As voters get ready to head to the polls next week, Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley talks about the future of voting. He expects more change in voting in the next ten years than we’ve seen in the last hundred years.
Author Archives: Nick Gerda
Nick covers the city of Santa Ana, as well as the County of Orange, often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics.
Since joining Voice of OC in 2011, Nick has regularly shed light on topics that are often kept in the shadows. He’s reported on systemic problems in the county’s mental health system. He also led a reporting team that produced sophisticated looks at how the Disney corporation campaign contributions influenced recent elections in Anaheim.
Nick also revealed evidence of elected leaders using their official powers to apparently pressure government contractors into donating to their election campaigns, in an article that was awarded best news story of the year by the Orange County Press Club. He firmly believes journalism should inform the public and help hold the powerful accountable.
An Orange County native, Nick first started covering local government in his mid-teens, before attending Santa Ana College, the American University in Cairo, and UC Irvine, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Languages spoken: English, elementary Spanish, minimal Arabic and minimal Japanese
Areas of expertise: Local government, local politics, homelessness, mental health policy, campaign finance, California Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, County of Orange government, Santa Ana city government and municipal finance.
Posted inInside the Newsroom, Press Releases
Voice of OC to Moderate Free ‘Accounting for Activists’ Training
The seminar that will give the basics on what to look for as citizens dive into the murky pool of where our tax dollars go.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Elected Officials Criticize Federal Cuts to Local Homeless Programs
The U.S. government is changing how it funds homeless programs — shifting emphasis from transitional housing to longer-term housing. But local electeds say the feds are moving too fast and will force vulnerable families onto the streets.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
OC Supervisors and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Agenda
Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett instituted a new schedule that cuts down on the number of times supervisors meet, but it also makes the agendas much harder to get through. Some of her colleagues are “frustrated” with the changes.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County Supervisor a No-Show at Mental Health Board Meetings
Andrew Do was absent for all but two of the 12 meetings in the year after he joined the panel last February. The rules say he should have been removed after four missed meetings. But the supervisors are considering exempting Do from the rules.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Top Stories
Political Aide’s Multiple Income Streams Shows How it Pays to be Connected
In addition to earning $177,000 in salary in benefits last year for his full-time county job, Denis Bilodeau received another $83,000 in payments and benefits from other public agencies, records show.
Posted inFountain Valley, Garden Grove, Government, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana, Top Stories, Westminster
Do Far Ahead of Martinez in Fundraising for Central OC Supervisor Seat
Incumbent Republican supervisor Andrew Do has raised nearly $340,000, according to most recent reports, while Democrat Michele Martinez raised less than $60,000.
Posted inEquality & Equity, Health & Wellness, News Briefs, Santa Ana
Transgender Advocates Launch Hunger Strike to Protest Santa Ana ICE Contract
Transgender women face disproportionately high amounts of abuse in immigration detention centers, activists say. They want officials to cancel the contract to house federal immigration detainees at the city jail.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Outdoors, Top Stories
Coastal Commissioners Get an Earful on Banning Ranch Project
Dozens of residents and activists, including a native peoples’ advocate, showed up to Thursday’s Coastal Commission meeting to criticize officials for poor communication and scaling back their protection of natural habitat.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Five Things to Know About This Year’s County Budget
We sat down with top county budget officials to go over the proposed spending plan, and here are our takeaways.
