Residents in Orange County’s Fourth District will elect a new county supervisor this year. The district includes the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, and Stanton.
Running for the seat are Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut and Orange County Board of Education Trustee Tim Shaw. Mr. Traut has received the local Democratic Party’s endorsement, with campaign support from independent advertisements funded by the local firefighters union, the county general employees’ union, and several construction unions. Mr. Shaw is running with the Republican Party’s endorsement, and his advertising has largely come from the National Association of Realtors.
Both candidates have articulated their approaches to key issues facing the district, including city budgets, homelessness, and infrastructure.
Regarding city budgets, Mr. Shaw stated that cities are independently governed and responsible for their own finances, suggesting a county supervisor should not dictate municipal financial management. He believes the county can function as a strong regional partner by coordinating shared services, pursuing state and federal funding, developing regional infrastructure, and identifying partnerships to reduce duplication. Mr. Shaw cited his experience in municipal government and at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as evidence that cities and regional agencies achieve more through collaboration.
Mr. Traut views the county’s role as a partner, not one that provides a "blank check." He suggests supervisors can assist cities in competing for grants, coordinating shared services, securing transportation and infrastructure funding, strengthening regional public safety partnerships, and encouraging economic development. For any county resources directed to a struggling city, Mr. Traut would expect transparency and a credible long-term plan to address the underlying structural financial problems.
On the issue of homelessness, Mr. Shaw emphasized the necessity of collaboration among the county, cities, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, and the private sector. He called for mental health and addiction treatment, affordable housing opportunities, and accountability for results, alongside a public safety component. Mr. Shaw supports offering meaningful pathways to treatment and housing while maintaining that criminal activity should not be ignored. He noted that while Orange County has made progress, homelessness remains a significant challenge, requiring both compassion and accountability.
Mr. Traut questioned the effectiveness of current homelessness measures if they do not result in people permanently leaving homelessness. He highlighted that North Orange County has increased regional shelter capacity, while South Orange County has not. His framework for addressing homelessness includes prevention, treatment, shelter, housing, and accountability. This means keeping people housed to prevent crises, expanding mental health and addiction treatment, providing effective shelter, and increasing supportive housing to prevent shelters from becoming long-term residences. Mr. Traut advocates for measuring movement into permanent stability and for fixing or redirecting funding from programs that repeatedly fail.
Regarding infrastructure, particularly transportation, Mr. Shaw identified it as one of his priorities. His previous service as Chairman of OCTA has given him an understanding of both the challenges and the funding mechanisms involved. He proposes that the county and OCTA collaborate closely with Fourth District cities to identify deteriorated and congested corridors, coordinate pavement and infrastructure projects, synchronize traffic signals, and aggressively pursue available transportation funding. He stated that residents deserve safe and properly maintained roads.
Mr. Traut acknowledged that cities primarily manage local streets but believes the county and OCTA can provide greater leverage. He would prioritize maximizing Measure M Local Fair Share dollars, aggressively competing for arterial and signal-synchronization grants, requiring strong pavement plans, and coordinating major corridors across city boundaries. Mr. Traut also supports expanding Community Workforce Agreements to promote timely, high-quality construction, cost accountability, local hiring, and opportunities for veterans. He expects residents to see smoother roads, better-managed projects, and less governmental finger-pointing.
Both candidates also addressed the importance of a balanced transportation system, encompassing transit, bicycle, and pedestrian options. Mr. Shaw supports such a system, noting his past service as Chairman of OCTA’s Transit Committee, where he supported various transit projects. As Mayor of La Habra, he supported bike infrastructure in practical locations, including underused rights-of-way and connections to regional trails. Mr. Shaw asserts that OCTA’s primary responsibility is to move people safely and efficiently, which includes maintaining roads, improving traffic flow, and providing viable transit, bicycle, and pedestrian options where they align with community needs.
Mr. Traut also supports expanding multi-modal transportation, especially where projects create safe, useful connections to schools, jobs, neighborhoods, and major transit hubs such as the Fullerton and Buena Park Metrolink stations. He prioritizes protected bikeways and pedestrian improvements, including completing the OC Loop in North Orange County, alongside microtransit and first/last-mile connections. He also emphasizes the need for reliable bus service that ensures the safety of both riders and drivers, incorporating appropriate safety measures and enforcement. Mr. Traut advocates for a tailored approach, stating that each corridor must balance safety, traffic flow, emergency access, and realistic travel needs.