As of this week, the June primary field is largely set for candidates seeking powerful positions atop Orange County’s government.
While the candidacy deadline has now passed for most seats, the deadline was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday in a handful of races because incumbents aren’t running.
One of the races getting lots of attention is county auditor-controller, where former state Senator John Moorlach has been seeing if he can get onto the ballot despite not having an active CPA license, as is required for the position.
Asked on Tuesday if he’s sees a chance of qualifying for the ballot, Moorlach told Voice of OC he still has “one more night to sleep on it.”
The only candidate to qualify for that race so far is Andrew Hamilton, a former Lake Forest Councilman and Mesa Water District CFO.
Voice of OC has compiled a list below of everyone who’s running in the June 7 election, when voters will decide the fate of the local criminal justice system, watchdogs for billions in local tax dollars, and local representation in Sacramento and D.C.
Topping many election watchers’ lists is the District Attorney race, in which incumbent Todd Spitzer is running on a platform of protecting OC from the LA-style progressive reforms envisioned by his opponent Peter Hardin, who in turn argues he’s putting forward a smarter approach that would make the public safer.
In recent weeks, Voice of OC has led media coverage on the race to be the next DA, exposing a number of controversies around both of the leading candidates.
The hard-fought race is widely seen as headed to a runoff in November.
That’s because two other candidates have jumped into the race – former DA prosecutor Mike Jacobs and Drug Enforcement Administration attorney Bryan Chehock – which makes it less likely any candidate will get over the 50 percent threshold to win outright in June.
Voters are likely to see a wave of negative campaigning all the way to November from Spitzer and Hardin’s campaigns – which have each raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their bids.
“What ultimately happens in a campaign like that is it really undermines the public trust in the District Attorney’s Office,” said Jodi Balma, a political science professor at Fullerton College.
While Sheriff Don Barnes’ department has faced its own controversies – including dozens of criminal convictions being overturned because of an evidence booking scandal – the Sheriff’s Department will not face anywhere as much scrutiny as the DA’s Office because he has no election challenger, Balma noted.
With no one else filing by Friday’s deadline for the sheriff race, Barnes is now set to automatically win re-election to another four-year term.
Another set of races drawing keen interest is for control of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which decides how to divvy up $8 billion in annual tax dollars between law enforcement, health, homelessness and other services.
Democrats are hoping to gain their first majority on the board since the 1970s, while Republicans have also been hard at work to maintain their majority.
Fissures have bubbled to the surface, with the county Democratic Party endorsing a challenger of their party’s incumbent Doug Chaffee in the northern 4th District, and Republicans split in south county between Diane Harkey and Pat Bates for the 5th District.
That 5th District race, in particular, is seen as a lynchpin for whether Republicans will keep their board majority, or Democrats take control of the Board of Supervisors for the first time in over four decades.
Eyes also are turning to the race for county superintendent of schools, who oversees the Orange County Department of Education that approves charter schools, runs continuation schools and monitors K-12 public schools district finances.
Longtime county superintendent Al Mijares – who has clashed with the Republican pro-charter majority on the county Board of Education – is now facing a challenge from Stefan Bean.
Bean serves on a charter school board that’s chaired by Jeff Barke, a vice chair of the county Republican Party and who’s married to Mari Barke, a pro-charter Republican on the county Board of Education.
That could position the race in the middle of Orange County’s charter school battles.
And drawing unusual intrigue this year are the judicial races for OC Superior Court, which has eight open seats in which the incumbent is not running.
Candidates with a DA prosecutor title on the ballot traditionally have had a major advantage in winning judge seats. Voters will be choosing again between prosecutors and private practice attorneys in family law and other fields.
And the major political parties are getting involved, with OC Republicans already making endorsements for judge and Democrats planning on doing so later this month.
Nonpartisan candidates have been getting more aligned with political parties, which creates an interesting dynamic for seats like judge that are meant for neutral arbitrators, said Balma.
“It’s such a weird position to put people in, which is campaign for a job that we don’t want to be political,” Balma said.
This will be the first election under new district maps that are redrawn only once every 10 years, with most county, state and Congressional seats shaken up into very different lines than they previously had.
It’s creating some interesting dynamics, including pitting two incumbent Assembly members – Steven Choi and Cottie Petrie-Norris – against each other in a single district centered on Irvine, Costa Mesa and Tustin.
Who’s Running So Far
It’s not always easy to see who all is running for election in Orange County – with voters having to check multiple lists maintained by OC and neighboring counties to see everyone running in districts that cross county lines.
Voice of OC is trying to make it easier to follow, combining all of the current candidates info into one list.
Below is a rundown of everyone who has made the ballot for the June election.
The titles after their names are the ones that the candidates submitted for what would appear under their names on the ballot. Some of the titles could change if they’re challenged in court and a judge orders a different title for the ballot.
