Democratic Club

By Mary Larson

LW contributor

Both the Dec. 16 and Jan. 20 Leisure World Democratic Club membership meetings will discuss the importance of the five-member Orange County Board of Supervisors. With the current District 2 representative on the board heading to Congress, a special election to fill the remaining two years in her term will be held in early spring.

This election will be important for a number of reasons. Every year, the Orange County Supervisors determine how to prioritize billions of dollars in taxpayer funds. They also wield influence over a large number of people.

In addition to directly electing supervisors, voters also indirectly choose other members of county government. The supervisors appoint 17 different directors of various county departments. They also appoint a county CEO who, in turn, appoints 11 other directors. Supervisors also appoint members to the 85 different boards, committees and commissions.

Based upon the results of the 2020 U.S. census, the supervisors will also be tasked in 2021 with redrawing their district boundaries for the next decade. Although this upcoming election in District 2 is officially non-partisan, the stakes are high for both major political parties. Democrats are working hard to elect a second member of their party to the Board.

Republican John Moorlach, who represented the district before Steel, and Katrina Foley, the Democratic mayor of Costa Mesa, are among the most likely candidates.

Republicans have a 5 percentage point advantage in party registration in District 2, and an even bigger advantage when it comes to voters who actually cast ballots in the recent November General Election. The voter registration breakdown is 38 percent Republican, 33 percent Democrat, and 29 percent with no party preference or members of smaller parties. Once again, the no party preference votes will hold the key to the outcome of this special election. •••• Democratic Club members will vote to officially elect the 2021-2022 Board during the business portion of the Dec. 16 meeting, which will be on Zoom beginning at noon. The list of the nominees is posted on the club’s website. Members can also expect an update on progress being made on guidelines for the implementation of AB 3182 in Leisure World. •••• If you are a Democrat or a supporter and want to know more about the club, subscribe to the free electronic newsletter by emailing the editor, Mary Larson, at mlarson.telfords@gmail.com or by calling (562) 296-8521 with your full contact information.

Democrats interested in joining the cub or renewing their membership can find an application on the club’s website at https://sblwdems. wordpress.com/. Memberships received during November or December will not need to be renewed until Jan. 1, 2022.