Also up for approval is a lifting of the requirement that the upper salary range for political aides – roughly $54 per hour to $60 per hour – be reserved only for employees with “outstanding performance.”
Author Archives: Norberto Santana Jr.
Norberto Santana, Jr. is an experienced investigative reporter, serving as founding publisher and editor-in-chief for Voice of OC, overseeing newsroom, engagement and fundraising operations.
He’s also an award-winning columnist, focusing his efforts on First Amendment issues and local government, being recognized multiple years by the Orange County Press Club as the region’s best columnist.
The LA Press Club has named him a Journalist of the Year (2018) and the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has recognized him as a “Distinguished Journalist.” The California Chicano News Media Association has honored him with a lifetime achievement award and the national News Leaders Association has recognized him for his commitment to diverse staffing and coverage.
Santana is a pioneer in the field of nonprofit news having served on the board of directors for the national trade group for nonprofit newsrooms, the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). He also has served on boards of the national nonprofit advocating investigative journalism, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the California First Amendment advocacy group, CalAware.
In addition to journalism, Santana also teaches public affairs and investigative journalism as an adjunct faculty professor at Chapman University.
Before founding Voice of OC in 2009, Santana was a lead investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, focusing on county government. He spent nearly two decades covering local governments across Southern California, previously as a staff writer at the San Diego Union Tribune and San Bernardino County Sun.
Santana began his journalistic career as an apprentice reporter with Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. covering daily floor action in the U.S. Congress and followed that up with a stint covering the territorial Senate for the U.S. Virgin Islands Daily News.
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories, Transportation
Moorlach Wins 37th State Senate District Seat
The former county supervisor and treasurer-tax collector has won election to represent the 37th State Senate, beating District State Assemblyman Don Wagner 50.4 percent to 44.1 percent in results so far.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories, Transportation
State Senate Election Pits Republicans Against Themselves
The race for the 37th State Senate District on Tuesday pits former County Supervisor John Moorlach against State Assemblyman Don Wagner and is the third, straight high level GOP contest to feature a Tea Party vs. Pro-Business battle.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County Expands Ranks of Political Aides
Orange County Supervisors created four new, high-paying jobs Tuesday, expanding the job ranks of political aides working for the county with new slots for the County Auditor Controller and the Assessor.
Posted inGovernment, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories, Transportation
Sheriff and DA Managers Get Rated by Rank and File
An unofficial ratings report was released by the OC Sheriff deputies’ union Wednesday, which gave generally positive marks to Sheriffs’ Department management.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, News Briefs, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Has the 2018 Race for District Attorney Begun?
A brewing public battle between county supervisors’ Chairman Todd Spitzer and DA Tony Rackauckas over a controversial outsourcing contract has some wondering whether it signals the start of the next campaign for district attorney.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Top Stories
Probolsky Sanctioned for Timecard Abuses, Political Threats
County officials have sanctioned local GOP insider Brian Probolsky for failing to document time off for weekday meetings as a water board member and threatening HR investigators that looked into the matter.
Posted inCountywide, News Briefs, Top Stories
Correa Calls For Recount in County Supervisor Election
Citing concerns over voting “irregularities,” former State Senator Lou Correa on Monday called on OC Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley to begin a recount of votes in last week’s special election for the First District seat on the Board of Supervisors.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories
Do Wins Central County Supervisors’ Election
Republican Andrew Do appears to have won a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, holding onto a slight lead over former Democratic State Senator Lou Correa that narrowed to 43 votes as of the last update filed by the Registrar of Voters today at 5 p.m.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Two Votes Separate Do, Correa in County Supervisor Race
Andrew Do comes out two votes ahead of Lou Correa in the last official tally Tuesday night. Three more days of counting are ahead, with at least 6,100 votes in the balance.
