Endorsement: Vicente Sarmiento for 2nd District supervisor

Four years ago, then-Santa Ana Councilman Vicente Sarmiento, faced a tough race for Orange County supervisor as he faced off against a police-union-backed candidate. He won the 2nd District race by slim margins on a campaign promising more county transparency and quality-of-life issues. The district represents Santa Ana, parts of Anaheim and Garden Grove, and surrounding areas.

We don't share the same general political worldview as Sarmiento, a Democrat, but in 2022 we endorsed him. We thought he had "fundamentally sound instincts" and concluded the Board of Supervisors was "already stacked with board members who serve as tools of the police unions." After a term in office, he's governed as promised.

Although three candidates have filed, we find no evidence of any real campaign to unseat him. We offer our hearty endorsement for re-election. For starters, the county still has a lot to do on the police-accountability front. He recognizes the county's existing Office of Independent Review has largely been toothless, and he's looking to make it more independent and give it stronger auditing powers. He believes better oversight will reduce excessive-force claims.

On fiscal matters, Sarmiento touts his commitment to "good-faith negotiations that balance fair wages and benefits with responsible budgeting and long-term sustainability." He was the only supervisor to vote against the deputy sheriffs' contract because he thought 17% pay hikes were unaffordable. He's been a responsible voice on claims from the Airport Fire as he seeks to provide restitution, but in a way that best protects taxpayers from trial-lawyer excesses.

He rang the alarm bells during the corruption scandal that landed former Supervisor Andrew Do in prison: "I called for audits and a review of suspicious pandemic era contracts. I recall being told ‘there is no corruption here' that there was nothing to find. But I persisted with my requests and the truth began to slowly be revealed," he told us. His views on boosting housing supply, handling homelessness and improving the county's transit system are solid and practical minded.

We urge a vote for Sarmiento for the 2nd District supervisor.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 1:41 PM.