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John Moorlach

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John Moorlach
Member of the California State Senate
from the 37th district
In office
March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020
Preceded byMimi Walters
Succeeded byDave Min
Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
In office
January 12, 2012 – January 8, 2013
Preceded byBill Campbell
Succeeded byShawn Nelson
In office
January 8, 2008 – January 13, 2009
Preceded byChris Norby
Succeeded byPatricia C. Bates
Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
In office
January 12, 2012 – January 11, 2011
Preceded byBill Campbell
Succeeded byShawn Nelson
In office
January 9, 2007 – January 8, 2008
Preceded byChris Norby
Succeeded byPatricia C. Bates
Member of the
Orange County Board of Supervisors
from the 2nd District
In office
December 5, 2006 – January 5, 2015
Preceded byJim Silva
Succeeded byMichelle Steel
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector
In office
March 17, 1995 – December 5, 2006
Preceded byRobert Citron
Succeeded byChriss Street
Personal details
Born
Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach[1]

(1955-12-21) December 21, 1955 (age 68)
Groningen, Netherlands
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTrina Lehmaier
Children3
Residence(s)Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Long Beach (BS)
OccupationCertified Public Accountant (inactive)
WebsiteCampaign web site

Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach (born December 21, 1955) is an American politician who served as a member of the California State Senate representing 37th Senate district, which includes portions of Orange County, from 2015 to 2020. He was narrowly defeated for reelection by Dave Min in 2020; he lost a 2021 special election to return to the Orange County Board of Supervisors; he withdrew from the 2022 election for Orange County Auditor-Controller; and he lost the 2022 election for Mayor of Costa Mesa. A Republican, he previously served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors from December 5, 2006 to January 5, 2015 and as Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector from March 17, 1995 to December 5, 2006.

Early life and education

Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach was born in Groningen, Netherlands, and came with his family to the United States when he was four years old. He grew up in Cypress, California and Buena Park, California. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the California State University, Long Beach in 1977. He is a certified public accountant and certified financial planner. Before entering public office, he was vice president of accounting firm Balser, Horowitz, Frank and Wakeling, and the administrative partner of its Costa Mesa office.

Political career

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector (1995–2006)

Moorlach first came to public attention by predicting the largest municipal bond portfolio loss and bankruptcy in U.S. history while campaigning for the office of Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector against incumbent Democrat Robert Citron in 1994.[citation needed] Citron resigned later that year and was replaced on an interim basis by Tom Daxon. On March 17, 1995, Moorlach was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1996 he was elected by the voters to complete the unexpired term, and re-elected in 1998 and 2002, serving nearly twelve years.

He is recognized as a leading expert on municipal bankruptcies.[citation needed]

Orange County Supervisor (2006–2015)

In 2006, he opted not to run for re-election as Treasurer-Tax Collector and instead ran for Orange County Supervisor, winning 70% of the vote. Moorlach was unopposed for re-election in 2010.

While on the Board of Supervisors, he served on the Orange County Transportation Authority, OC LAFCO, CalOptima, and Southern California Regional Airport Authority boards.

He was succeeded on the board by Michelle Steel and ran in the 2021 special election to succeed her following her election to the US House. He lost to Democrat Katrina Foley.

California State Senate (2015–2020)

In 2013, Moorlach announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives seat being vacated by John Campbell, but dropped out shortly before the deadline to file candidacy.[2] The Congressional seat was won by state Senator Mimi Walters. Moorlach won the special election to succeed her in the state Senate with 50.3% of the vote, defeating state Assemblyman Donald P. Wagner, a fellow Republican who won 44.0% of the vote.

In 2019, Moorlach introduced a bill to expand Interstate 5 and State Highway 99 with two additional lanes. The proposal also included the repeal of speed limits on those two roads.[3][4] The bill mandated a report be delivered by January 1, 2021, which has not occurred.

