I was reelected last month to my second term on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the voters of the Fifth District for allowing me the opportunity to keep serving you.

In the next four years I will uphold my campaign pledge to continue advocating for the values of limited government, responsiveness and fiscal responsibility. I will do this by maintaining my commitment to take on such issues as the unfunded pension liability, reining in fees on taxpayers and reducing government spending while always seeking to improve how services are provided to the residents of Orange County.

Though the state and federal governments still struggle to get their hands around these issues, in my time on the Board of Supervisors, my colleagues and I have taken the lead in tackling them head on.

One area in which the Board has accomplished several recent successes is pension reform. Last year, after months of negotiations, the Board approved an agreement with the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA), the County’s largest bargaining unit, to reduce pension costs for both the County and employees by providing a new, lower pension formula and a defined contribution plan. This means employees contribute to a 401(k)-type plan, investing a part of their own salaries just like most private-sector employees do.

The Board is also continuing our legal challenge over the retroactive pension benefits that were granted to public safety employees several years ago. Our case is currently in appeals court and, if successful, will set national precedent for other jurisdictions to follow.

Additional areas of reform we have initiated include scaling back how overtime is paid for all employees as well as requiring for the first time that public safety employees contribute to their pensions. We expect these reforms to achieve millions of dollars in savings.

Our efforts to make pensions and other post-employment benefits more sustainable and less of a burden on taxpayers is underscored by the fact that just two years ago the Board put Measure J on the ballot, which overwhelmingly passed, and now requires all future pension increases for Orange County elected officials and employees to be put to a vote of the people. In limiting the Board’s power to increase pension payouts, Orange County residents know we mean what we say and are committed to achieving true and lasting pension reform.

On the issue of taxes, unlike legislators in our state and federal governments, the Board refuses to balance our budget woes on the backs of taxpayers. Not only have we taken a hard line against tax and fee increases, we have actually reduced fees where possible in an effort to help alleviate the strain of the recession on our residents.

Regarding the budget challenges presented to us by the economy, in June the Board passed a budget plan totaling $5.4 billion for the next fiscal year which amounts to $1.3 billion, or 20%, less than the budget passed just two years ago. We accomplished this through across-the-board department cuts, furloughs, hiring freezes, financial restructuring, and deferring expensive, non-critical IT upgrades. We have also reduced the size of county government by more than 1,100 positions.

Our spending cuts have been targeted to administrative reductions first in order to protect our frontline services, especially our public safety services. Each Supervisor and every County elected official has taken a pay cut, demonstrating our commitment to doing what is necessary to maintain the level services our residents pay for and expect.

To that end, a top priority for me has also been to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the services we provide. I have called for audits of our Planning and IT departments which have uncovered areas of waste and yielded recommendations that will improve responsiveness and reduce costs.

Additionally, given that I represent the largest unincorporated area in the County, I have taken an active role in facilitating discussions with unincorporated communities regarding their future governance options. These include forming a new own city or being annexed to an existing one. Annexations cannot take place; 1. without approval of the existing city and; 2. if residents in the area to be annexed protest the annexation. Most importantly, whether it be cityhood, annexation or remaining under County rule, it is a discussion for the respective communities to make based on a thorough, transparent, fact based dialogue and deliberative process with all stakeholders. During the next four years, my office will continue to provide the opportunities for all affected communities to weigh in on the issues of community identity and local control.

In looking forward to my next term, I will remember the words of Abraham Lincoln that in this nation we have a “government of, by and for the people.” It remains my commitment to you to ensure the County of Orange is a government of, by and for the people. As I work to keep county government transparent, open, and responsive to the needs of the people, you can help by providing me with feedback. I am always interested to hear your thoughts and concerns so do not hesitate to contact my office as it is my honor to serve you.