Jockeying has already begun for Michelle Steel’s seat on the OC Board of Supervisors, which is heading to a special election.
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 inNEWS
Republicans and Democrats Move to Finalize Wins, OC Remains Purple As of Latest Election Results
The latest results come from just short of 13,000 new election ballots counted, rounding out a nearly 86% historic voter turnout this year.
Posted inCountywide
Republicans Flip Coastal OC Congressional Seat from Democrats as Harley Rouda Concedes
Orange County Republicans cemented a victory in flipping back a Congressional seat they lost in 2018.
Posted inSanta Ana
State Investigating Disclosure Complaints Against OC Supervisor Candidate Sergio Contreras
Contreras is accused of failing to disclose income, gifts, and fundraising for a city statue, which he denies.
Posted inCountywide
OC Saw Jumps in Children Hospitalized for Mental Crises Before Pandemic; Rising Poverty
There’s been worsening rates of children living in unstable housing and kids hospitalized with mental crises.
Posted inCountywide
State Closes Money Laundering Investigation of OC Republican Party and Andrew Do
Investigators took no enforcement action, finding “insufficient evidence” of any violations.
Posted inNEWS
Republicans and Democrats Seeing Their Own Wins in Orange County as U.S. Elects New President
Orange County residents turned out to vote in this election like never before.
Posted inNEWS
Orange County Election Results Remain Close
Republicans and Democrats may both have something to celebrate soon.
Posted inNEWS
Latest Orange County Election Results Reveal Tight Battles for National, State and Local Seats
The latest race results reflect more than 62,000 new ballots counted on Thursday night.
Posted inNEWS
Is Orange County On Track to Stay Purple?
In the latest results posted Wednesday, most race results barely moved. A much larger update expected tomorrow.
