Orange County Government
Sheriff Hutchens and District Attorney Rackauckas Endorse Shawn Nelson
Posted by admin in OC's Fourth District, Orange County Government, Shawn Nelson on August 27, 2010
This just came over the transom:
FULLERTON, CA – - Supervisor Shawn Nelson has garnered the support of Orange County’s top law enforcement leaders – Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
“Supervisor Nelson understands the vital public safety issues facing Orange County,” said Sheriff Hutchens. “He is working diligently to make sure safe homes, schools and neighborhoods are a priority of Orange County government.”
Shawn Nelson was elected in June to finish the term of former Supervisor Chris Norby. He is on the November ballot for a four year term. His opponent is the second place finisher from the June ballot.
Nelson easily won in June in spite of a record-breaking $1.4 million campaign from public employee unions promoting his opponents. He is a former Fullerton City Councilman and a youth sports coach. Shawn and his family reside in Fullerton.
16 Minutes of Pure Agony
Posted by Mr. Peabody in OC's Fourth District, Orange County Government, Shawn Nelson, Watch Your Wallet on August 20, 2010
Enjoy these two clips that feature an exchange between County Supervisors Shawn Nelson and Janet Nguyen. The issue is pulling the plug on the moribund Civic Center Joint Powers Authority, an agency that was created when Lyndon Johnson was president, and that has served no legal or practical function for almost ten years.
You would think that supposed “conservatives” would pile on to the opportunity of killing a government entity, especially one that doesn’t do anything. Well, you would have to think again. Just listen to the drivel that escapes the Board Chair’s lips and dribbles down her chin. Ay, ay, ay!
Noob Accidentally Highlights Pension Reform Failure
Posted by Travis Kiger in Orange County Government, Shawn Nelson on August 13, 2010
By taking the more generous retirement plan that was presented to him as a County employee, Supervisor Shawn Nelson has created an onslaught of Internet outrage from the Blue and Red blogs.
Nelson says it was an accident. Was it? County policy requires that all new employees sign up for one of two plans: the old 2.7 @ 55 or the new 1.62 @ 65 that so far, almost nobody has signed up for at all. If you don’t choose, they will choose for you – 1.62 @ 65. Every single new hire in the County government is presented with this scenario.

Oops. That's gonna hurt tomorrow morning.
In any case, Nelson’s decision highlights the dismal failure of Orange County’s alleged pension reform. When presented with two disparate retirement choices, what rational human being would pick the lesser?
If a guy like Shawn Nelson won’t do it, why would ANY public employee go for the option that is ultimately less generous – except, most likely, long-time employee pension abusers?
When union leaders originally hatched this goofy alternative plan, pension experts warned that new employees would not select a 401(k) style plan when offered alongside a traditional, elaborate government pension. Boy, were they right. But the unions and the supervisors went along with it anyway, just so they could notch pension reform in their pathetic pistol grips.
The bottom line: nobody wants a lesser benefit when they can choose a better one. Orange County’s much ballyhooed pension reform has completely failed because employees can simply avoid it altogether. What a joke.
But back to Nelson. He was presumably elected to represent taxpayers in union negotiations. I do not recall Nelson making any promises regarding his own pension. That would have been nothing more than a distraction from the real issue, as evidenced by Supervisor Pat Bates. Bates promised to not take a pension and followed through with it, but subsequently has done nothing to stop the real problem: runaway entitlements for every employee in the county! All 20,000 of them.
Nelson’s Newsletter Lands on E-Doorsteps
Posted by The Fullerton Shadow in OC's Fourth District, Orange County Government, Shawn Nelson on August 9, 2010
I received a copy of recently elected Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s newsletter in my electronic in-basket Friday afternoon.
Other than the redistricting issue that we reported on here, the thing’s all about art walks and pets of the week and the Lion’s Field astro turf. Sort of light in the loafers, issues-wise, but I guess we can cut Nelson some slack since he just got into office a few weeks ago and may not have much to report. Still, the puffery on events and wonderful County parks, etc. really needs to be condensed into something a lot more substantive.
Oops, got the date and the month wrong, too!
Anyway, here it is:
C-Span Features Fullerton’s Friend & Fighter Jack Dean in Washington
Posted by admin in About Us, Home Town Hero, Orange County Government, Statewide Stuff, Watch Your Wallet on August 1, 2010
Dear Friends: The issue of Pension Abuse continues to dominate the National, State and local scene. If you haven’t already heard Jack Dean with Pension Tsunami speak on this important topic, hopefully today is a great relaxing day to do just that. Happy August 1st, 2010!











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