Nelida Mendoza, OC Board of Supervisors District 2, 2026 primary election questionnaire – Orange County Register

Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Nelida Mendoza

Current job title: Retired Teacher/Paralegal/Court Clerk

Age: n/a

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Trustee RSCCD, Santa Ana Councilmember & Trustee OC Mosquito & Vector Control District

City where you reside: Santa Ana

Campaign website or social media: www.NelidaMendoza.com

In your opinion, what is the biggest need your district faces, and how would you address it through the Board of Supervisors? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

Issues of importance in all of Orange County (and across our nation) are public health, safety, and cost of living. These combined issues equal to the most difficult challenge our world faces — to resolve the issue of the unhoused residents.

Where do you think the county is effectively spending to address the needs of unhoused residents, and what would you change about where money spent on homelessness is prioritized? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

The county may not be effectively spending to address the homeless problem. Hence reason Orange County has not resolved the issue of unhoused residents. To alleviate and eventually eliminate the unhoused resident issue, I plan to: (1) Expand affordable housing supply and partner with cities and developers to build low-income and supportive housing. Find state and federal funding to convert unused county/city buildings or motels to affordable housing. (2) Increase budget for unhoused resident programs to get people into housing promptly. In addition, such funds must be consistent. (3) Work to improve program coordination between mental health care, addiction treatment, job training, and housing programs. The bottom line is to ensure regional collaboration with all Orange County cities rather than trying to work alone in District 2. I intend to build a program that maximizes coordination of where low-income housing and shelters are built to ensure equal distribution within the county of Orange.

Looking at the county’s annual budget, what would you like to change about how funds are allocated? Is there a department or project that has not received the funding it needs? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

Funds must be allocated to resolve the issues mentioned above: Public health, safety and cost of living. Homelessness is largely the result of rising rents and the high cost of living. People cannot afford to buy a home, let alone rent adequate housing. I plan to expand affordable housing development by making Orange County attractive for developers to build. However, it does us no good if we get a family into affordable housing, but they cannot pay the rent. Thus, I plan to expand the rental assistance programs. Along this line, I propose to greatly improve coordination of services such as mental health and job training. I know that by focusing on prevention and long-term housing solutions, I can help reduce homelessness to improve our community’s well-being.

The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the county do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

I have been a public official for many years. I expect nothing less of my service in protecting public funds. I aim to ensure county of Orange residents receive the best representation in the history of the Board of Supervisors. I intend to be transparent to my colleagues and constituents by making my decisions open and accessible. I will look at modifying our budget process so it is in layman terms and easy to understand.

Our budgets, spending reports and contracts shall be online for easy viewing. I have a vision of a website dashboard with drop-down menus where taxpayers may see where their money is being spent in real time. Another important aspect of being transparent is to ensure our meetings are open and accessible to all residents, agendas and supporting documents are to be posted well ahead of meetings so residents are aware of the issues and prepare to give the board input.

The Board of Supervisors should have a strong and independent oversight committee. I believe independent audits will ensure that our spending is viewed and any misconduct is noted and addressed promptly. When the public is encouraged to speak and participate in the meetings, they obtain ownership of the proposed project when they can help in making important decisions. I intend to disclose who receives government contracts and which groups lobby for certain projects. I also recommend publishing data on pertinent projects and programs that allow the media, journalists, researchers and the public in general to review the board’s performance. I am transparent to my constituents by being open, accountable, and accessible. I believe by making information available and easy to understand, the public will trust the board and feel confident that taxpayer money is being utilized responsibly.

Social services providers say they expect to see a continued rise in food and housing insecurity this year. In addition, many low-income residents may lose health care as new eligibility requirements for Medi-Cal are implemented. What role do you think the county can play in supporting people who are falling through the cracks? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

I understand that rise in food, housing and loss of healthcare are putting many residents at risk. This is especially true for those who do not qualify for Medi-Cal, but cannot afford basic healthcare needs. I propose helping such residents by focusing on targeted and practical solutions, such as expanding safety-net programs. We can increase funding for rental assistance, free food distribution, and create an emergency financial aid program. Short-term funding for someone who cannot pay the month’s rent or utility bills can definitely prevent someone from being homeless. The board should also support affordable housing and expand on tenant protections at the same time, provide support and guidance for landlords. To keep our public healthy so they may continue to work and pay their rent, I propose to improve access to low-cost healthcare especially for mental health services that includes women and children. Working with local nonprofit organizations for food bank replenishment will ensure the needy eat healthy meals. Job training, education programs and childcare support are also ways I plan to help residents earn income and keep up with rising cost of living. It has been my experience as a public servant for over 40 years, that people fall through the cracks because programs are difficult to navigate. I plan to explore a One Stop Center where services are easy to find and easy to apply for. When I sit on the Board of Supervisors, there will be minimum residents falling through the cracks.

Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your district? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

My background encompasses experience of effective and proven leadership successes. My profile is built on experience, service and credibility — these are qualities that are hard to teach and highly valued in public leadership roles. As an immigrant, I possess empathy and inclusionary traits. Having lived the immigrant experience gives me a deeper understanding of the challenges such as adaptation, opportunity, and fairness. As a result of my traits and characteristics, the decisions I make are inclusive and representative of my diversity to benefit my community. I have lived in Orange County over 50 years. I have seen how my community has changed over time. Such perspective helps me to make informed and practical decisions good for the long term, rather than short-term or reactive. I have authentic connection to my community. I understand our community because I’ve grown in it. My time in the U.S. Army reflects my strong discipline, accountability standards, unwavering discipline, unquestionable integrity, and strong commitment to service-first mindset. I dedicated years serving others — first in uniform and now in local government. Serving on the RSCCD board shows my passion for higher education and my goal to invest in future generations. I have consistently stepped up in leadership roles, which shows my initiative, collaboration and trust from peers. As a mother of three successful young professionals, I represent stability, values, and long-term investment in family and community outcomes. I’ve raised my family in Orange County, and I want the same opportunities for other families to thrive. I’m a lifelong resident of this county, a military veteran, and a proven leader who has spent decades serving our community—on the Santa Ana City Council, RSCCD Board, and through civic organizations. With my ethics and zeal for transparency, the public can trust that their tax dollars are being utilized appropriately.