A one-cent sales tax increase was overwhelmingly approved, but the two council members who championed it lost their races to ideological conservatives.
Author Archives: Thy Vo
Thy is a reporter covering the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Westminster as well as transportation issues and the courts. She’s the daughter of two Vietnamese refugees and grew up in Anaheim and Orange County’s Little Saigon community. She speaks Vietnamese and conversational Mandarin Chinese.
During her time at Voice of OC, Thy has investigated nepotism and illegal contracts in the city of Garden Grove, an illegal pension arrangement by the Westminster city attorney and controversy over the use of publicly-funded mass mailers by county supervisors.
Thy has received accolades from the Orange County and Southern California Press Clubs, including a second place Best Public Affairs Story award from the OC Press Club for her story “Dick Jones’ Sweet Deal in Westminster,” and a third place Best Feature Story award from the SoCal Press Club for “Struggles of Second Generation Reveal Long Shadow of War.”
Before working for Voice of OC, Thy interned at the Santa Barbara Independent; China Economic Review in Shanghai, China; and Orange County Register. She graduated from Haverford College with a degree in political science.
Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese and Mandarin
Areas of expertise: Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster, immigration, pension issues, court coverage and transportation.
Posted inAnaheim, News Briefs
It Could be Weeks Before Victors in Anaheim Races Are Known
With more than 378,000 ballots left to count countywide, and just a few hundred votes separating candidates in two key Anaheim City Council races, winners may not be officially declared until the end of November.
Posted inCorrections, Countywide, Top Stories
Key Anaheim City Council Races Too Close to Call
Councilwoman Lucille Kring and Republican Steve Faessel are elected to the Anaheim City Council. But two other races that could change the complexion of the council have yet to be decided.
Posted inCountywide, Garden Grove, Top Stories
Garden Grove Elects First Latina to City Council
John O’Neill, Thu-Ha Nguyen, Stephanie Klopfenstein, and Kim Nguyen will serve on the next Garden Grove City Council. Councilman Steve Jones will be the next mayor.
Posted inNews Briefs, Westminster
Westminster Decisively Re-Elects Mayor; Sales Tax Increase Sails Through
Westminster voters approved a hotly contested one-cent sales tax increase Tuesday night, with 60.7 percent of voters approving the measure, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
Posted inAnaheim, News Briefs, Transportation
Stakes Are High for Candidates Battling in Anaheim Council Races
With just days before voters go to the polls and control of the City Council majority hanging in the balance, candidates for District 4 and 5 council seats are attracting a lot of attention and money.
Posted inGarden Grove, Politics & Elections
Garden Grove City Council Race Is History in the Making
Regardless of who wins the District 6 seat, either Rickk Montoya or Kim Nguyen will be the city’s first-ever Latino council member. While the two Democrats have similar stances on the issues, the community is divided over their candidacies.
Posted inAnaheim
Amid Objections by Mayor and Residents, Anaheim Council Appoints Interim City Attorney
A split council approved the appointment of Arturo N. Fierro, who has close ties to Councilman Jordan Brandman, to the position for the next six months.
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 inAnaheim
Controversial City Attorney Appointment Back on Anaheim Agenda
The Anaheim City Council is set to appoint Arturo N. Fierro, the father of Councilman Jordan Brandman’s campaign manager and policy aide, as city attorney. If approved, Fierro will serve as interim city attorney for six months.
