Nick Gerda

Author Archives: Nick GerdaReporter

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.

Location

Orange County

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
Municipal finance

Location Expertise

Santa Ana
Orange County

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, 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, Safety, Security & Justice, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

North OC Commits to 700 New Homeless Shelter Beds; South County Identifies Zero

by Nick Gerda and Thy Vo Jun 13, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter two months ago called on south county cities to identify and develop additional shelter beds, and gave them until Wednesday to identify locations.

Countywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories

OC Supervisors Move to Take Away Independent Oversight

by Nick Gerda Jun 13, 2018Jul 9, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Orange County supervisors moved Tuesday to remove independent oversight of their actions, county finances, and the practices of the Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office.

Countywide, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

Orange County Primary Turnout Highest in 16 Years

by Nick Gerda, Spencer Custodio and Thy Vo Jun 11, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Orange County voter turnout in the June 5 primary election was the highest in 16 years with 38.4 percent of active registered voters casting ballots, according to the latest estimate by election officials.

Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, Government, La Habra, Placentia, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

Republican Tim Shaw Likely Faces Democrat Chaffee or Kerr in OC Supervisor Runoff

by Nick Gerda Jun 7, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The latest results show Shaw slightly ahead of Democrats Doug Chaffee and Joe Kerr, with Shaw at 21.0 percent, Chaffee at 20.6 percent, and Kerr at 20.0 percent.

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Politics & Elections, Stanton, Yorba Linda

Josh Newman is Recalled, Ending Democrats’ Supermajority in State Senate

by Nick Gerda Jun 7, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

His replacement appears to be Republican former Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang. Both major political parties focused heavily on their sides of recall effort.

Countywide, Government, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

One-Third of OC Ballots Remain to Be Counted, ‘Will Take Weeks’ to Know Results

by Nick Gerda Jun 6, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The large share of uncounted ballots could end up affecting the outcomes of races that were close as of the end of election night. The election saw “record numbers for a midterm primary,” said Neal Kelley, the county’s top election official.

Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Stanton, Yorba Linda

Josh Newman Recall Has Strong Lead, With Most Votes Counted

by Nick Gerda Jun 5, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

State Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) faced a Republican-led recall effort focused on his vote last year to increase California’s gas tax and vehicle fees. The effort is part of a battle over whether Democrats will have a supermajority in the state Legislature.

Countywide, Irvine, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

Veterans Cemetery Land Swap Behind in Early Results

by Nick Gerda Jun 5, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Measure B would move the proposed location for Orange County’s first veterans cemetery to the edge of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, near the interchange of the 5 and 405 freeways.

Aliso Viejo, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Government, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Politics & Elections, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories

Bartlett Re-Elected as Supervisor, Steel Has Wide Lead for Second Term

by Nick Gerda Jun 5, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Lisa Bartlett and Michelle Steel’s county supervisor seats weren’t considered competitive, given the voter registration advantage for the incumbent Republicans.

Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Countywide, Fullerton, Government, La Habra, Placentia, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

Republican Tim Shaw Has Narrow Lead in Tight Race for 4th District Supervisor

by Nick Gerda Jun 5, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The first round of election results show very close results for the top candidates in the north Orange County race for 4th District county supervisor.