The Orange County Supervisorial Elections are just around the corner! Join OC Forum and OC Tax on Thursday, September 29th for the premiere of "Navigating Redistricting: 2022 OC Elections." Tune in to hear from our panel of experts as they discuss the impacts redistricting has had on this year's elections followed by an exclusive interview with supervisorial candidates from Districts 2, 4, and 5!
Visit our events page here to learn more about this timely program. Meet our guest speakers below!
Carolyn Cavecche, CEO & President, OC Taxpayers Association
Carolyn Cavecche serves as CEO & President of the Orange County Taxpayers Association. She came to OCTax with over a decade of public policy experience gained from serving on numerous city, county, and regional governing boards. This experience has given her insight into how government can and should keep taxes "fair, understandable, cost effective, and good for business." Prior to joining the Orange County Taxpayers Association, Carolyn served 6 years as the directly elected Mayor of the City of Orange in addition to serving almost 6 years as a member of the Orange City Council. Click here to learn more: octax.org
Paul Mitchell, President, Redistricting Partners
Redistricting Partners is headed by Paul Mitchell, a data consultant based in Sacramento.
Mitchell has conducted the redistricting for more than 75 states, cities, school boards and community college districts, including the State of New York Independent Redistricting Commission, the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission, the Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission, and several more. His firm’s work on racially polarized voting analysis and demographics has aided dozens of agencies as they navigate the California and Federal Voting Rights Acts. Learn more here: https://redistrictingpartners.com/about/
Linda Akutagawa, CEO & President, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAPS)
Linda Akutagawa (she/hers) is President and CEO of LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics), an organization she has led for the last 10 years. Akutagawa is a Commissioner on the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission and an appointed member of the California Department of Insurance Diversity Task Force. She is nationally recognized speaker and facilitator on leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, nonprofits, and board governance. For more information on her background, follow the link below:
Kim Bernice Nguyen, Councilmember, City of Garden Grove
Garden Grove Council Member Kim Bernice Nguyen began her career in local politics at just 25, when she became the youngest person ever elected in the city. As a councilmember, Kim has been an advocate for local economic development, public safety, and equity throughout the city. Council Member Nguyen is running for the Orange County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat to bring a bold voice that understands the issues facing Orange County's working families. Click here to learn more about Council Member Nguyen: https://www.votekimnguyen.com/
Sunny Park, Mayor, City of Buena Park
Sunny Park is the first AAPI woman to serve as Mayor of Buena Park. Ms. Park is a community-minded leader with the skills to bring a meaningful impact to the livelihood of Orange County. In addition to serving as Mayor, she is representing her community on the Orange County Fire Authority and the Southern California Associations of Governments on the Community Economics and Housing Development Committee. She was recently appointed to serve on the Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee for the California League of the Cities, API Caucus. Visit the following link to learn more about Mayor Park: https://www.sunnypark4oc.com/meet-sunny
Vicente Sarmiento, Mayor, City of Santa Ana
In January of 2007, Mayor Sarmiento was appointed to the Santa Ana City Council to represent Ward 1. He was formally elected as the Ward 1 City Councilmember in November 2008, then reelected in November 2012 and November 2016. In November 2020 he was elected Mayor of Santa Ana. Mayor Sarmiento currently serves as a Director for the Orange County Transportation Authority. He previously served as the President of the Orange County Water District Board of Directors, Vice-Chair of the Transportation Corridor Agency, and Board Member with the Orange County Fire Authority. Click here to learn more https://www.santa-ana.org/vicente-sarmiento/
Pat Bates, California State Senator, 36th District
Senator Pat Bates began her efforts in Orange County as the first Mayor of Laguna Niguel after she helped incorporate the city. She has also previously served as a California State Assemblymember and Orange County Supervisor. In the Senate, Pat has worked to champion taxpayers, support law enforcement, and improve healthcare accessibility for veterans and military personnel. Senator Bates is running for the Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat to help the local economy recover and ensure Orange County coastlines and way of life are protected. Learn more here: https://batesforsupervisor.com/.