Outside money flows into Orange County races as election nears

Outside groups have poured millions of dollars into an Assembly contest between two Santa Ana council members as Orange County approaches Tuesday’s election, according to Voice of OC. Business interests and unions are also financing advertising in county supervisor races.

The spending comes as local governments face a renewed county worker strike, coastal transportation closures and questions about municipal finances. Voice of OC’s roundup places those public-service issues alongside the campaign activity heading into the election.

The Assembly race pits Santa Ana City Councilmembers Jessie Lopez and David Penaloza, both Democrats, against each other. Real estate and Silicon Valley interests are backing Penaloza, while labor unions are supporting Lopez, according to Voice of OC.

Deputies’ and firefighters unions, real estate interests and oil companies are funding ads in two Orange County Board of Supervisors contests, the publication reported. Interests tied to Disneyland Resort also shifted hundreds of thousands of dollars between political action committees to back council candidates, including incumbents running unopposed in two races.

Outside the campaigns, more than 400 county public workers rejected an employment contract and resumed their strike. Voice of OC Publisher and Editor in Chief Norberto Santana Jr. reported that county officials downplayed landfill disruptions publicly while telling state officials that one landfill’s trash drop-offs had declined by 75%.

King tides and high surf closed portions of PCH and the Pacific Surfliner line in South Orange County, according to the roundup. Coastal cities are reinforcing beaches and other coastal areas ahead of what the publication described as an expected super El Niño.

Municipal decisions also drew attention. Newport Beach officials canceled a court-ordered special election scheduled to coincide with the Nov. 3 vote. In Irvine, council members declined to conduct a financial audit of spending despite a potential budget shortfall of nearly $40 million in two years, Voice of OC reported.

In Santa Ana, officials announced Wednesday that pools would open for recreational and lap swimming as well as exercise channel water walking after reporting by Voice of OC. The council also unanimously approved an ordinance barring e-bike riding on playgrounds and setting speed limits.