The Orange County Board of Supervisors will go through a very interesting race with five Republicans and one Democrat running, giving the last ones a perceived advantage to gain their second seat on the five member board. On March 12 the special election will include: former congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D), Irvine Mayor Don Wagner (R), former Villa Park councilwoman Deborah Pauly (R), Anaheim’s former councilwoman Kris Murray (R), and former Orange County employee Larry Bales (R), will compete represent the county’s 3rd District. Although the race is officially non-partisan, both parties have offered endorsements.
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The Democratic Party of Orange County is backing Sanchez, who had served Santa Ana for 20 years as a congresswoman, and is the lone candidate for the party. Her urge to return to local politics is based in confronting regional problems such as housing affordability and homelessness.
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Don Wagner, current mayor of Irvine and former member of the state assembly, has gained the support of the Republican Party of Orange County. Claiming that the solution to homelessness is a balance between the needs of homeowners and the homeless. Last year he opposed the creation of a homeless encampment on Great Park land in Irvine. Claiming he wants to move forward with supporting long-term solutions instead of temporary ones.
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Kris Murray, former Anaheim councilwoman, has the support of the Orange County Business Council and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. Although the first to declare candidacy, she has been asked by prominent party members to withdraw. She points out that she helped break up homeless encampments in Anaheim while improving homeless services, and luring large developers with tax incentives.
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Deborah Pauly, former councilwoman of Villa Park, is the ultraconservative amongst the candidates. As a former member of the Tea Party she supported a proposed Arizona state law that would require some Latino residents to present identification to police in order to prove citizenship.
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Larry Bales, former appraiser for the Orange County assessor’s office for 32 years, is best known for exposing government failures and corruption within the assessors office. Two other candidates appear in county records, Republican business owner Katherine Daigle of Irvine and Tustin attorney Kim-Thy “Katie” Hoang Bayliss although her party identification could not be found.
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Heavy campaign spending is to be expected in order to gain the attention of voters in such a brief period. Currently Sanchez has raised $126,000 and loaned another $100,000 since December. Wagner has raised $94,500 and loaned $100,000 this calendar year, and Murray has raised $105,000 as well as gifting $50,000 to the campaign.
