How Will Fourth District Supervisor Race Work?

March 13, 2010 - We receive many questions from members of the public, media and candidates as to how the 4th District race for Orange County Supervisor will work given that there is a vacancy.

In January then Supervisor Chris Norby won the 72nd Assembly District Special Election. The seat was vacated by former Assemblyman Mike Duvall in 2009. This meant Mr. Norby vacated his 4th District seat early (his term ran through January 2011).

Under the rules of the County Charter there will be a special vacancy election (although it will be consolidated with the June Primary Election on June 8, 2010). If no candidate receives 50% + 1 vote then there will be a runoff between the top two candidates who received the most votes. Meanwhile, the candidate who received the most votes would fill out the remainder of the term (even through the runoff).

However, if a candidate receives 50% + 1 of the votes cast in June that individual would be seated to fill out the remainder of the term (through January) and then would be sworn in as the new Supervisor for the new four year term.