.0%
Chris Phan7,85716.3%
Chuyen Van Nguyen1,8793.9%
Lupe Morfin-Moreno8341.7%

March 12, 2019, Third District special election

The fifth special election used to fill a vacancy on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was held on January 27, 2015. Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer had resigned on January 7, 2019, when he took office as District Attorney of Orange County after defeating incumbent Tony Rackauckas.
Irvine Mayor Donald P. Wagner won the seat by 5% over former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
CandidateVotesPercent
Donald P. Wagner30,24042.0%
Loretta Sanchez26,70837.1%
Kristine "Kris" Murray5,3387.4%
Larry Bales3,9125.4%
Deborah Pauly3,8475.3%
Kim-Thy "Katie" Hoang Bayliss1,3661.9%
Katherine Daigle5970.8%

Special districts

Following are the special districts managed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors
became the first woman to serve as Vice Chair in 1980 and as Chair in 1984. Patricia C. Bates and Janet Nguyen became the first pair of women to serve as Chair and Vice Chair concurrently in 2009.
Gaddi Vasquez became the first Latino to serve as Vice Chair in 1990 and as Chair in 1991.
Janet Nguyen became the first Asian American to serve as Vice Chair in 2009 and Chair in 2010. Lisa Bartlett and Michelle Park Steel became the first pair of Asian Americans to serve as Chair and Vice Chair concurrently in 2016.
YearChairVice Chair
1889William H. Spurgeon-
1890William H. Spurgeon-
1891Joseph Yoch-
1892Joseph Yoch-
1893Joseph Yoch-
1894Joseph Yoch-
1895Franklin P. Nickey-
1896Franklin P. Nickey-
1897Franklin P. Nickey-
1898Franklin P. Nickey-
1899Franklin P. Nickey-
1900Franklin P. Nickey-
1901Franklin P. Nickey-
1902Franklin P. Nickey-
1903David MacMullan-
1904David MacMullan-
1905David MacMullan-
1906David MacMullan-
1907David MacMullan-
1908David MacMullan-
1909David MacMullan-
1910George W. Angle-
1911Thomas B. Talbert-
1912Thomas B. Talbert-
1913Thomas B. Talbert-
1914Thomas B. Talbert-
1915Thomas B. Talbert-
1916Thomas B. Talbert-
1917Thomas B. Talbert-
1918Thomas B. Talbert-
1919Thomas B. Talbert-
1920Thomas B. Talbert-
1921Thomas B. Talbert-
1922Thomas B. Talbert-
1923Thomas B. Talbert-
1924Thomas B. Talbert-
1925Thomas B. Talbert-
1926Thomas B. Talbert-
1927William Schumacher-
1928William Schumacher-
1929Willard Smith-
1930Willard Smith-
1931John C. Mitchell-
1932John C. Mitchell-
1933Willard Smith-
1934Willard Smith-
1935John C. Mitchell-
1936John C. Mitchell-
1937Willard Smith-
1938Willard Smith-
1939Willard Smith-
1940Willard Smith-
1941Willis H. Warner-
1942Willis H. Warner-
1943Willis H. Warner-
1944Willis H. Warner-
1945Willis H. Warner-
1946Willis H. Warner-
1947Willard Smith-
1948Willard Smith-
1949Willis H. Warner-
1950Willis H. Warner-
1951Willis H. Warner-
1952Willis H. Warner-
1953Willis H. Warner-
1954Willis H. Warner-
1955Willis H. Warner-
1956Willis H. Warner-
1957Willis H. Warner-
1958Willis H. Warner-
1959Willis H. Warner-
1960Cecil M. Featherly-
1961William H. Hirstein-
1962William J. Phillips-
1963Cecil M. Featherly-
1964William J. Phillips-
1965William H. Hirstein-
1966Alton Allen-
1967David L. Baker-
1968Cecil M. Featherly-
1969William H. Hirstein-
1970Alton Allen-
1971Robert Battin-
1972Ronald Caspers-
1973Ronald Caspers-
1974Ralph B. Clark-
1975Ralph Diedrich-
1976Ralph Diedrich-
1977Thomas F. Riley-
1978Thomas F. Riley-
1979Philip Anthony-
1980Ralph B. ClarkHarriett Wieder
1981Ralph B. ClarkBruce Nestande
1982Bruce NestandeRoger R. Stanton
1983Roger R. StantonHarriett Wieder
1984Harriett WiederThomas F. Riley
1985Thomas F. RileyRalph B. Clark
1986Ralph B. ClarkBruce Nestande
1987Roger R. StantonHarriett Wieder
1988Harriett WiederThomas F. Riley
1989Thomas F. RileyDon Roth
1990Don RothGaddi Vasquez
1991Gaddi VasquezRoger R. Stanton
1992Roger R. StantonHarriett Wieder
1993Harriett WiederThomas F. Riley
1994Thomas F. RileyGaddi Vasquez
1995Gaddi VasquezRoger R. Stanton
1996Roger R. StantonWilliam G. Steiner
1997William G. SteinerJim Silva
1998Jim SilvaThomas W. Wilson
1999Charles V. SmithThomas W. Wilson
2000Charles V. SmithJim Silva
2001Cynthia CoadJim Silva
2002Cynthia CoadThomas W. Wilson
2003Thomas W. WilsonJim Silva
2004Thomas W. WilsonJim Silva
2005Bill CampbellThomas W. Wilson
2006Bill CampbellChris Norby
2007Chris NorbyJohn Moorlach
2008John MoorlachPatricia C. Bates
2009Patricia C. BatesJanet Nguyen
2010Janet NguyenBill Campbell
2011Bill CampbellJohn Moorlach
2012John MoorlachShawn Nelson
2013Shawn NelsonPatricia C. Bates
2014Shawn NelsonPatricia C. Bates
2015Todd SpitzerLisa Bartlett
2016Lisa BartlettMichelle Park Steel
2017Michelle Park SteelAndrew Do
2018Andrew DoShawn Nelson
2019Lisa BartlettMichelle Park Steel

Supervisors