New Orange County Supervisor Sworn in Early to Succeed Andrew Do

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Janet Nguyen was officially sworn in as the latest supervisor for Orange County on Wednesday, taking over the remainder of former Supervisor Andrew Do’s term, who resigned after admitting to a federal bribery charge.

Nguyen will complete the remaining month of Do’s term, which he was set to conclude before his resignation. In January, she will be sworn in for the full term she secured in November, defeating Democrat Frances Marquez with 61.24 percent of the vote to Marquez’s 38.76 percent.

Since Do’s resignation on October 31, the office has been managed by Orange County Board Chairman Don Wagner’s team.

The election results were certified by the Orange County Registrar on Tuesday; however, the certification was not completed in time for Nguyen to be sworn in that day. Therefore, the supervisors convened a special session on Wednesday to ratify the election results, enabling Nguyen to assume her position.

“The reason to precede the typical schedule is to allow now-Senator Nguyen to be sworn in promptly so she can oversee the district for the remainder of Supervisor Do’s term,” Wagner informed City News Service. “Her new term, along with mine, will commence in January, filling the seat earlier than usual.”

Nguyen’s swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday was a private event, with a public ceremony anticipated in January, according to Wagner.

During the special meeting on Wednesday, many residents, particularly those who often criticize the election process, raised concerns regarding this year’s election outcomes.

Orange County Registrar Bob Page informed the board that he was legally obligated to wait until December 1 to certify the election results. He clarified that the board’s role was simply to acknowledge the results, lacking any additional authority.

“The board is only being asked to receive my certification and declare the winner of the 1st District Supervisor contest,” said Page.

Supervisor Katrina Foley commended Page’s office.

“Every phase of an election poses considerable challenges,” Foley remarked. “We thank the staff who worked diligently to uphold the integrity of the county’s elections.”

Foley noted that some objections appeared to stem from dissatisfaction with the results.

“I backed some candidates who lost and some who won,” she stated. “That’s politics for you; we need to accept the election results.”

Wagner pressed Page regarding what he would say to those skeptical of the elections.

“For anyone who expresses doubts or distrust, I always invite them to observe our processes and we will address their questions,” Page responded.

Wagner had to threaten to clear the room multiple times due to interruptions from some audience members while Page was speaking.

“We also proactively educate the public regarding our procedures,” Page asserted, referencing newsletters, social media outreach, and public presentations to community organizations.

“It is my duty to ensure that the public comprehends how elections are conducted in California,” Page stated.

However, he mentioned that certain changes desired by residents, like reverting to older election methodologies, would fall under the jurisdiction of state lawmakers.

Nguyen had previously been a member of the Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2014 before her election to the state Senate. After losing to State Sen. Tom Umberg in 2018, she returned to Sacramento as an Assemblywoman in 2020 and served until her reelection to the state Senate in 2022.

Do, who was Nguyen’s chief of staff until a falling out led him to run for her position on the board, confessed in his plea deal that he accepted over $550,000 in bribes in exchange for votes directing more than $10 million in COVID relief funds to the Viet America Society, where his daughter Rhiannon was employed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 31.

On Tuesday, the supervisors decided to solicit bids for an external auditor to examine all county contracts from January 2019 to August of this year. Wagner expressed opposition to the idea.

The proposal, put forth by Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, sparked debate on whether the initiative was excessively broad and costly.

Orange County CEO Michelle Aguirre indicated the audit would encompass “hundreds, if not thousands” of contracts.

“My purpose was to review the contracts over which the supervisor had influence,” Sarmiento remarked.

Foley remarked that state officials typically conduct sampling of contracts.

“They won’t be auditing every single contract,” she noted concerning state lawmakers. “That is not standard procedure; they conduct sampling. If we were to examine all contracts approved in Orange County—even those we didn’t vote on—it would equate to thousands of contracts. The state audits are typically not that extensive. … I aim to help us refine our focus so that staff can efficiently provide this vital information without extending the process over two years.”

Sarmiento emphasized the importance of a “thorough scrubbing” of the contracts.

“We are starting a year and more prior to [the pandemic],” Wagner stated.

He explained that emphasizing ways to encourage staff and whistleblowers to report concerns was more crucial. He added that conducting a thorough audit could deter contractors in the future.

“We must empower our staff to speak out,” Wagner insisted. “That is the core of what needs to happen. I would endorse a state audit, as it would be more focused, less expensive, and not as burdensome. None of our offices have anything to hide.”

Internal Auditor Aggie Alonso stated, “We will need to compile an inventory of all these contracts… This will require a substantial amount of time.”

Alonso recommended that the work be carried out in “phases” to isolate the contracts of concern.

“We are projecting this will take approximately two years,” he explained.

When asked if the effort would exceed $1 million, he replied, “I believe that estimate is low. It will likely surpass $1 million.”