Orange County residents are again experiencing a crisis of trust. Scandals, FBI investigations, and guilty pleas have put us on the map as a hotbed of corruption.
We’re now living through the latest episode with Supervisor Andrew Do’s involvement in directing millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit run by his friend and Do’s daughter.
We deserve answers from county leadership on how $13.5 million was granted to the Viet America Society despite their violation of state nonprofit registration laws and Do failing to disclose the organization’s ties to his daughter.
This organization received funding to provide meals and mental health outreach to seniors during the pandemic. Still, no accounting records exist, and they failed to prove how many meals they served.
This is not the first time Orange County residents have suffered from this level of corruption.
The last time my opponent, Janet Nguyen, was Orange County Supervisor, she twice voted down efforts to root out government corruption. While then Supervisor Janet Nguyen was on its Board of Directors, CalOptima — the agency tasked with offering health insurance for Orange County’s most vulnerable residents — almost “imploded” because she handed the agency over to hospital lobbyists and her campaign donors.
How many more corruption scandals can our residents take? It’s time for change.
I am running for Orange County Supervisor to put my experience to work and usher in a new era of accountability and transparency to restore the public’s trust in their government.
As a Cypress City Councilmember, a Government Professor, and a Policy Director, I dedicated my career to public service. I have built a reputation as a watchdog for taxpayers, demanding transparency before voting on spending. I was the only Councilmember who voted against a 15-year trash contract extension that increased rates on residents by 32% and stopped a rate hike during the pandemic. I again fought for residents and halted the building of a garbage truck fueling station near an elementary school. When the City of Cypress allowed dumping of large amounts of trash at its public works yard, I advocated for nearby residents and called for the city to stop the practice.
I refuse to back down from fighting for what is right, even in the face of intimidation.
When reporting first broke regarding Supervisor Andrew Do’s undisclosed ties to the Viet America Society, I publicly called for action during the November 28, 2023, Orange County Supervisors meeting.
Since then, I have advocated for a plan to root out corruption, increase transparency, and restore the public’s trust in our government:
First, we need a true Independent Ethics Commission — without political appointees — to enforce conflict-of-interest laws and end the blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars. Second, we need an Office of Contract Compliance to independently vet nonprofits and businesses applying for funding from the County.
Effectively, all nonprofits and contractors doing business with the County and anyone evaluating, approving, or voting on contracts would have to comply with stricter ethical and disclosure standards.
Without these necessary guardrails in place, Orange County risks continued abuses of power.
As my track record shows, it’s possible to positively impact our community without bending the rules or doing favors for friends, families, or political donors. That’s why we need reliable leadership at the Board of Supervisors — public servants who will prioritize Orange County families and taxpayers, not stuff the pockets of their donors and family members.
Enough is enough. It is time to leave corruption in the past and usher in a new era of accountability and transparency in Orange County.
Frances Marquez is a lifelong resident of Orange County with decades of experience serving our community as a Cypress City Councilmember, policy director, and college professor.
