Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee will serve another year as the chair of the OC Board of Supervisors.
Chaffee was tapped for a third time by his colleagues — in a unanimous vote Tuesday, Jan. 13 — as chair and Fifth District Katrina Foley will continue as vice chair in the annual rotation of the board leadership.
Chaffee, who was chosen chair in 2022 and again last year, joked that he had been looking forward to “a little more restful year,” but acknowledged the many pressing issues he wants to address, particularly on homelessness.
“We look forward to working closely together openly and transparently for the welfare and good of everyone in this county,” Chaffee said.
Though no set rotation, typically, the vice chair is chosen as the next board chair. Since being elected to the board in 2021, Foley has been passed over for the top position multiple times.
But on Tuesday, Foley nominated Chaffee to serve as chair and herself as vice chair, noting that the challenging year ahead calls for unity from the board.
“This board has some big decisions to make: we have budget constraints, challenges with our state and federal governments, labor negotiations, the selection of a new CEO,” she said. “For these reasons, I think continuity is important.”
Third District Supervisor Don Wagner nominated First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen for chair, noting her distinction as the longest-serving member of the board, albeit in non-consecutive terms.
Nguyen was first elected supervisor in a contentious 2007 special election decided by a recount. She became the first Asian-American to serve on the governing body and was selected chair in 2010.
After nearly a decade representing Orange County in the state legislature, Nguyen was returned to the board in the November 2024 elections, taking over the First District seat left vacant by former Supervisor Andrew Do, who resigned a month earlier after pleading guilty to accepting bribes in a scheme involving the alleged embezzlement of millions in COVID-relief funds. He was termed out anyway.
Nguyen initially abstained from voting for Chaffee and Foley, but later backed their nominations after the two secured a majority of votes.
While the Board of Supervisors is a nonpartisan body, Chaffee, Foley and Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento represent a Democratic majority on the board that emerged in 2022.
Chaffee was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2018, becoming the first Democrat in 12 years to hold that office. His Fourth District covers Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton and parts of Anaheim. Before joining the board, Chaffee served on the Fullerton City Council and was the city’s mayor in 2014 and 2018.
Foley’s District 5 includes Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, parts of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and San Juan Capistrano. She previously served on the Costa Mesa City Council for 14 years, including as mayor.