Florice is a worker’s rights attorney for over 25 years who is dedicated to the representation of working men and women through their chosen bargaining representatives and representing employees in wage and hour claims before the labor commissioner and in court. Florice is the mother of Daniel and Gabriel Orea. Daniel and Gabriel both worked on Obama’s 2012 campaign in Nevada. Gabriel is a Staff Attorney (KIND) representing children in immigration proceedings and Daniel recently received is Masters in Bilingual Education in Spain.

Florice currently holds the following positions with the Democratic Party:

·       Treasurer Democratic Party of Orange County

·       Regional Director Region 17 California Democratic Party

·       Elected Central Committee member 68 AD

·       CDP Voters Services Committee, California Democratic Party

Florice is Supported by:

·       Congresswoman Katie Porter

·       Ada Briceño, Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County

·       Fran Sdao, Chair Emeritus of the Democratic Party of Orange County

·       Melissa Fox, Endorsed candidate for Assembly 68, Irvine City Council

·       Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer

Professionally, I am the Managing Director of an Orange County based non-profit where I am responsible for day-to-day operations, volunteer recruitment, community outreach, and the development/implementation of programs including US citizenship and naturalization legal clinics, voter registration, healthcare advocacy, youth leadership, and cultural-based programs. I serve as an adult advisor for a youth leaders service program designed to empower students of all socio-economic backgrounds through leadership development, civic engagement, community service, and career exploration. I have appeared in media outlets such as NBC News, Los Angeles Times, OC Register, and NPR  

Prior to a career in nonprofit, I spent 20 years as a Human Resources and Talent Acquisition executive where I worked with organizations from technology start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. I have been responsible for every facet of talent acquisition including Employment Law, Data and Metrics, Budgetary Planning, and shaping Diversity & Inclusion policies globally. 

As a life-long democrat, I am also committed to building a party that truly reflects the diversity of Orange County. I am committed to a platform of Social Justice, criminal justice reform, bail reform, ending mass incarceration, immigration reform, universal healthcare, gun reform, reproductive rights, climate change, and access to quality education.

I moved to Orange County 20 years ago, where I raised my four children through the public school system and supported their extra-curricular school activities through the local scouting programs and little league.  Today, I have young adults attending local colleges and universities as well as an active duty Marine.  During that course of time, I have worked as an educational leader at local college institutions supporting thousands of high school graduates and working adults who were looking to transform their lives and support their families.  Through their eyes, I saw the potential economic and personal struggles that my own kids would face in adulthood given the current circumstances of our economy and barriers placed by our social ladder.  This is the catalyst of why I decided to become more engaged with our Democratic party and the political landscape of our state and county.

As a lifelong student learner, a W-2 income earner, a mother, and the daughter of an immigrant, my political philosophy spreads across many issues that have come to the forefront of the political spectrum today.  I believe that healthcare and higher education are basic necessities in order to ensure a well prepared, productive workforce for our community and this state.  Equitable living wages and affordable housing options will retain and sustain the college graduates, experienced working professionals and trade workers whose talents are critical to our community infrastructure and economy. If this county is to continue to be the "Land of the Free" then I believe that this should continue to be demonstrated by allowing people to have the choice over their reproductive rights, gender identity and who they decide to marry. Furthermore, an sensible immigrant reform would allow hard working people to contribute to our growing workforce and raise families that would support local schools and retail.  I also support our active duty service members and military veterans, who I believe are long overdue for an overhaul on improved healthcare and housing options.

My name is Nathaniel Fernandez Epstein and I am running for Central Committee in AD-68. As an alternate on the Central Committee for the past several years, I gained valuable experience about the crucial role the Central Committee plays within our party.  

I am a healthcare attorney, a DSCC delegate, Executive Vice Chair of the Filipino American Democratic Caucus, Southern Secretary of the API Caucus, all for the California Democratic Party, and serve on the board of one of Orange County’s longest running non-profit organizations.  I hope to continue serving my community as part of the Central Committee. 

After running a countywide campaign in 2018, I gained valuable knowledge about the different issues that face each part of the county.  With this knowledge, I will work with other Central Committee members to ensure our voices are heard, values are represented, and leadership will continue to thrive.  

Beatriz “Betty” Valencia is the Vice President of Operations, in Business & Finance, a member of the Santiago Canyon College Foundation (SCCF) Board of Directors, a previous city council candidate in the city of Orange, and the Central Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County. Betty is currently working on her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies. In 2019, Betty was named one of several women of the year and TOP 100 Influencers in Orange County. She is also a published author and a motivational speaker on education and equity.

The belief that we can obtain our political goals honestly and equitably. The resolve to work toward representation and power with and not over individuals. The firm conviction to lead by example and walk with and not in front of our community. Finally, the commitment to speak truth to power.

Naz Hamid is running for Central Committee in AD 68. Along with being a mom and an activist, Naz’s resume includes serving on the board of the national women’s political caucus, Democrats of Greater Irvine, Asian Americans in Action, Orange County Equality Coalition, and an IUSD education committee. Naz has run for IUSD board of education, and also served as an ADEM delegate in AD-68 since 2016.

