To help voters compare candidates in the June primary election, Voice of OC put questions to the candidates vying for some of Orange County’s most powerful positions: OC Superior Court judges.
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 inAnaheim
Key Witness for FBI Anaheim Probe Disputes Feds’ Account That She Was Arrested Before Cooperating
Melahat Rafiei’s spokeswoman says the FBI got it wrong in their court filings, and that she cooperated completely voluntarily. The FBI says their statements are accurate and declined to comment further.
Posted inAnaheim
How Did Disneyland’s Main Political Spending Vehicle Land in the Middle of an FBI Complaint?
Targets of an FBI corruption investigation were wiretapped talking about their work for Disneyland’s main vehicle for campaign money into Anaheim elections.
Posted inInvestigative
High-Profile CA Democrat and OC Political Consultant Reveals Role as FBI Witness in Anaheim Corruption Probe
In a statement to Voice of OC, Melahat Rafiei is now the first person to publicly confirm she cooperated with an FBI corruption investigation into Anaheim’s city government.
Posted inGovernment
Orange County Taxpayers Keep Paying Millions for Costly Computer Glitches, Year After Year
When county computer vendors don’t deliver as promised, who foots the bill? Taxpayers.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Left Without Leadership, What Happens Now To Orange County’s Only Police Watchdog Agency?
Right now, no one is in charge of the Office of Independent Review. Meanwhile, taxpayers have shelled out $40 million over the last decade over lawsuits against the Sheriff’s Department.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
What Do You Want to Ask the Politicians Who Want to Run OC?
Voice of OC is inviting readers to turn the tables on politicians’ hit-mail, and pose the questions to them instead.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Tonight, OC Residents Get A Rare Chance to Publicly Question Their DA and His Challengers
It’s the only time residents will get to see incumbent DA Todd Spitzer get challenged critically on his record or future plans for office, alongside his opponents.
Posted inCountywide
Do Politicians Use Public Resources to Campaign? In Orange County, They Do
The county board has gotten in trouble for it before – and called out a colleague as using government money for “Campaign Mail 101.” Are they at it again?
Posted inCountywide
OC Voters Can Start Casting Ballots Soon in This Year’s Primary Election
A chance for OC voters to shape the future of government is just around the corner.
