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Elected in 2022, Assemblymember Tri Ta serves California’s 70th Assembly District which includes parts of northern Orange County, encompassing Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Los Alamitos, Westminster and portions of Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. The population of over 450,000 people includes a diverse community of voters of all parties. Prior to being elevated to state office, Assemblymember Ta held the distinction of being the first Vietnamese American to hold the office of city Mayor in the United States, when he served the city of Westminster.

California Special Districts Association Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator Chris Palmer reached out to Assemblymember Ta’s office for our From the Capitol article series. CSDA would like to express our gratitude to the Assemblymember for his ongoing commitment to special districts, and for his generous response to our inquiry.

CSDA: How would you advise special districts who want to build on relationships with legislators and staff to best advocate for their district and community?

Asm. Ta: I would recommend that special districts reach out and build relationships early with your legislators and their staff.  I always enjoy joining events put on by my local special districts, like my sanitation district’s Annual Open House or a holiday tree lighting by my local community services district.  Also, if the member is less familiar with special districts and their operations, a tour is a great way to share the amazing work of special districts in a more casual setting.

CSDA: How has your role as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee helped you advocate for your constituents?

Asm. Ta: I was just appointed to this role in January, but when I was first elected to the Assembly I made it a priority to work with my local cities and agencies to advocate for their needs.   Stepping in into this role will further empower me to fight for my district. I am truly looking forward to connecting with local elected officials and staff from around California to be their voice in the Local Government Committee.   

CSDA: What are your current and long-term policy priorities, particularly as they relate to the governance and operations of special districts and other local governments?

Asm. Ta: I am a big advocate for local control for special districts and municipalities.  Overly burdensome mandates from Sacramento tie the hands of policymakers that want to serve their local communities.  As a former Mayor and water district board member, you can count on me to be a strong advocate for local control. 

CSDA: What specific challenges exist for communities in Orange County that may not exist in other parts of the state?

Asm. Ta: For the most part, Orange County is generally built-out, so we don’t have a lot of the challenges that more rural communities may face.  We are also a very diverse county.  In fact, my district has Little Saigon, the largest population of Vietnamese living outside of Vietnam.  We also have large Latino and Korean populations.  With that comes challenges for governments to connect with and reach their constituencies. 

Similar to other parts of our state, Orange County has faced drought and water management issues.  As former Orange County Water District Director, I’m proud of the work OCWD performs for groundwater storage and the state-of-the-art Groundwater Replenishment System to ensure that north Orange County has a reliable and safe water supply. 

CSDA: Can you please share your highlights and biggest accomplishments during your Assembly terms?

Asm. Ta: My first term was very productive.  I was able to secure $1M in state funding for a new park and accessible playground in Fountain Valley so children of all ages and abilities can play together in an inclusive space.  I also worked with my local cities to author AB 1782, which was signed into law by the Governor.  This bill gives cities more flexibility to use their RDA Successor Agency funds to contribute toward regional homeless shelters. 

Additionally, I am proud to have authored AB 1805.  This bill ensures that students learn about the historic Mendez v. Westminster case in the social science curriculum and how California was the first state to desegregate back in 1947.  Sylvia Mendez is one of my heroes, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to share her story.