Earlier this spring it was revealed that Supervisor Janet Nguyen had failed to follow Orange County campaign finance law when it was discovered that she had solicited donations for a legal defense fund to cover her legal expenses related to her narrow victory over Trung Nguyen in the special election to fill the First District Supervisor seat. It took her more than 50 more days to return the improper contributions to the donors and reveal who the donors were.
In July, Nguyen asked for and got an unprecedented district office in the heart of Little Saigon. This despite the fact that her Board office is located in the First District (Santa Ana) and that no other Supervisor has a district office.
Then today, Board Chairman Chris Norby announced that one of his colleagues was skirting the Board of Supervisors approved budget for district staff expenditures by charging the salary of a Deputy Chief of Staff to the Health Care Agency (HCA). Yes, that’s right, while everyone else has to live within a prescribed budget, it seems that one of the members is sucking funds out of an agency that earlier this month had to cut services and eliminate more than 30 staff positions because of budget woes.
Red County/OCBlog asked the question on Tuesday night, which supervisor was Norby talking about in the post Which Supervisor is Double Dipping into the County Budget? Well, I’ve got the answer to that burning question…
First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen
I confirmed this evening that Janet Nguyen is in the process of pulling has pulled an employee from the Health Care Agency to serve as her Deputy Chief of Staff, while leaving that employee on the HCA payroll.ÂÂ
I can understand why Chairman Norby would be upset, considering that one of the clinics proposed for closure due to budget shortfalls is in his district. Other cutbacks affect the Fifth District and sadly, Janet Nguyen’s First District as well.ÂÂ
I work for the Health Care Agency and I am pissed that while Health Care Agency workers are having to pick up the work left undone by 30 eliminated staff positions, Supervisor Nguyen is taking more than her fair share of resources to support the political operations of her office.ÂÂ
The tab for Nguyen started with the lavish remodel of her office, followed by a district services office, then topped off with an executive salary and benefits. Total cost: approximately $365,000.
Some people just cannot live within the rules, especially (Nguyen) when they are living on the taxpayer dime.
I wonder of this is brought up at the next OCYR Meeting if the group will decide to rescind their endorsement of Supervisor Nguyen? Im going to look into getting this on the agenda for the next ocyr meeting.
Moorloch borrows art…
Nguyen borrows people…
Norby borrows tax dollars to payoff lawsuits
What a Red County!
I wonder how art Pedroza is going to justify this move by janet N?
I must say I actually agree with you on this one Chris. This silly girl has caused our party enough damage. I’d rather have an ethical Dem in that seat instead, and I’m not the only one who has started thinking that way…
d’Anconia,
You should look into the OCYR bylaws and see if it i possible to rescind their endorsement of Janet.
Anon, I don’t care enough, I don’t have a horse in this race BUT if the OCYR wants to re-gain some of their credibility back (word out there is that they have none) they should investigate that on their own.
Have we Democrats settle on a candidate to take this girl out next year yet? Where is the leadership from our Party?
pepin.
Leadership? Are you kidding? Youre not talking about the DPOC are you? Thats a laugh. At any rate, I agree with the anon postr asking about the OCYR bylaws. Someone should look into how to remove the endorsement from janet Nguyen by the OCYR’S.
D’Anoconia,
You shold take the initiative and look into that. I understand you dont have a “horse in this race”, but you may want to do it for the sake of the OCGOP, and the OCYR’s.
Anon-
The YR’s are welcome to endorse whomever they want, it’s not up to me to investigate their by-laws. Oh and I doubt their endorsement has a negative effect on the OCGOP.
Ok Art has officially jumped the shark. Blaming this incident and leaving the fixing of it up to the County CEO is totally off the mark And then he goes and takes a shot at Supervisor Norby and some unsubstantiated problems he is having.
Art needs to realize that janet is a heel. Shes nothing but a lucky ambitious girl who got into an office simply because it was a special election. Come next election for that seat, enough animosity from her behavior over the last few months is going to come home to roost and costs her the seat. Art get over it your yellow fever obsession is done in OC politics.