As the Nov. 3 Orange City Council election approaches, The Panther compiled a series of interviews with the various prospective candidates for mayor and Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 that will be divided into five installments differentiated by the open positions.

The Orange City Council election Nov. 3 offers open seats for mayor as well as Orange Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5. To break down candidate perspectives and values for our student and community readers, The Panther asked these local politicians about their respective platforms, initiatives and goals to address concerns raised by the community.  

The District 3 candidates who shared their campaigns with The Panther are similar in their extensive history of living in Orange, with candidates Dannett Abbott-Wicker and John Russo both idealizing the concept of community in their campaign platforms. They also emphasized the importance of public safety, though Abbott-Wicker expressed to The Panther a plan to invest in nonprofit alternatives rather than relying on police force. Mike Alvarez, who was unable to submit a written response to The Panther, will also be vying for a third consecutive four-year term this election.

The candidate responses have been lightly edited for clarity and stylistic standards.

Danett Abbott-Wicker

Q. What are the most notable components of your campaign platform?

A. I have lived in Orange since 1972. I attended Heim and Fletcher elementary schools, Peralta Junior High and Villa Park High School. I attended California State University, Fullerton, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications. 

This city has the potential to be so much more, with residents engaged and having their voices heard. The same people have cycled in and out of our city government for decades. We need a fresh voice and a fresh perspective to make sure all voices are heard – not just a privileged few. I have no financial interests to protect secret business deals keeping me from making decisions that will directly benefit residents and businesses in the City of Orange.

Q. What initiatives do you want to push for on the Orange City Council?

A. Whatever the city is currently paying to provide commercial health insurance to their employees, that amount would be reduced under a single-payer, “Medicare for all” system. This would free up that money for other city services, like parks, public safety, affordable housing, streets and other infrastructure needs and renewable energy projects.

I also want to ban insecticides that poison our children – Glyphosate, also known as Roundup – from being sprayed in our parks. It is not enough for two parks in the city of Orange to be pesticide-free. We need all of our parks to be safe. 

Q. How do you plan on utilizing your position to uplift community concerns and voices, especially those of marginalized groups?

A. Over 42% of our city’s budget is allocated to policing, while important community services such as mental health care are significantly undervalued. A high percentage of police calls involve people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues or other social and economic issues. We desperately need trained social workers integrated into the team to address and de-escalate these issues, and we need to reallocate the police budget to reflect this.

The unhoused residents of Orange affect everyone. I truly believe we can solve this issue, and we can do it with humane policy as an alternative to police force. I will fight to support the local nonprofit organizations that are already doing the work on the ground and have the best understanding of how to help our shared communities. These organizations have their own job programs that we can support.

John Russo

Q. What are the most notable components of your campaign platform?

A. I will provide the City of Orange with new, proactive and responsible leadership. My top priorities are to increase public safety, ensure a business-friendly environment and to pave the path for a stable future. 

Q. What initiatives do you want to push for on the Orange City Council?

A. The biggest initiative that I want to push for on the City Council is a hands-on cooperative learning experience between local schools and local businesses, as well as city hall. This will provide students with a better interactive learning experience that will prepare them for the real world. 

Q. How do you plan on utilizing your position to uplift community concerns and voices, especially those of marginalized groups?
A. I will be hosting office hours to hear the voices of my constituents, as well as be accessible and open to hosting conversations about how we, as a community, can work together.