Council Member Steven Vargas was first elected to the Brea City Council in November 2014, re-elected in 2018, and served as Mayor in 2021. He also previously served on the City Council from 1998-2002. Council Member Vargas holds a Bachelor of Science, Technology Degree from Excelsior College, New York. He is currently a member of the League of California Cities Transportation, Communications & Public Works Policy Committee, and a member of the North Orange County Cities Joint Powers Authority. Council Member Vargas also serves as a Member of the City’s Development Committee. He previously served the County of Orange as a Third District Executive Assistant, and at the federal level, as an Outreach Coordinator for Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA). 

Council Member Vargas is a member of the United States Navy Reserve (USNR) and holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Civil Engineering Corps. He has been activated for military service five times since 9/11, including a one-year deployment to Iraq, Al-Asad, and Falluja, during the 2008-09 surge. 

Council Member Vargas loves to be involved in the community and serve others. As an engaged volunteer, he has held leadership positions in numerous non-profit organizations over the years including former President, Placentia Boys & Girls Club; previous District Executive for Cub Scout Pack 820; former Commander, Brea Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5384; and current Adjutant of the Brea American Legion Post 181.

Professionally, Council Member Vargas was a general contractor by trade and retired from Chevron after 20 years of service as a Construction Safety Specialist. He has lived in Brea since 1989 and shares a home with his wife, Lisa of 28 years, who he refers to as his “best friend.” Together, they have five daughters and seven grandchildren and enjoy spending family time together.

I wish to utilize my 30 years of business skills combined with my civic and public service experience/motivation to continue to serve, but at a new level where I can make a bigger impact. I have been working on these items for many years and can increase awareness at the county level much more than at the local city level:

 1.       Utilize the improved Tonner Canyon offramp of the 57 Fwy to move 750 daily Trash Trucks off streets via a direct access road to the Olinda Landfill. The property belongs to City of Industry, who would get ½ the gate fee to pay for the road. Industry does not want residents so the fear of future development would be alleviated. With 750 trash trucks off OC roads, future expansion or life extensions of the Olinda Landfill would be a win-win for all.

2.       Reclaimed water utilization, we need to continue to find ways to capture and use reclaimed water throughout the county. Periodic pump stations could move reclaimed water nightly from south retention ponds to north spillways to improve percolation are an idea that should be fully pursued.  While the County Board of Supervisors does not directly sit on local water district boards, Supervisors do sit on various regional committees, such as the Southern California Water Coalition and the OC Sanitation District.  Supervisors also govern the OC Flood Control District and the OC Watershed Management Areas, which are managed by OC Public Works.

3.       Nuclear Waste removal from San Onofre Generating station to return the site back to the Navy and eventually to open space. I am uniquely qualified to advocate on behalf of the County for a federal waste repository. I am a nuclear trained and educated (Bachelor of Science in Technology, Nuclear) Construction Battalion Lieutenant Commander in the USNR, a safety professional (Chevron, 20 years), and I worked at San Onofre for SoCal Edision (7 years).