The city’s police union spent heavily to gain control of the council and union-backed candidates won three seats. But it failed to oust Councilman Vincent Sarmiento, who is now seen as a swing vote on police issues.
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 inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Mayor and Police-Backed Council Candidates Score Victories
With his own victory, and those by other police union-backed candidates in Santa Ana City Council races, Mayor Miguel Pulido appears to have regained much of the power he lost in the 2012 “Santa Ana Spring” election.
Posted inCountywide, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Transportation, Westminster
County Supervisor Andrew Do Wins Re-Election
The last Election Day update from the county Registrar of Voters shows Do winning 53 percent to 47 percent over his Democratic opponent, Michele Martinez.
Posted inSanta Ana
Is This the Election Miguel Pulido Makes His Comeback at Santa Ana City Hall?
The longtime Santa Ana mayor has put together a law-and-order coalition in an effort to take back control of the City Council. To succeed, he and his police-union backers must unseat incumbent councilmen Vincent Sarmiento and Roman Reyna.
Posted inCountywide, Garden Grove, Top Stories
Garden Grove Election Guide
For all of you Garden Grove voters, here’s a collection of articles on races that matter most in your city so you can be better informed at the ballot box tomorrow.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories
Records Indicate Voter Data Was Used to Target Do’s Taxpayer-Funded Mailers
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s office spent over $240,000 in taxpayer money on a stream of mass mailers. Now it appears that many of the mailers were targeted based on powerful voter databases normally used by political campaigns.
Posted inSanta Ana
Jose Solorio Fined $3,500 for Using Campaign Money on Apartment Rent
The state Fair Political Practices Commission determined that Solorio, a lobbyist and Santa Ana City Council Candidate, broke the law by using campaign funds on an apartment he is renting for personal use.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Santa Ana, Top Stories, Transportation
OC Supervisor Candidate Criticized for Absences, Travel and Stipends
Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who is running against Andrew Do for the 1st District seat, is drawing flak for numerous meeting absences, lucrative public stipends, and luxury travel on the taxpayers’ dime.
Posted inAnaheim, Politics & Elections
Disney Breaks Its Own Spending Record in This Year’s Anaheim Council Election
With a week to go until the election, The Walt Disney Company’s spending on Anaheim City Council races has blown past the record it set in 2014 and is approaching the $1-million mark, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana to Pay $100,000 Settlement for Pot Shop Raid
A video of a 2015 raid by Santa Ana police on the Sky High Holistic dispensary showed officers entering with guns drawn, and then later appearing to joke around and eat marijuana edibles while also destroying a surveillance camera system.
