This website is currently undergoing revisions for 2024. (First draft 7/24)
Welcome to OC Action’s 2024 Voter Guide! OC Action is an AAPI-Latinx-Labor-Environmental Justice Alliance working in Orange County to build progressive political power.
For the November 2024 Presidential Elections, we have engaged local candidates across the county and made recommendations for those who are aligned with our values protecting True Democracy, Just Transition, Affordable Housing, Public Education, Immigrant Justice and Healthy Lives.
Endorsements
House of Representatives
Representatives are elected to two-year terms to represent the people in a congressional district. They make laws and approve the federal budget.
In the 2024 Elections, voters will elect representatives for every congressional district. They serve two-year terms.
Derek Tran
for Congressional District 45
Derek Tran is a consumer rights attorney and small business owner. He serves as a commissioner in the city of Orange and is the child refugees from Vietnam.
Priorities
- supporting working families with unions, affordable housing, healthcare, and education
- preventing gun violence and ensuring children and teachers are safe
- ensuring women and their families can make informed decisions on reproductive healthcare
Endorsements
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor, District 2
- Susan Sonne, Buena Park Mayor Pro Tem
- California Environmental Voters
Anaheim City Council
Anaheim has six City Council members and a Mayor. City Council members establish city policy, pass ordinances, and vote on the budget.
They set funding priorities for the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
In the 2024 Elections, voters will elect City Council members for Districts 1, 4, 5.
Anaheim Union High School District
The Anaheim Union High School District encompasses 17 junior high schools and high schools in some portions of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, and Stanton.
School Boards approve school related decisions: budgets and set budget priorities, textbooks, and school schedules. They set the vision for schools and help students achieve their potential.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect School Board Members of Trustee Areas 3, 4, 5.
Jose Paolo Magcalas
for Anaheim Union High School, District 3
Jose Paolo Magcalas is a professor at Cal State LA and Board Member of the Anaheim Union High School District. He was previously a high school teacher at Loara High School.
Priorities
- lowering class sizes for a quality education
- increasing the number of School Counselors
- supporting an Ethnic Studies Program that transforms students’ lives and the communities they live in
Endorsements
- Jessica Guerrero, Anaheim Union High School District Board Member, District 1
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor, District 2
- Dr. Jose Moreno, Anaheim City Council Member (ret.)
Fullerton City Council
Fullerton has five City Council members. City Council members establish city policy, pass ordinances, and vote on the budget. The Council appoints a City Manager, who oversees the administration of the city; and selects one council member to serve as the Mayor.
They manage the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect City Council members for Districts 1, 2, 4.
Fullerton School District
The Fullerton School District District encompasses 20 elementary and junior high schools in Fullerton and small portions of La Habra, Brea, and Buena Park.
School Boards approve school related decisions: budgets and set budget priorities, textbooks, and school schedules. They set the vision for schools and help students achieve their potential.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect School Board Members of Trustee Areas 2, 5.
James Cho
for Fullerton School Board, District 2
James Cho is a civil servant at the Orange County Social Services Agency, helping families with food assistance and health insurance. He is an attorney and worked as legal counsel in congress and is an Air Force veteran. He is the child of Korean immigrants.
Priorities
- improved outreach to immigrant families and those who are less fluent in English
- strengthening dual-language programs
- integrating school districts with social service agencies to assist families
Endorsements
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor, District 2
- Shana Charles, Fullerton City Council Member, District 3
- VoteVets
Garden Grove Unified School District
The Garden Grove Unified School District encompasses 70 elementary, intermediate and high schools in the majority of Garden Grove and other adjacent cities.
School Boards approve school related decisions: budgets and set budget priorities, textbooks, and school schedules. They set the vision for schools and help students achieve their potential.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect School Board Members of Trustee Areas 1, 3, 5.
Walter Muneton
for Garden Grove Unified School District, Trustee Area 3
Walter Muneton is a school social worker at the Long Beach Unified School District working with children and families and has been serving as the Garden Grove Unified School District Board Member for 8 years.
Priorities
- focus on dual immersion language programs to keep students competitive
- expanding career and technical education opportunities for students beyond universities
- increased mental health services for students and teachers
Endorsements
- Jessie Lopez, Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3
- Orange County Employees Association (OCEA)
- National Association of Social Workers
Irvine City Council
Irvine has four City Council members and a Mayor. City Council members establish city policy, pass ordinances, and vote on the budget.
They manage the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect the Mayor and City Council members for Districts 1, 2, 3, 4.
Zainab Saadi
for Irvine City Council, District 1
Dr. Zainab Saadi is a physician, professor, and City Commissioner on Senior Citizens for the City of Irvine. Dr. Saadi is an American-Canadian-Arab-Iranian parent and works as a physician at UCI Health and assistant professor at the University of California Irvine.
Priorities
- decreasing traffic and improving commute options
- improving environmental health and community engagement and connectedness of health
- increase housing options to meet different needs and increase density near transit and shopping centers
Endorsements
- Sunrise Movement Orange County, an organization advocating for political action on climate change
- Bobby Sasson, MD, MPH: Associate Clinical Professor, Internal Medicine Primary Care Physician, University of California Irvine Health
Alex Mohajer
for Irvine City Council, District 2
Alex Mohajer is a journalist, attorney, and organizer. As an attorney, Mohajer worked as a Civil Service Advocate for the County of Los Angeles, investigating sexual harassment and discrimination cases. Mohajer was raised in Irvine by his single mom who immigrated from Iran.