OC District Attorney, Public Administrator
Todd Spitzer, Orange County District Attorney-Public Administrator
Bryan Chehock, Federal Attorney
Pete Hardin, Attorney/Business Owner
Michael A. Jacobs, Attorney at Law
OC Sheriff-Coroner
Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner
County Supervisor, 2nd District
Jon Dumitru, City of Orange Council Member, 2nd District
Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias, Businesswoman/Policy Director
Kim Bernice Nguyen, Garden Grove City Councilwoman
Vicente Sarmiento, Santa Ana Mayor/Businessowner
Juan Villegas, Sheriff Officer
County Supervisor, 4th District
Doug Chaffee, Orange County Supervisor
Sunny Park, Mayor of Buena Park
Steven C. Vargas, Councilmember/Lieutenant Commander
County Supervisor, 5th District
Patricia C. ‘Pat’ Bates, California State Senator
Katrina Foley, Orange County Supervisor/Businessowner
Diane L. Harkey, Businesswoman/Financial Consultant
Kevin Muldoon, Mayor/Orange County Businessman
US Representative, 38th District
Eric J. Ching, Republican, Entrepreneur/Victims Advocate
Linda T. Sánchez, Democrat, Mom/Congresswoman
John Sarega, Republican, Pastor/Business Owner
US Representative, 40th District
Young Kim, Republican, U.S. Representative
Asif Mahmood, Democrat, Physician Internal Medicine
Greg Raths, Republican, Retired Fighter Pilot
Nick Taurus, Republican, Junk Hauler
US Representative, 45th District
Jay F. Chen, Democrat, Lieutenant Commander/Businessowner
Long K Pham, Republican, Businessowner/Nuclear Engineer
Michelle Steel, Republican, U.S. Representative
US Representative, 46th District
Lou Correa, Democrat, United States Congressmember
Christopher J. Gonzales, Republican, Businessman/Attorney
Mike Nguyen, Republican, Broker/Business Owner
Mike Ortega, Democrat, Biomedical Engineer
Felix Rocha, Jr, Republican, Retired Federal Agent
Ed Rushman, No Party Preference, IS Project Manager
US Representative, 47th District
Scott Baugh, Republican, Orange County Businessowner
Brain Burley, Republican, Small Business Owner
Amy Phan West, Republican, Small Businesswoman
Katie Porter, Democrat, U.S. Representative
Errol Webber, Republican, Documentary Film Producer
US Representative, 49th District
Mike Levin, Democrat, US Representative 49th District
Brian Maryott, Republican, Certified Financial Planner
Renee Taylor, Republican, Cybersecurity/Military Officer
Lisa A. Bartlett, Republican, County Supervisor/Businesswoman
Josiah O’Neil, Republican, Sheriff’s Deputy / Businessman
Christopher Rodriguez, Republican, Councilmember/Businessman/Farmer
Nadia Smalley, Democratic, Business Woman/Hospice/LVN
State Assembly, 59th District
Phillip Chen, Assemblyman/Business Owner
State Assembly, 64th District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Rose Espinoza, Executive Director/Councilwoman
Elizabeth Alcantar, Mayor/Community Educator
Roberto “Rob” Cancio, Doctor/Educator/Businessman
Raul Ortiz, Jr., Pest Control Manager
Blanca Pacheco, Downey Mayor/Businesswoman
Ana M. Valencia, Teacher/Councilmember
State Assembly, 67th District
Param Brar, Supply Chain Management
Sou Moua, CAD Designer
Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assemblymember/Teacher
Soo Yoo, Governing Board President – ABC Unified School District
State Assembly, 68th District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Mike Tardif, Small Business Owner
Avelino Valencia, (had not qualified for ballot as of March 14)
Bulmaro ‘Boomer’ Vicente, Policy Director
James Wallace, Commercial Decorator
State Assembly, 70th District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Ted Bui, City Councilman/Businessman
Jason Gray, City Commissioner
Emily Hibard, Small Business Owner
Kimberly Ho, Westminster Councilwoman/Entrepreneur
Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, Cancer Researcher/Councilmember
Tri Ta, Mayor/Business Owner
State Assembly, 71st District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Kate Sanchez, Businesswoman/Taxpayer Advocate
Matt Rahn, Mayor / Educator / Businessman
State Assembly, 72nd District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Diane Dixon, City Council Member
Judie Mancuso, Nonprofit Executive/Businesswoman
Benjamin Yu, Businessman/Disabled Veteran
State Assembly, 73rd District
Steven “Steve” Choi, Assemblyman/Educator/Businessman
Cottie Petrie-Norris, California State Assemblymember
State Assembly, 74th District
Laurie Davies, California Assemblywoman/Businessowner
Chris Duncan, Mayor Pro Tem
State Senator, 30th District
Bob Archuleta, Democrat, California State Senator
Henry Bouchot, Democrat, Whittier Councilmember/Veteran
Martha Camacho Rodriguez, Democrat, Teacher/Water Advocate
Mitch Clemmons, Republican, Plumber/Business Owner
State Senator, 32nd District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Kelly Seyarto, Republican, Assemblymember / Retired Firefighter
Brian Nash, Democrat, Analytics Consultant / Businessperson
State Senator, 34th District
Tom Umberg, Senator/Small Businessowner
Rhonda Shader, Mayor/Small Businessowner
State Senator, 36th District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Kim Carr, City of Huntington Beach Councilmember
Janet Nguyen, California Assemblywoman/Businessowner
State Senator, 38th District
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Matt Gunderson, Small Business Owner
Joe Kerr, Retired Fire Captain
Catherine Blakespear, Mayor/SANDAG Chair
County Superintendent of Schools
Al Mijares, Orange County Superintendent of Schools
Stefan Bean, School Superintendent/Parent
County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Shari L. Freidenrich, Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Orange County Assessor
Claude Parrish, Orange County Assessor
Larry Bales, Retired
Richard “Rick” Foster, Veteran Housing Provider
Orange County Auditor-Controller
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 because the incumbent, Frank Davies, did not file to run for election.