In the fall of 2020, Moorloch lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Dave Min.[5] Moorlach later filed papers to run for his old seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.[6]

Failed bids to return to office

After losing his Senate re-election bid in 2020, Moorlach made several failed attempts to return to office:

Personal life

With his wife, Trina, he has three children.[1]

Electoral history

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Citron (incumbent) 209,630 61.05%
Republican John Moorlach 133,754 38.95%
Total votes 343,384 100%
Democratic hold
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 347,260 100%
Total votes 347,260 100%
Republican hold
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 319,350 100%
Total votes 319,350 100%
Republican hold
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 395,772 100%
Total votes 395,772 100%
Republican hold
Orange County's 2nd Supervisorial district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach 62,248 69.62%
Republican David Shawver 27,164 30.38%
Total votes 89,412 100%
Republican hold
Orange County's 2nd Supervisorial district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 86,265 100%
Total votes 86,265 100%
Republican hold
California's 37th State Senate district special election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach 38,125 50.26%
Republican Donald P. Wagner 33,411 44.05%
Republican Naz Namazi 2,621 3.46%
Democratic Louise Stewardson (write-in) 1,696 2.24%
Total votes 75,853 100%
Republican hold
California's 37th State Senate district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 114,540 54.83%
Democratic Ari Grayson 94,369 45.17%
Total votes 208,909 100%
General election
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 228,480 56.99%
Democratic Ari Grayson 172,455 43.01%
Total votes 400,935 100%
Republican hold
California's 37th State Senate district election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 132,275 47.32%
Democratic Dave Min 78,293 28.01%
Democratic Katrina Foley 68,952 24.67%
Total votes 279,520 100%
General election
Democratic Dave Min 270,522 51.14%
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 258,421 48.86%
Total votes 528,943 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
Orange County's 2nd Supervisorial district special election, 2021
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Katrina Foley 48,346 43.77%
Republican John Moorlach 34,747 31.46%
Republican Kevin Muldoon 12,773 11.56%
Republican Michael Vo 9,886 8.95%
Democratic Janet Rappaport 4,695 4.25%
Total votes 110,447 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
Costa Mesa Mayor election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Stephens (incumbent) 17,297 54.68%
Republican John Moorlach 14,336 45.32%
Total votes 31,633 100%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ a b Wilgoren, Jodi (March 18, 1995). "This Time, Moorlach Is Elected Unanimously". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Cahn, Emily (August 1, 2013). "Mimi Walters on Jungle Primaries and Orange County Stereotypes". Roll Call. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  3. ^ Moorlach, John (February 20, 2019). "MOORLACH UPDATE — SB 319 High Speed Road — February 19, 2019".
  4. ^ "Bill Text - SB-319 State highways: Department of Transportation: German autobahn report". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
  5. ^ "Democrat Dave Min declares victory over GOP incumbent John Moorlach in 37th Senate District". Orange County Register. 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  6. ^ "John Moorlach officially announces for Orange County Supervisor, Second District". Orange County Breeze. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  7. ^ D'Urso, William (March 10, 2021). "Foley Wins 2nd District Supervisors' Seat, Moorlach Concedes". Spectrum News.
  8. ^ Sforza, Teri (May 5, 2022). "What does the future hold for Orange County's once powerful John Moorlach?". The Orange County Register.
  9. ^ Santana, Norberto (March 11, 2022). "Santana: What Should Orange County's Elected Public Auditor Stand For?".
  10. ^ Moorlach, John (November 21, 2022). "John Moorlach concedes race for Mayor of Costa Mesa". Orange County Breeze.
California Senate
Preceded by California State Senator
37th District
March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
January 12, 2012 – January 8, 2013
January 8, 2008 - January 13, 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
January 12, 2012 – January 11, 2011
January 9, 2007 - January 8, 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Succeeded by
Preceded by Orange County Supervisor
2nd District
December 5, 2006 – January 5, 2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector
March 17, 1995 – December 5, 2006 		Succeeded by
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