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With the end of summer fast approaching, students are returning to school, in what is often a difficult time for students and parents alike. Over the last month, our office has had the opportunity to welcome students to our county offices and have the opportunity to share a little of the work of the office and help these students get a sense of how county government works.
I wanted to highlight three of the groups that joined us this summer and thank the staff of the organizations and the volunteers and parents that made the visits possible. It's my hope that we can demystify government and inspire these young people to remain active in the community and active in civic life as their education continues.
I was happy to host the VietRISE team and a group of students here at the County offices for a tour of our facilities and conversation. I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and, as always, energized and inspired by them.
 I was able to share how our office serves Orange County residents and had the opportunity to encourage their continued efforts to serve and empower Vietnamese and immigrant communities.
 We also had the opportunity to host the 4th Annual Youth Civic Summer Program, hosted by Resilience OC in partnership with OCCHC’s SteppingUP Program, which introduces Orange County youth to higher education, civic engagement, and public service through college tours, workshops, and conversations with community leaders and elected officials.
 Students toured the Historic Orange County Courthouse with O.C. Parks Staff. They
heard about historical court decisions that were made there. They also got to visit the County’s art installation celebrating the United States 250 year anniversary.
 During their County visit, students were able to visit the Board of Supervisors meeting chamber and other campus facilities. Students heard from staff about what services and departments their county government is responsible for, as well as how ordinances and other laws are presented, debated and adopted by the County.
We also had the opportunity to host youth from several families who joined us alongside their parents for a day of learning, leadership, and empowerment. It was terrific to speak with the young people and their families, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and showing them that they, too, belong in spaces of leadership and public service.
 The visit was made possible by Qazizada Multicultural Therapy Clinic, which works with families and organizes these experiences to plant the seeds of confidence, civic engagement, and possibility. The non-profit organization offers affordable mental health services to families, children, and refugees/immigrants.
As part of our continued efforts to increase transparency and public participation, the Board of Supervisors has added options for remote participation for members of the public to engage in Board Meetings.
We have upgraded the live webcasting capabilities of meetings to promote greater community participation. The new system provides an online Request to Speak Portal that enables members of the public to use a simple multiple-language electronic form for both in-person and phone participation. It also has a new multilingual translation and interpretation system for in-person speakers and real-time AI-driven translation, captioning, and broadcast services in six languages: Arabic, Farsi, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
 We began using the new system at the August 11 meeting, and I hope that the successful implementation opens the door to additional participation of all of our communities and makes it easier and more accessible for our residents to participate and engage in the process.
I am always proud of the commitment and dedication of my office staff in the service to the community. It is also inspiring to see their commitment extend beyond their day-to-day work to impact the lives of their families and neighbors.
I am proud to share that my Community Outreach Manager, Richard Santana, was recognized with a Men of Impact Award, presented by Representative Lou Correa at a ceremony in July.
The award recognized members of the community, fathers, mentors, coaches, and everyday role models whose impact is felt across our community every day. The awardees selected are people who lead by example, support those around them, and make a difference through the way they show up for others.
Richard exemplifies those qualities not just in his work but also in the caring he shows for family, for neighbors, and for the community in all aspects of his life,
Thank you, Richard, for all you do; we are so proud of you – congratulations!
 Richard Santana with awardees Vattana Peong, Executive Director, with The Cambodian Family, and Vuthy Yam, Health Care Agency Health Program Specialist
As part of the County’s Continuum of Care effort, the construction of a new Youth Transition Center in the City of Orange has reached a milestone, with the placing of the final steel beam.
Carlos Valenzuela, my Policy Advisor on community safety matters, represented our office at the signing of the beam ceremony – a tradition as construction projects move toward completion.
 Work is ongoing at the 17-acre property that currently houses Orange County’s Juvenile Hall. The Orange County Youth Transition Center Juvenile Hall Replacement Project is underway to modernize and improve the facility, which will serve justice impacted youth.
More information about this important project may be found at the project site.
I am very proud of the work our staff does each and every day to serve the residents and businesses of the Second District. Each year brings changes, and this year is no exception. We have had changes in the responsibilities of our staff and added a new team member.
