Traut, Shaw outline homelessness and road plans in OC supervisor race

Orange County supervisor candidates Connor Traut and Tim Shaw outlined approaches to homelessness and road improvements in a Voice of OC questionnaire published Friday. Traut also proposed conditional county assistance for financially struggling cities and expanded transportation options.

The district will have a new supervisor this year as its communities confront budget deficits, homelessness and deteriorating infrastructure, according to Voice of OC. The candidates’ responses describe how they would use county resources and partnerships to address those challenges.

Voice of OC asked both candidates the same policy questions as part of its election questionnaire series. Traut, the Buena Park mayor, has the local Democratic Party’s endorsement. Shaw, an Orange County Board of Education trustee, has the Republican Party’s endorsement.

On city finances, Traut proposed help securing grants, sharing services, funding infrastructure and encouraging economic development. He said county assistance should require transparency and credible long-term plans. The published questionnaire contains no Shaw response to the city budget question.

Shaw called for governments to work with nonprofits, health care providers, faith-based organizations and businesses on homelessness. His approach includes treatment, affordable housing and accountability for public safety. Traut emphasized prevention, treatment, shelter and supportive housing, with progress measured by whether people achieve lasting stability. He said programs that repeatedly fail should be changed or lose funding.

On roads, Shaw said he previously chaired OCTA and would pursue transportation funding while coordinating projects and traffic signals. Traut proposed making fuller use of Measure M Local Fair Share funding, seeking grants for arterial roads and synchronized signals, and expanding Community Workforce Agreements.

Traut also backed protected bikeways, pedestrian improvements, completion of the OC Loop in northern Orange County, microtransit and connections to transit hubs. The published questionnaire contains no Shaw response to the alternative transportation question.

Voice of OC reported that independent advertisements from the local firefighters union, the county general employees’ union and construction unions account for most of Traut’s campaign financial support. Most of Shaw’s advertising support has come from the National Association of Realtors, the publication reported.

The proposals concern communities across northern Orange County. The Fourth District includes Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and Stanton, according to Voice of OC.