Campaign Filing Deadline Approaches for Open Orange County Supervisor Seat

Orange County election stands await voters inside the Honda Center, converted into a polling place, in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The clock is ticking for those hoping to appear on the ballot for the upcoming Orange County Board of Supervisor’s special election.

The filing deadline for candidacy is Jan. 25, and, as of Jan. 17, just two local candidates—former state senator John Moorlach and Fountain Valley Mayor Michael Vo—had qualified for the March 9 vote.

Candidates are vying for the District 2 seat, which became available when former Supervisor Michelle Steel was sworn into U.S. Congress early this month.

The seat is a two-year position that will oversee portions of Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

Candidates must have 20 to 40 nomination signatures to qualify for the ballot, pay a filing fee, and have a declaration of candidacy before the Jan. 25 deadline.

The role of the supervisor is to establish policy, approve the annual budget, appoint county officers, approve contracts for projects and services, and conduct public hearings on land use and other matters.

Moorlach, who is a former Orange County Supervisor, raised nearly $173,000 in December, according to Fair Political Practices Commission Disclosure Statements.

Moorlach has been endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, and the New Majority. He was county treasurer for 11 years before serving eight years as county supervisor.

Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, who has been endorsed by the Orange County Democratic Party, is also running for the seat.

Other candidates include Newport Beach mayor pro tem Kevin Muldoon, Paul Gonzales, and Janet Rappaport, an attorney from Corona del Mar.

There is word that Huntington Beach City Councilman Michael Posey will run for the seat, but he had yet to file for candidacy as of Jan. 17.

This will be the only vote available on the second district’s March 9 ballot. The candidates’ party affiliation will not appear on the ballot because the supervisorial seat is nonpartisan.