Democratic Club
by Mary Larson
LW contributor
With only a few days left before voting in the 2024 General Election ends, new interest is being generated in down-ballot races. This is especially true in the contest to succeed Andrew Do as LW’s District 1 representative on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
The five members of the board are among the most powerful politicians in Orange County. They allocate about $9 billion in spending each year on key government services. They oversee much of the social safety net for OC’s most vulnerable residents.
County supervisors took on a high-profile role during the pandemic—influencing whether the county had a mask mandate and overseeing the public health response, mass testing sites, and holding weekly news conferences. Funding decisions were sometimes made by individual board members using discretionary funds, with little or no oversight from the remaining members.
This was the situation when Do funneled millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds to Viet America Society, a nonprofit where his daughter worked. Do has just pleaded guilty of using much of this money for the benefit of members of his family. He has resigned from the board.
Janet Nguyen, the Republican candidate, is currently running to replace him. He served as her chief of staff after she was elected to the board of supervisors. Nguyen has issued a statement condemning Do’s actions, as has Frances Marquez, the Democratic candidate for the Board of Supervisors.
Nguyen is currently a member of the California Senate. Marquez is a member of the Cypress city council.
Democrats and supporters are reminded that voter assistance will be available at the club’s booth, located in the Clubhouse 6 parking lot, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Yard signs will be available at the booth for club-endorsed candidates.
Residents can vote in person at the Seal Beach Vote Center located at the OC Fire Station No. 48 on the North Gate Road beginning Saturday, Nov. 2, as well as on Election Day, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Democrats and supporters can subscribe to the club’s free e-newsletter by emailing the editor at mlarson.telfords@gmail.com or calling 562-2968521 with their full contact information.
