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Orange County’s new Supervisor Janet Nguyen has announced that she will be taking over the seat vacated by her disgraced predecessor, Andrew Do, who recently resigned after agreeing to plead guilty in a scheme to steal millions of taxpayers. “We have zero tolerance for corruption and wrongdoing,” he said. dollar.
In an interview with LAist this week shortly after her personal swearing-in ceremony, Nguyen said her top priority is cleaning up the store and also prioritizing the families who have been “destroyed financially by this economy.” .
Nguyen’s official term begins in January, but she was sworn in early because the seat was open, and the OC Board of Supervisors accepted the results and declared her the winner.
He held the seat for nearly 10 years until he resigned. Since last November, LAist has reported how Doe directed county contracts and millions of taxpayer dollars to the Viet America Society (VAS), a nonprofit organization with ties to his daughter Rhiannon Doe. Ta. The money was intended to feed the elderly and build a Vietnam War memorial during the pandemic. But federal prosecutors say only 15% of the money earmarked for meals was actually used for that purpose.
Prioritize efficiency
“There’s a new sheriff in town,” Nguyen told LAist.
The cost of living is high, she said, making grocery shopping more expensive for families and meaning many can’t afford to go out to eat. Nguyen said she wants to make sure people’s tax dollars are spent wisely and will look at “what programs are working and what isn’t.”
He also said he wants to “streamline the process” so business owners can get permits quickly and homeowners can apply for tax assessments in a timely manner.
“If you (residents) need access to county programs or county offices, we need to be available and we need to be able to involve them in these application processes and get them approved. Because now is the time for our policies. Our residents need us and we need to step up,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen added that he will focus on county programs that are working and eliminate those that are not.
“We need to review and reduce all waste,” she said. “I want to use my taxes as a priority.”
He noted that the county currently spends nearly $1 billion each year on unhoused communities, but homelessness is only increasing.
“It’s not working because the numbers keep going up and not coming down,” Nguyen said. “We need to look into these programs.”
Nguyen said she wants to work with the city to address homelessness.
“We should empower the city so they can come to us and give us a plan on how they are going to combat the homeless population in the city. “Do we need a government, a comprehensive program, or a sober living center?” she said. “If you’re looking at a home, or more affordable housing, let us know what you need.”
restoration of trust
Do’s seat will be vacated at the end of October, during which time Speaker Don Wagner’s office will remain vacant to oversee District 1’s needs. Prior to that, Mr. Do had missed consecutive Supervisory Board meetings after federal agents raided the home he shared with his wife, OC Superior Court Associate Chief Justice Cheri Pham, in August. He was absent.
A spokesperson for Wagner’s office told LAist that two staffers tasked with liaising with voters have reported no notable concerns or responses regarding the Do scandal.
Still, Nguyen said her team will be busy in the coming weeks with briefings on constituent issues.
“I want to restore trust in the prefectural government,” she said. “This will happen when residents realize how hard I work to protect their finances, our county’s finances and our taxpayers.”
Nguyen also said he wants to make sure “everything that Andrew Do touched on” is covered in the county audit.
Earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors hired an outside company to conduct a forensic audit of all contracts entered into by the County Executive, Health Care Agency, and OC Community Resources and Social Services Agency from January 2019 to August 2024. It was resolved to proceed with the employment of This audit was conducted in the wake of the Do corruption scandal.
Nguyen said the agency will review the audit and reforms passed by regulators since the corruption scandal broke and consider whether it needs to be expanded.
Based on direction from the board in September, county officials are also considering contracts funded by federal coronavirus funds. They were given 90 days to report their findings.