Andrew N. Hamilton, City Finance Director
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Hugh Nguyen, Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Steve Rocco, Educational Publisher/Writer
Sandy Kimble, Supermarket Cashier/Realtor
OC Board of Education, Area 2
Mari Barke, Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 2
Martha Fluor, Retired School Boardmember
Christopher R. Ganiere, Architect
Board of Education, Area 4, Short Term
Paulette Chaffee, Teacher/Nonprofit Boardmember
David M. Choi, Accountant
Ellisa Kim, Business Owner/Parent
Tim Shaw, Appointed Member, Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 4
Board of Education, Area 5
Lisa Sparks, Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 5
Sherine Smith, Retired School Superintendent
Board of Equalization, 4th District
Denis R. Bilodeau, Taxpayer Advocate/Engineer
David Dodson, State Board Supervisor
Matthew Harper, Businessman/Business Owner
John F. Kelly, Businessman
Erik Peterson, Huntington Beach City Council Member/Business Owner
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 1
Gassia Apkarian, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 2
Isabel Apkarian, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 3
Craig E. Arthur, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 4
David L. Belz, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 5
Claudia C. Alvarez, Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange
Daniel (Dan) Espinosa, Attorney at Law
Kimberly La Salle, Counselor at Law
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 6
Michael J. Cassidy, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 7
Corey S. Cramin, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 8
Thomas A. Delaney, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 9
Joe Dane, Superior Court Commissioner, County of Orange
Christopher Duff, Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 10
Nick A. Dourbetas, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 11
Marc A. Gibbons, Attorney at Law
Shawn Nelson, Chief Assistant District Attorney, County of Orange
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 12
Lee L. Gabriel, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 13
Donald F. Gaffney, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 14
Robert Gerard, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 15
Craig Griffin, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 16
Maria D. Hernandez, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 17
Kim R. Hubbard, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 18
Derek W. Hunt, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 19
Lon F. Hurwitz, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 20
Jeanine M. Joseph, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 21
Ray Brown, Attorney At Law
Erin Beltran Rowe, Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 22
Brahim Baytieh, Deputy District Attorney
Fred Fascenelli, Trial Attorney
Craig E. Kleffman, Deputy District Attorney, County of Los Angeles
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 23
Thomas James Lo, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 24
Carmen R. Luege, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 25
Andrew Manssourian, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 26
Melissa R. McCormick, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 27
Vib Mittal, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 28
Jessica Cha, Family Court Attorney
Eric Scarbrough, Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 29
Michael Murray, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 30
The filing period for this seat was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 because the incumbent, Judge Frank Ospino, died last month and did not complete his candidacy paperwork.
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 31
Julie A. Palafox, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 32
Cheri Pham, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 33
Thomas E. “Tom” Martin, Attorney at Law
Steve McGreevy, (no proposed ballot title yet, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Brett K. Wiseman, (no proposed ballot title yet, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 34
Kathleen E. Roberts, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 35
Karen L. Robinson, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 36
Claudia J. Silbar, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 37
Fred W. Slaughter, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 38
Scott A. Steiner, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 39
Scott Van Camp, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 40
Mary Kreber Varipapa, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 41
Megan L. Wagner, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 42
James L. Waltz, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 43
Eric J. Wersching, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 44
Larry Yellin, Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 45
Israel Claustro, Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange
Kevin Brian Jones, Superior Court Commissioner, County of Del Norte
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 46
John Randolph Zitny, Judge of the Superior Court
Nick Gerda covers county government for Voice of OC. You can contact him at ngerda@voiceofoc.org.
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