Democrat Judie Mancuso is a successful Laguna Beach based community and nonprofit leader with an unmatched record of service, passing meaningful policies and building winning coalitions.

With an early career spent leading large teams in the Information Technology industry over a span of 20 years, Judie is the Founder & CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the environment and animals. Judie’s drive and legislative advocacy has been key to taking on some of the world’s largest special interests and winning — sponsoring over 54 state bills, with 19 being successfully signed into law.

As a former member of the California Veterinary Medical Board and current Vice-Chair of the Laguna Beach Environmental Sustainability Committee, Judie has developed an ironclad reputation as a champion for animals, the environment, and our coastline economies.

In 2019, Mancuso was named in the top ten of the top 100 most influential people in Orange County.

Diane Dixon spent 40 years in the private sector as a business executive before being elected to the Newport Beach City Council in 2014. She is serving her second term as Mayor, and has served as Chair of the Water Quality and Tidelands Committee and as Chair of the Finance Committee.

Fiscal responsibility and government transparency have been the hallmarks of her time at City Hall. Diane’s leadership has helped her city deliver budget surpluses, pay down pension liabilities, improve public safety, and complete infrastructure projects on time and within budget and greater cooperation between residents, businesses, and government to resolve community problems.

Diane has actively engaged city residents, holding more than 30 town hall meetings, working closely with local business owners and residents to solve community problems, and initiating numerous neighborhood and community improvement programs. She has worked to successfully add citizen members to the City’s Finance Committee and other council committees and launch independent audits of City projects.

A regional leader, Diane is the immediate past President of the Association of California Cities-Orange County. She is a current member of the regional council of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and a board member of Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG).

Diane has been an active member on several philanthropic community-based boards of directors for nearly four decades, including United Way Orange County, YMCA, public television, USC Board of Councilors and Alumni Association, educational institutions, child service agencies, and health-related organizations.

During her 40-year business career, she spent 30 years as a senior executive at a Fortune 300 public company, where she was responsible for the company’s global communications, marketing and financial communications, and corporate philanthropy. She managed the intersection of business and government, forging connections among business, government, communities and nonprofit organizations.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from the University of Southern California.

Diane has been married for 46 years to Pat Dixon, a career prosecutor who currently serves as Special Counsel to the Orange County District Attorney. Diane and Pat’s daughter, Colleen, is a former prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Colleen and her husband, Graves, are the parents of Diane and Pat’s three grandsons.

Benjamin Yu is a father, husband, Army veteran, and businessman. After immigrating to New York City as a teenager with only a few dollars in his pocket and the American Dream in his heart, Ben worked various jobs to support his family. When the tragedy of September 11th hit, Ben was working at a firm on Wall Street and attending college full time. Seeing the devastation around him, as well as the gratitude for what America had given him, he signed up to serve in the United States Army. 

From New York to the American heartland, to the Pacific Northwest, Benjamin Yu came across the continental United States while serving his country, raising his family, and gaining business experience. Ben and his family made the decision to move to Orange County, California for its educational opportunities, safe neighborhoods, and beautiful coastal weather. As Ben grew up in a humble neighborhood, giving back to his community has been important to him. Today he serves as the Chair of the Lake Forest Traffic Commission, and previously served on multiple boards within Orange County. Ben’s family and businesses have regularly donated to local communities, law enforcement, and nonprofits for veterans, the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged families. He knows what it is like to be without & sometimes a little help makes all the difference.  

Benjamin Yu has always pushed himself and accepted the challenges that came his way. He has been a true believer in “The American Dream”. Ben feels there is nothing he cannot do or achieve with hard work, dedication, and grit. In recent years and more concerning, in recent months, working families and retirees are facing difficult challenges. Increasing crimes, skyrocketing inflation, unaffordable housing, and heavy tax burdens are just a few of these challenges. The elites and the failed policies in Sacramento have exacerbated the homeless crisis, and labor shortages for small businesses, and are destroying public education. 

Now, is a pivotal time to choose an independent representative with a fresh perspective, energy, and diverse experience to fight for all people. Benjamin Yu is this person. With your trust and support, Benjamin Yu will be your tireless advocate for public safety, fair taxation, school choice, attainable homeownership, as well as a transparent and fiscally responsible government. Benjamin Yu will be your voice in Sacramento. He believes those who hold public office work for the people. Your concerns are his concerns. Your struggles are his struggles. If given the opportunity to serve you as the representative in State Assembly, Benjamin Yu can help keep the American Dream alive in California for its residents and for future generations to come.

"The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."