NELSON TEAM
Denis Bilodeau
Chief of Staff

Audra Adams
Policy Advisor /
Communications Director

Scott Carpenter
Policy Advisor

Steve Spernak
Policy Advisor

David Zenger
Policy Advisor

Mark Lopez
Executive Aide

Neha Sata
District Representative

Sam Han
District Representative

Nick Constantino
District Representative

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Welcome to Nelson’s E-News!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my last newsletter for the year 2010. Thank you for continuing to read my periodic missives throughout the last six months. I hope that you have benefited from receiving my newsletter as much as I have appreciated the opportunity to distribute it to you to keep you updated on the goings-on at the County.

Please continue reading for an update on a few of the actions taken by the Board during the last regular meeting of the year, on Tuesday, December 14. There were many important items up for discussion, and I hope you find the following summaries and justifications for my votes informative.

Despite this busy holiday time, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was fortunate to once again have the chance to visit parts of my district and the County. Below, please find pictures of my attendance at the La Habra High School football game with members of the US Army Reserve, my tour of the former MCAS Tustin base and opportunities I had to serve residents of senior centers in both Buena Park and Fullerton.

I have truly enjoyed my first six months of service on the Orange County Board of Supervisors during 2010 and look forward to an increasingly productive and successful 2011. I remain deeply committed to working with my colleagues on the Board next year and to responsibly representing my constituents in the Fourth District and the residents in all of Orange County.

Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at 9:30am, at which time the Board will elect its 2011 officers.

Have a happy holiday season and a safe new year!

                                                                             
Sincerely,
Shawn Nelson.

• At its December 14 meeting the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with The Children and Families Commission to recruit and hire an Executive Director for the End Homelessness 2020 Commission, and pay half the cost for that person. The vote was 4-1 with Supervisor Nelson dissenting.
  
  The proposal was a clear contradiction of the original solicitation of funds approved by the Board on September 28, that clearly established that funding for the executive director position was to be a “public/private partnership” and not 100% publicly funded. Furthermore, the staffing by an outside agency of a commission that reports to the Board of Supervisors is an untenable abdication of Board responsibility and accountability.
  
  
• In other action, the Board voted 4-1 to approve an incentive bonus to IT services contractor ACS of $254,609. Supervisor Nelson voted against the granting of the bonus because it was not clear that the contractually stipulated procedures to create the necessary survey had been performed.
  
  
• The ad-hoc Redistricting Committee made its report to the Board which, in turn established the process for redistricting that must be performed after each national census is complete. A committee made up of appointees from each Board office will conduct public hearings throughout 2011 and develop the boundaries for new districts according to demographic changes and identified communities of interest.

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307

From left to right, Supervisor Nelson, Supervisor Bates, Supervisor Moorlach and Donald Bren all gather for a brief chat before the ceremony of one of the biggest land transfers in county parks history. To read more, please click the link below.

http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2010/11/30/
bren-on-20000-acres-its-all-yours/115982/

County bans medical marijuana dispensaries - Supervisor Shawn Nelson was the lone dissenting vote, please click link below to read more.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/marijuana-279229-county-medical.html

Maligned county contractor gets $254,609 bonus and Supervisor Shawn Nelson was the lone dissenting vote, please click links to read two stories on this issue from the Register.

http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/12/14/county-contractor-gets-254609-bonus/70414/

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/bonus-281239-acs-county.html

• Certificate delivered to Placentia United Methodist Church for their prodigious efforts in raising money to build a well for a Kenyan community. The Church hopes to raise at least $4000 by the end of the year. The project was launched with an outreach program at Placentia's annual Heritage Festival in October and congregation members are encouraging people to donate in someone's name in lieu of buying a Christmas present.
• Certificate delivered to Cal State Long Beach political science major Dina Alhayek for winning an award at the International Model United Nations Conference.
• Certificate delivered to Kristie’s Foundation for their efforts in helping a family get back on their feet after their 14 year-old daughter passed away due to complications from a bone marrow transplant. Kristie’s Foundation provided food and shelter to the family in their hour of need.
• Certificate delivered to Anaheim Police Department’s Cops 4 Kids program to recognize their community service to families and children. This year, their program hopes to exceed last year’s holiday contributions of gifts to more than 600 children and turkey dinners to more than 125 families.