ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE WATCH B y B ill C hristiansen , V ice P resident of G overnment A ffairs
All Politics Is Local
“
All politics is local,” is a familiar phrase in the campaign and public policy world. Attributed to former Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, who served as Speaker from 1977-1987, the quote applies to the use of political tactics to win elections or move public opinion on specific policy initiatives in local communities. Locally, in Orange County, the March 9 Special Election to fill the vacant Second District seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors saw Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley defeat long-time AAOC friend John Moorlach. Foley becomes the second Democrat on the Board of Supervisors, while Republicans still hold the other three seats and the board majority. This majority is significant because the supervisorial district lines will be redrawn at the end of this year using the 2020 Census population numbers. Foley’s seat will be up for election again in 2022 and Republicans retain a five-point voter registration advantage in the Second District. The Apartment Association of Orange
County’s (AAOC) Political Action Committee invests its member-donated dollars in support of local candidates seeking office at the municipal, county and state levels of government. As the federal and state governments pass increasingly progressive legislation that erodes property rights, harms small business and taxpayers, and cripples the rental-housing industry, it has become critically important that AAOC identifies and supports candidates who share the values of the association and its members, and who positions on key public policy issues align with the industry. At this point in time, thankfully, not one of the 34 cities in Orange County have rent control or vacancy control policies, city codes or laws above and beyond the rental housing laws of the State of California. As we begin preparing for the 2022 elections, the AAOC PAC will start to identify, interview, and invest in local candidates who, again, share our values and whose positions on key policy issues reflect support for our members and the rental
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Apartment News
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housing industry. Last year, 75 percent of AAOC’s endorsed candidates won election in November and we look to build upon that win percentage in 2022. AAOC has already been busy this year setting up meetings with the victorious candidates and forging relationships with these local policy makers who will potentially vote on rental-housing issues during their terms in office. The AAOC Legislative Committee has also been working with the NAA and CalRHA Legislative Committees to lobby our federal and state representatives on sunsetting eviction moratoria rulings and legislation. Many rental housing providers cannot remain in business much if they cannot collect rent or evict those renters who are abusing and taking advantage of the safety net established by the government. With the broader distribution of the COVID vaccine and the incremental loosening of California’s lockdown orders, hopefully our state legislators will start to refocus on other important public policy matters, rather than on those that will effectively cripple and destroy the rental housing industry. AAOC will continue fighting for its members and keeping them informed with up-to-date information and Red Alerts as the legislative session moves forward this year. The policy issues and the politics in Sacramento seem to change almost weekly — and sometimes even daily — so please do not hesitate to contact AAOC if have any questions or concerns. You can reach me at BillC@aaoc.com or (714) 245-9500.