Naz is a progressive who believes that healthcare is a human right, that we must act now to control climate change, that we need to make drastic changes to immigration to allow a path to citizenship for DACA recipients, and no separation of families. She believes in access to affordable housing, and equity for all races and genders. Naz Hamid for AD-68 central committee would be honored to receive your support and vote on March 3rd.

Naz is endorsed by:

Farrah Khan, Irvine Council woman

Sukhee Kang, former mayor of Irvine

Beth Krom, former mayor of Irvine

Paul Bokota, IUSD School Board member and community leader

Maria Olivieri Minney, community leader

Teri Sorey, Irvine teacher and community leader 

Lita Robinow, community leader

Felicity Figueroa, OCEC co-chair and Irvine human rights and justice activist

Dave Min, UCI Professor, SD-37 candidate

Sherri Loveland, President, NWPC OC

Jane Stoever, UCI law professor and director for the center for domestic violence 

Mary Anne Foo, community leader

Cyril Yu, community leader

Patty Yoo, community leader

Jutta Whitaker Gamboa, community leader

Branda Lin, community leader

Many Irvine, Tustin, Orange, and Lake Forest residents

She is a graduate from USC 

Naz is a Democrat who believes that values and ethics matter. Her political philosophy and sense of justice guide her thinking for issues related to her community. She can be found taking care of her community, helping the homeless, students, and those suffering troubled times. She believes that education has the power to change lives and serves students as a mentor, in developing curriculum through her role on a IUSD education committee, and through her leadership in Girl Scouts and Assisteens of Irvine

Born in the Mexican countryside, in Southern Mexico, Monica Barranco-Leon grew up within a farm/business family. She migrated to the US in the late 80s and became a US citizen in 2000. Her education up until trade school, for a nursing program in Upland. Aside from being a former CNA and RNA, Monica was a former businesswoman for an auto transport company. Currently, Monica is involved as a volunteer for a nonlucrative, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to assisting non-citizens towards the path towards citizenship. Additionally, Monica is dedicated to leadership; she has taken classes in a local leadership program to further her leadership skills and to understand community needs within the 68th district.

Our family moved from Baltimore to Bloomington, Indiana, when I was not yet 3. I went to the same small  school from kindergarten though 12th grade in the same building, with classmates roughly equally divided between rural, town and academic families. My father was a well known and respected geneticist; after WW2, when scientists could again travel to the US, many came to our home. At this young age I recall that many of them ostensibly came to visit my dad, but at least equally to share their lives with my mom, who became something of a universal confidant. On to Swarthmore College; Rockefeller University; Brandeis (PhD); Berkeley (Post-Doc); UW-Madison (faculty),with Sabbatical, summer and winter breaks at Cal Tech; UCI (Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology research); volunteer public advocate. During each of these eras, I have absorbed deep and lasting awareness of the life issues and challenges that people face. I have engaged in advocacy for each of the major human critical events of the day, year and beyond - often simultaneously at local, state, national, international and planetary levels.

Inside and outside party membership, I have continued to be a very deeply committed volunteer public advocate of, by, for the people - as well as the planet and the universe. A major part of my philosophy is dedicated to the needs/wants of underserved/underrepresented people - listen first, and then advocate. Another major part, often overlapping with the first major part, is to advocate and activate for progress/solutions for "mega issues and policies" that are increasingly deep challenges to all -e.g., global warming and climate change; reliance on renewable sources of energy; hugely reduced production and consumption of pollutants;diversity and survival of life - microbes, plants, animals; health care for all; gun violence; income and wealth inequality.  

Laura Villa is a Manager in Finance. A graduate from California State University Fullerton, Laura earned her Anthropology degree with honors. Laura is a powerful community organizer in Orange County. Most recently, Laura has shown her skills in management translated well into political organizing. 

The belief in the ability to represent our fellow Democrats honestly and equitably. That one must have a commitment to work toward a party that feels like a home, and all feel welcomed. The firm conviction to work with our community. Finally, the obligation to listen with intent.

I'm running for the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Orange County from Assembly District 68 ( AD68 ) in the primary election on March 3. Here's why I'm running:

- We need to bring the voice of local Democratic activists, club members and clubs to the table on endorsement decisions for local offices. For too long, those voices were ignored. Our county party chair has been doing a great job listening to those and many other voices. We need to give a formal role in endorsement decisions to folks besides Central Committee members.

- We need to elect more Democrats to office at the local level - city councils, school boards, water districts and other offices. We need to improve the 'pipeline' of candidates who are recruited, trained and supported. When we elect those candidates, we need to hold them accountable to all voters, including the Democrats who helped elect them. Candidates we elect should support other Democrats - not Republicans, or Republicans in usually temporary 'no party preference' clothing.

- We need to un-elect the current occupant of the White House, and keep the 'blue wave' rolling in the US Congress, the State Assembly and the State Senate.

I hope to receive your vote, starting on February 3rd. You can vote for up to six candidates. Ballots arrive in the mail to all OC voters on February 3.

Please contact me at 518-405-9231 or joesmcl@gmail.com any time. I'll be reaching out to voters all across AD 68.