Orange County voters choose local leaders, decide tax measures Tuesday

Orange County voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to cast ballots at 191 vote centers in the midterm election, according to Voice of OC. The ballot includes local tax proposals and contests for city, county, state and congressional offices.

Voters will fill two county supervisor seats and decide tax measures in seven cities. Most of those measures would raise hotel taxes as municipal officials work to balance budgets, Voice of OC reported.

Alongside in-person voting, the county offers mail voting and more than 128 locations for ballot drop boxes, according to Voice of OC. Registrar Bob Page said results were expected to start appearing on his office’s website shortly after 8 p.m., with updates continuing through the night until all vote centers had reported.

In the Fifth District supervisor contest, Supervisor Katrina Foley faces Assemblywoman Diane Dixon. Voice of OC reported that county public safety and general unions account for much of Foley’s backing, while oil companies and the Lincoln Club are among Dixon’s biggest supporters.

The open Fourth District supervisor seat pits Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut against Tim Shaw, a trustee on the Orange County Board of Education, the publication reported.

Santa Ana has nine candidates seeking four council seats, with the mayor’s seat among them. Three candidates are incumbents. Huntington Beach voters also are filling four council seats, according to Voice of OC.

State Assembly contests include a race between Chris Kluwe and Huntington Beach Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark in coastal Orange County. In another contest, two Democratic members of the Santa Ana City Council are seeking an Assembly seat serving Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange, Voice of OC reported.

Beyond selecting officeholders, voters in seven cities will determine whether local tax proposals pass, with hotel tax increases making up most of those measures, according to Voice of OC.