Residents across the political spectrum are expressing frustration at OC supervisors for ignoring their input on maps that will shape democratic representation for the next decade.
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 inGovernment
OC Health Director Publicly Challenged by His Bosses Over No-Bid Contracts Funded by Feds
One supervisor raised concerns about a lack of spending transparency, while another said the public health director gave contradicting justifications for millions in no-bid contracts.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
OC Supervisors Shorten Residents’ Review Time of Newly Proposed Election Maps
This week, supervisors made a series of changes to maps that will reduce the public’s review of the final proposals from 10 days to three days before adoption.
Posted inGovernment
OC Officials Moved to Give Embattled Nonprofit $15 Million Grant Amid Warnings Against It
The $15 million contract, which is supposed to help close various health gaps, has been put up in the air as the Latino community is hit the hardest by the pandemic and faces a stark vaccination gap.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
OC’s Longtime Elections Chief Neal Kelley is Retiring
Kelly’s been widely regarded as one of the best county election officials throughout the state. He oversaw OC’s upgrade of voting machines and rolled out the new vote center model.
Posted inGovernment
OC Supervisors Get Close to Picking New Election Maps Without Much Public Debate
Residents and community groups are questioning why county supervisors haven’t debated the redistricting maps, which will change OC’s political landscape for the next decade.
Posted inGovernment
OC Nonprofit Rejects $15 Million Health Grant from County, Citing Transparency Concerns
The federal money is aimed at closing numerous health disparities throughout OC, like addressing the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Latinos. Those efforts are stalled now.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
OC Supervisors Get Closer to Reshaping County’s Political Landscape for Next Decade
The choice could boil down to two different election maps – each generating waves of support and opposition from residents, community organizations and political groups.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
What’s Orange County Going to Look Like Politically Over Next Decade?
Amid efforts to redraw OC supervisors election districts, concerns surfaced that two main competing maps would diminish Latino or Asian voting power in districts outside Anaheim and Santa Ana.
Posted inGovernment
County of Orange Lawyers Up Over Offshore Oil Spill
Citing $1.5 million in estimated costs over the next year, county supervisors have given direction to hire lawyers who specialize in oil spills to help with “potential oil spill litigation.”