Priorities
- support tenant and eviction protections, housing stabilization subsidies and more affordable housing to prevent homelessness
- direct Medi-Cal mental health funding to state doctors and county agencies
- transition buildings from gas to electricity, create good clean energy union jobs, and pledge to not accept campaign donations from the oil industry
Endorsements
- California Working Families Party
- Sunrise Movement Orange County, an organization advocating for political action on climate change
- Jesse Lopez, Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3
Ayn Craciun
for Irvine City Council, District 4
Ayn Craciun works at a climate policy nonprofit organization, is a business woman and working mom. Ayn was involved in creating the renewable energy program OC Power Authority and helped end the use of fossil gas in Irvine’s new buildings and ban gas leaf blowers.
Priorities
- advance transit-oriented mixed-use housing in the greater Irvine Spectrum and Irvine Business Complex area
- help families stay in their homes and allow small businesses to thrive instead of monopoly landowners and big box retailers
- create safe transportation infrastructure and safe routes to school
Endorsements
- Sunrise Movement Orange County, an organization advocating for political action on climate change
- RISE (Remake Irvine Streets for Everyone)
- Dr. Shana Charles, Fullerton Council Member & CSUF Professor
La Habra City Council
La Habra has five City Council members. City Council members establish policy, pass ordinances, and vote on the budget.
They manage the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
The Council appoints a City Manager, who oversees the administration of the city; and selects one council member to serve as the Mayor.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect City Council members for three at-large Districts. The three candidates with the most votes will be elected.
Michelle Bernier
for Irvine City Council, La Habra City Council
Michelle Bernier is La Habra City’s Planning Commissioner and is involved with local initiatives like the Children’s Museum’s Autism Day, Meals on Wheels, or COVID vaccination efforts.
Priorities
- focus on affordable housing for youth, veterans and disabled
- protecting open spaces and unhoused residents and people in precarious living conditions like living in a friend’s couch or multi-generational homes
- foster growth in La Habra and responsible development in the community
Endorsements
- Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assembly Member, District 67
- Susan Sonne, Buena Park City Council Member, District 3
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
Santa Ana City Government
Santa Ana’s city government has a Mayor and six City Council members. City Council members establish city policy, pass ordinances and vote on the budget. The Mayor proposes and administers the budget, appoints department heads and oversees the administration of the city.
They manage the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect the Mayor and City Council members of Wards 1, 3, 5.
Thai Viet Phan
for Santa Ana City Council, Ward 1
Thái Việt Phan works as a City Attorney and is currently the City Councilmember for Ward 1 of Santa Ana and also the Mayor Pro Tem. Phan serves on the board of the Vietnamese American Bar Association and the Heritage Museum of OC, and is the child of refugees of the Vietnam War.
Priorities
- promoting housing affordability by promoting new developments and helping renters stay in their homes
- making it easier for small businesses to go through permitting and receive financial and translation assistance
- increase professionally managed homeless care facilities and affordable housing options
Endorsements
- Women in Leadership
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324
- PIVOT – The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization
Jessie Lopez
for Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3
Jessie Lopez is currently the City Councilmember for Ward 3 of Santa Ana. Lopez has served in committees addressing fire, transportation, youth mental health and education, and has served as a community health advocate at local non-profit organizations.
Priorities
- investing $24 million towards affordable housing and hiring more social workers for homeless outreach
- prioritizing public safety and advocating for police oversight and accountability
- renovating and repairing city parks and streets, and securing funding for youth programs
Endorsements
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor, District 2
- Working Families Party of California
- Planned Parenthood
Johnathan Hernandez
for Santa Ana City Council, Ward 5
Jessie Lopez is currently the City Councilmember for Ward 5 of Santa Ana. Hernandez serves working on community health and youth mental health. Hernandez is the grandchild of immigrants from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Priorities
- support affordable housing projects and down payment assistance to address homelessness
- support gang intervention, youth violence and domestic violence prevention, mental health support to prevent crime
- secure funding for new parks in Santa Ana
Endorsements
- Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor District 2
- LiUNA: Orange County Laborers Union, Local 652
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324
Santa Ana Unified School District
The Santa Ana Unified School District encompasses 48 elementary, intermediate and high schools in Santa Ana and some adjacent cities.
School Boards approve school related decisions: budgets and set budget priorities, textbooks, and school schedules. They set the vision for schools and help students achieve their potential.
In the 2024 elections, voters will elect the School Board Members of Trustee Areas 1, 2, 3.
Rigo Rodriguez
for Santa Ana unified School District, Trustee Area 1
Rigoberto Rodriguez is currently the Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member for District 1 and is a professor at California State University – Long Beach with a history of three decades of activism in the community. Rodriguez is the child of Mexican immigrant farmworker parents.
Priorities
- delivering quality and equitative education to all students
- ensuring students are holistically well
- providing an inclusive curriculum, including ethnic studies.
Endorsements
(need to confirm, candidate has no website. These are from 2020)
- Santa Ana Educators Association
- Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino
- California School Employees Association Chapter 41
Alfonso Alvarez
for Santa Ana unified School District, Trustee Area 3
Alfonso Alvarez is currently the Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member for District 3 and works in the social service field ensuring that children are supported and have the opportunity to receive quality education and succeed in their goals.
Priorities
- providing food for students, mental health, and support for students who are homeless
Endorsements
- Santa Ana Teachers Union
- California School Employees Association Chapter 41
- Santa Ana Educators Association