This year, we saw the departure of Manuel Escamilla, our senior policy advisor who worked on land use, infrastructure, housing, and transportation issues, and is now pursuing a graduate degree at Harvard University. We wish him the best as he pursues his studies.
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I am happy to share that Rosemary Contreras has been promoted to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff.
She will retain her policy areas of responsibility, including Social Services, as she takes on greater responsibility for the management of the office and staff.
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Fernando Chavarria joins us a senior policy advisor. He brings more than 20 years of public service experience at the local, regional, and state levels, including work in economic development, school construction, transportation, community outreach, and constituent services. Fernando is a bilingual, Spanish-speaking, and bicultural professional who values servant leadership and community engagement. He and his wife, Azucena, have proudly called central Orange County home for the past 25 years. They are the proud parents of two adult children and share their home with Lola, a six-year-old Black Goldendoodle.
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Finally, I want to share the promotion of one of our team members, and a former intern, to the role of Policy Aide. Nicholas Kim first joined our team as an intern and later as a staff member. In his new role, he will be working on the management of our intern program and supporting procurement, workforce, and our Board and Commission appointments. He earned his degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University.
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I was proud to sponsor the OC Children's Therapeutic Arts Center's Annual Resource Fair at the Heritage Museum on July 25th. My District Representative, Joesé Hernandez, was there to engage with the families and support the important work of OCTA and all their staff and volunteers.
 Over 600 individuals attended, most of them parents of children with disabilities or the children themselves. We want to thank Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami, Emily Carlton, and their entire team for an incredible event serving some of our community's most at-need families. Hundreds of backpacks, pizza, and other goodies were given out to the children and parents in attendance.
In June, County Operations & Maintenance crews and contractors conducted 223 cleanups in the County’s flood control channels in areas of the Second District. This proactive maintenance is intended to protect areas from flooding risk and improve community safety/
Below are some of the before-and-after images of the ongoing work. Thank you to OC Public Works for their great efforts. If you reside in an unincorporated area of the county or see a county facility in need of maintenance, you can click here to request services.
Before After
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The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has announced that recruitment is now open for the CalOptima Health Board of Directors. The HCA seeks applicants who represent the diverse backgrounds, interests, and demographics of Orange County residents and have the experience and expertise to operate a public health care system.
Applications are being accepted for one (1) person who is a licensed physician in current practice and who is also a representative of a contracted independent physician’s association or provider network.
To apply for a seat on the CalOptima Health Board of Directors, please complete an application by 5:00 pm (PT) on August 31, 2026. Applications are available on the HCA’s website at ochealthinfo.com/caloptima. The HCA may reopen or extend this recruitment in its sole discretion.
Please note that all applications are public records. You can send a completed application and resume to:
OC Health Care Agency
Attention: James Kim
405 W. 5th Street, Suite 724
Santa Ana, California 92701
As a County-Organized Health System, CalOptima Health serves over 829,000 low-income children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities. Today, CalOptima Health is the single largest health insurer in Orange County and recognized statewide for delivering quality care. For additional information, please contact James Kim at (714) 834-3883 or via email at jameskim@ochca.com.
The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District has confirmed that mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus were found in the cities of Buena Park, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Westminster, Santa Ana and Seal Beach.
Most often, West Nile is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are carriers ("vectors") that become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals when they bite. The OC Health Care Agency recently confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus in the county this year.
Inspectors will be out in the areas to check known sources of mosquito breeding and try to identify any unknown breeding sources and continue efforts to reduce risk for residents, including by treating stagnant water sources to prevent breeding.
It is important that we all do our part to help prevent mosquito breeding, especially around our homes.
At this time, OC Vector advises residents to take action to protect themselves from bites and reduce their risk of infection by following these tips:
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outside at dawn and dusk.
- Wear repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Dump and drain containers holding standing water at least once a week.
- Clean and scrub bird baths and pet water bowls.
- Close all unscreened doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home or space.
- Repair broken or damaged screens.
For more information about West Nile Virusand mosquito prevention visit
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