Editor’s Note: This questionnaire is part of an ongoing series publishing candidates’ opinions on how they would run the government if they were elected county supervisor. All questionnaires are archived on the Voice of OC Elections Page.
This year, residents of Orange County’s fourth district are guaranteed a new county supervisor, shaping a new future for the northern edge of the county.
The district covers cities such as Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and Stanton.
Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut is running for the seat with the local Democratic Party’s endorsement, with most of his campaign’s financial support coming from independent advertisements from the local firefighters union, the county general employees’ union and a host of construction unions.
OC Board of Education Trustee Tim Shaw is running with the Republican Party’s endorsement, who’s received most of his advertising from the National Association of Realtors.
We asked the candidates how they’d handle several of the biggest issues in their district, including growing budget deficits, homelessness and dilapidated infrastructure.
Several cities throughout your district are grappling with severe budget problems. What role do you think county supervisors should play in helping to fix that?
Tim Shaw: Cities are independently governed and ultimately responsible for their own budgets, so a county supervisor should not dictate how a city manages its finances. The county can, however, be a strong regional partner. Supervisors can help coordinate shared services, pursue state and federal funding, work on regional infrastructure and identify partnerships that reduce duplication. My experience in municipal government and at OCTA taught me that cities and regional agencies can accomplish more when they work together.
Connor Traut: The County should be a partner, not a blank check. Supervisors can help cities compete for grants, coordinate shared services, secure transportation and infrastructure funding, strengthen regional public safety partnerships, and encourage economic development. Where County resources assist a struggling city, I would expect transparency and a credible long-term plan addressing the underlying structural problem.
Do you think the county is doing enough to tackle homelessness? What strategies would you bring to try and rein in one of the county’s largest problems?
Tim Shaw: The county, cities, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, and the private sector must work together to have success with homelessness. We need mental-health and addiction treatment, affordable housing opportunities, and accountability for results. There also must be a public safety component. We should offer meaningful pathways to treatment and housing, while recognizing that criminal activity cannot simply be ignored because someone is homeless. Compassion and accountability must work together. Orange County has made progress, but homelessness remains one of our largest challenges.
Connor Traut: Not if our measurement is whether people are permanently leaving homelessness. North Orange County has stepped up with regional shelter capacity, while South Orange County has not. My framework is prevention, treatment, shelter, housing, and accountability: keep people housed before crisis, expand mental health and addiction treatment, provide effective shelter, and increase supportive housing so shelters do not continue as long-term destinations. We should measure movement into permanent stability, and if a program repeatedly fails, fix it or redirect the funding.
What do you think should be done about road conditions in cities across much of the Fourth District?
Tim Shaw: Transportation infrastructure is one of my priorities. Having served as Chairman of OCTA, I understand both the challenges and the funding mechanisms involved. The county and OCTA should work closely with Fourth District cities to identify the most deteriorated and congested corridors, coordinate pavement and infrastructure projects, synchronize traffic signals and aggressively pursue available transportation funding. Residents deserve roads that are safe and properly maintained.
Connor Traut: Cities are primarily responsible for local streets, but the County and OCTA can provide much more leverage. I would maximize Measure M Local Fair Share dollars, compete aggressively for arterial and signal-synchronization grants, require strong pavement plans, and coordinate major corridors across city boundaries. I also support expanding Community Workforce Agreements to help promote timely, high-quality construction, cost accountability, local hiring, and opportunities for veterans. Residents should see smoother roads, better-managed projects, and less governmental finger-pointing.
Would you support OCTA funding more bike and alternative transportation infrastructure and how would you reimagine OC streets?
Tim Shaw: I support a balanced transportation system. During my previous service at OCTA, I Chaired the Transit Committee for many years and supported various transit projects. As Mayor of La Habra I supported bike infrastructure where it made practical sense, including opportunities along underused rights-of-way and connections to regional trails. OCTA’s first responsibility is to move people safely and efficiently. That means maintaining roads and improving traffic flow while also providing viable transit, bicycle and pedestrian options where they make sense for the community.
Connor Traut: Yes, particularly where projects create safe, useful connections to schools, jobs, neighborhoods, and major transit hubs like the Fullerton and Buena Park Metrolink stations. I prioritize protected bikeways and pedestrian improvements, including completing the OC Loop in North Orange County, along with microtransit and first/last-mile connections. We also need reliable bus service that protects both riders and drivers, including appropriate safety measures and enforcement. I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; each corridor must balance safety, traffic flow, emergency access, and realistic travel needs.
Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.
