Voters will be able to cast ballots at any vote center up to 10 days before Election Day, which includes the two weekends before Election Day. And in a change from the current practice, voters will be allowed to cast their ballot on computers at any vote center in the county, without having to fill out a provisional paper ballot.
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 inCountywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Federal Judge Carter Calls OC’s Skyrocketing Homeless Deaths a ‘Public Health Crisis’
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, after years of rapid growth in Orange County homeless deaths, issued an emergency request this week describing a “public health crisis in the County leading to the deaths of hundreds of people experiencing homelessness.”
Posted inEconomy, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Approves $25 Million Police Raise, But Not Funding
Santa Ana City Council members granted raises to police officers and sergeants totaling $25 million over the next two and a half years, without the ability to actually pay the $4.3 million cost for this fiscal year.
Posted inInvestigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
Roman Reyna to Resign from Santa Ana Council, Potentially Shifting Power Balance
Reyna was facing the likelihood of sworn testimony, in public, by other city officials and one of his family members regarding allegations he falsified residency documents. His resignation sets the stage for a potential shift in power at City Hall.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Councilman’s Removal Trial Postponed as He Negotiates Deal
The talks apparently include the possibility of Roman Reyna stepping down from the council.
Posted inGovernment, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
Trial Starts Today on Removing Santa Ana Councilman
Roman Reyna is accused of being ineligible for the seat because he was living outside the ward during a city-required residency period and falsified his election paperwork, which Reyna disputes. The outcome could affect the balance of power on the council.
Posted inGovernment, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Grapples With $400,000 Payout, Police Records Destruction, During Leadership Vacuum
But City Hall’s day-to-day leadership remained in limbo.
Posted inGovernment, Santa Ana
Top Santa Ana Leadership Leaves as City Preps $400,000 Payout
Council members vote Tuesday on a nearly $400,000 separation agreement ousting City Manager Raul Godinez and decide on a replacement for longtime City Clerk Maria Huizar.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
First Democrat in 12 Years Joins OC Supervisors
Doug Chaffee, the former mayor of Fullerton, took office Tuesday. Supervisors also set March 12 as the date for a special election to replace the seat held until recently by Todd Spitzer.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Homelessness in OC: 2018 Year in Review
Over the last year, OC saw more action toward getting homeless people off the streets and into shelter than any other time in recent memory.
