The Orange County Board of Education has filled its Fourth District vacancy, and the name is a familiar one.
Tim Shaw, who resigned from the board on Nov. 1, was appointed to the seat by a 3-1 vote during a special meeting on Tuesday night.
Shaw initially stepped down from the board over a potentially costly legal challenge that called into question whether he could serve concurrently on the La Habra City Council, a position he had held since 2008. He reportedly resigned from his La Habra post on Tuesday before interviewing to rejoin the OC Board of Education.
Responding to questions from trustees, Shaw noted that he would be ready to “hit the ground running” after representing the Fourth District for a year and half.
“Having been elected by the voters of the Fourth District, I think I’d be prepared to start on day one,” he said.
In March 2020, voters elected Shaw to represent the Orange County Board of Education’s Fourth District, which serves Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and portions of Anaheim. In addition to working as government affairs director for the Pacific West Association of Realtors, he is an adjunct professor of political science at Rio Hondo College.
Six other candidates had submitted letters of intent and resumes by the Dec. 17 deadline, and public interviews were held at Tuesday’s meeting. You can watch a recording of the special session on YouTube.
About the OC Board of Education
The Orange County Board of Education is made up of five elected officials who each serve four-year terms. According to the board’s webpage, its responsibilities include:
- Approving the annual budget of the Orange County Department of Education
- Receiving the annual audit of the Orange County Department of Education
- Maintaining an awareness of the operations and financial conditions of the school districts in the county
- Approving the purchase of property for department programs
- Serving as Orange County’s appeal board for the adjudication of expulsion appeals and interdistrict attendance appeals
- Representing Orange County’s education community and families at the local, county, state and national levels
- Informing local communities about the programs and achievements of the Orange County Department of Education