Board of Supervisors candidates face off in forum but with only 3 out of 5 in attendance
Recovering from and responding to the ongoing pandemic was the crux of discussion for some of the candidates running in the special election to replace Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach) during a candidates’ forum for the Board of Supervisors Friday morning.
Steel previously served as chair on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and represented the 2nd Supervisorial District, which includes Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton, Fountain Valley, the unincorporated area of Rossmoor and portions of Buena Park.
She ousted incumbent Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Laguna Beach) in the November election with 51.06% of the votes.
The forum — sponsored by several chambers of commerce — was attended by just three of the five candidates in line to replace Steel in this March’s special election, with Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and Fountain Valley Mayor Michael Vo absent.
Foley said in a call Thursday that she would be unable to attend because she had a scheduling conflict and would be in a COVID-19 briefing at the time of the forum. Vo was originally slated to attend, but campaign manager Aaron Spradlin said that Vo had last-minute conflicts due to the Lunar New Year, which was on Friday.
The hourlong forum was moderated by Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer Steven Rosansky.
The three candidates in attendance — former state Sen. John Moorlach, Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon and tax attorney Janet Rappaport — were each given two minutes to make opening remarks. Questions were kept to about two minutes each and closing statements in a minute or less.
Candidates were asked to respond to questions about how they felt the county handled the pandemic, vaccine rollouts, budgets, homelessness, how to help small businesses, John Wayne Airport and hazard pay for grocery workers.
Muldoon said he was glad to be attending the forum virtually as the pandemic continues but that he believes the county needs to reopen, citing the closures’ negative effects on the community and local economy. He said his focus is on keeping businesses open safely.
“Allowing businesses to be shut down again [is] … bad for the community. It’s bad for the economy, bad for mental health, bad for children,” said Muldoon, adding that the constant closures is a terrible disservice to Orange County residents.
Muldoon was elected to Newport Beach City Council in 2014 and was mayor pro tem in 2016. In 2017, Muldoon was appointed mayor and followed then-outgoing Mayor Diane Dixon. He was appointed as the mayor pro tem again in December.
Moorlach said that he’d be focusing on responding to the pandemic and lockdown and said he is looking ahead to planning the budget as the current fiscal year nears its end in June.
“We got to work on keeping the economy going and in a fair and respectful manner,” said Moorlach. “Everyone’s job is essential.”
Moorlach lost his bid for reelection to newcomer David Min in November but was a former supervisor for the district from 2006 to 2015 and won his seat in the state Senate in 2016.
For Rappaport, who said she is not a “professional politician” and is a tax attorney, her goal is to restore transparency in public decision-making, which she believes is lacking in county government. She said she’s committed to conservative uses of taxpayer funds but stressed that she intends to be nonpartisan.
“My sole agenda is to listen and respond to the sole concerns of the 2nd District,” said Rappaport. “My biggest priority is to end the virus’s impact on Orange County.”
The Orange County Registrar’s Office said Monday that about 400,000 ballots have been mailed out to voters for the special election and that ballot drop boxes will be open through March 9.
The forum can be seen online at youtube.com/watch?v=JjtlmyKeICI.
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