Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/orange-county-board-of-supervisors/)
The move to put the crime lab scientists under a law enforcement agency directly contradicts the national best practices Sheriff Don Barnes and DA Todd Spitzer cited to justify the change.
Smaller counties than OC have asked for and received tens of millions more in state and federal funds for preventative health and housing programs that studies have shown save taxpayer dollars overall, help homeless people get off the streets, and save lives.
The ongoing trend prompts Wagner to declare victory. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, awaits a final count.
Irvine Mayor Don Wagner’s lead now exceeds all of the known ballots that remain to be counted. The closely-watched election will influence the power and policy dynamics on the powerful county Board of Supervisors.
The result will impact Democrats’ chances of gaining a majority on the powerful Orange County Board of Supervisors in next year’s general election.
Voters will be able to cast ballots at any vote center up to 10 days before Election Day, which includes the two weekends before Election Day. And in a change from the current practice, voters will be allowed to cast their ballot on computers at any vote center in the county, without having to fill out a provisional paper ballot.
Doug Chaffee, the former mayor of Fullerton, took office Tuesday. Supervisors also set March 12 as the date for a special election to replace the seat held until recently by Todd Spitzer.
If the sale goes through and the new shelter opens, it would be the largest homeless shelter in Orange County.
Spitzer was up by 5.8 percentage points in the latest ballot count. There was no word of a concession by his opponent, incumbent DA Tony Rackauckas.
In a break with their usual practice, the three supervisors who approved the ordinance did it without a cost estimate or funding identified to pay for the county staff time and outreach.