Eric Woolery

Santana: Death of OC Auditor Controller Underscores Why Public Access to Elected Officials’ Calendars Matters

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By Norberto Santana Jr. | September 9, 2019

After having his department largely defunded last year because of an active watchdog approach, it now seems that deceased Orange County Auditor Controller Eric Woolery was transitioning his life to Kansas. Orange County taxpayers had a right to know that Woolery was super-commuting to his local office from out of state and might be transitioning to a new life. Access to an official public calendar would have allowed for that kind of accountability, something that County of Orange officials keep fighting.

Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery Apparently Died in Kansas, Not OC

By Nick Gerda | August 16, 2019

A county statement last week that Woolery apparently died in Orange was not corrected until Voice of OC inquired Friday afternoon.

OC Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery Dies at 53 Years Old

Eric Woolery

By Spencer Custodio | August 8, 2019

Orange County’s top watchdog, Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery, died Wednesday evening, according to a county spokeswoman. Woolery, first elected in 2015, clashed with County Supervisors.

Supervisors Start Taking Control of County’s Financial Checks and Balances

Orange County Auditor-Controller

By Nick Gerda | June 28, 2018

The supervisors’ most immediate action was to take control of the county’s internal auditors, who are supposed to function as watchdogs against fraud in county departments and currently report to the county’s independently-elected auditor-controller, Eric Woolery.

OC Supervisors Move to Take Away Independent Oversight

Orange County Board of Supervisors

By Nick Gerda | June 13, 2018

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.

Lawsuit Claims Auditor-Controller Had County Staff Drive His Kids To School

Orange County Auditor-Controller

By Nick Gerda | February 1, 2018

Orange County’s top watchdog of public dollars, Eric Woolery, is accused by a former employee of having government employees drive his young children to school and other activities during work hours and babysit them at the office.

Woolery: Funding the Fight on Homelessness in Orange County

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By Eric H. Woolery | January 8, 2018

Orange County Auditor Controller Eric Woolery details how more than $75 million in public funds will be spent addressing homelessness in Orange County in the next few years.

‘Anonymous’ $50,000 Donation to County Sparks Debate Over Public’s Right to Know

County Government

By Nick Gerda | November 13, 2017

An “anonymous” $50,000 donation to the county to improve an archery range at Mile Square Park is sparking debate over whether government agencies should keep donors’ names secret and whether it could become a way for people with business before the county to secretly curry favor with the elected officials who make decisions.

$315 Million Plan for New Civic Center Building Up for Approval Today

By Nick Gerda | May 9, 2017

Orange County supervisors are scheduled Tuesday to move forward with the county government’s first new Civic Center building in decades, a $315-million proposal to replace a long-empty building across from Santa Ana City Hall.

Santana: Training Civic Accountants

County Government

By Norberto Santana Jr. | June 20, 2016

True self-government means knowing how your local public dollars are being spent. Some in Orange County clearly get that as evidenced by the attendance at county Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery’s “Accounting for Activists” training.