Mike Johnson, Chief of Staff
(Public Works and Land Use)
Mike Johnson is an experienced Policy Advisor having spent more than six years as a staff member for Supervisor Bill Campbell. Johnson developed critical expertise in public safety as well as in environmental issues surrounding conservation and land management. Johnson also led Spitzer's successful campaign for supervisor earlier this year, managing a team of professional consultants and grassroots volunteers. In total, Johnson has a decade of experience working with local, state and federal elected officials, both on and off the campaign. Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach and is pursuing a master's in Environmental Studies at California State University, Fullerton. He is LEED accredited and is a graduate of the Orange County Leadership Academy.
Cecilia Hong, Communications Director
Cecilia Hong, a native of Orange County, has extensive knowledge in bankruptcy, healthcare services, and child support services from her experiences serving in various state and federal agencies and courts. Cecilia holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Communication Management, with am emphasis in Business Management, from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California (USC). After graduating from USC, Cecilia spent one year teaching English to children in the Orange County community and spent time abroad as a volunteer English teacher in Cambodia before starting law school at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, CA. Cecilia is an active member in her community and involved in bridging the political gap between South Korea and the United States.
Martin Gardner, Policy Advisor
(Scheduler, Community Services, Community Resources)
As an active community member, Martin Gardner has devoted significant time to local organizations, including Crime Survivors, Crime Stoppers, Holiday Hope and Hope School. He’s also a former board member for the YMCA of Orange. Previously, Gardner served as District Representative for then-Assembly Member Todd Spitzer. Gardner also was a staffer for the Spitzer campaign for supervisor, coordinating volunteer activities and helping oversee Spitzer's schedule of events. Gardner also served on past campaigns for Spitzer, including his re-election efforts while serving in the California Assembly. In addition to his political involvement, Gardner's private sector accomplishments include being a small business owner, providing inventory to retail stores.
Martha Ochoa-Lopez, Policy Advisor
(Transportation, Health Care, Social Services)
Ochoa-Lopez is experienced in policy and a veteran of local government. She has served as a district representative for Senator Lou Correa since 2002. Prior to that, she served as an executive assistant to Todd Spitzer during his first term as Orange County Supervisor. Through her community involvement and background, Ochoa-Lopez has gained expertise at forming meaningful relationships between government and community groups. For the past 15 years she has worked with government agencies throughout the county, she will use her experience to focus on health care, social service, and transportation issues.
Carrie O'Malley, Policy Advisor
(Public Protection and Transportation)
O'Malley has a Harvard Law School education and more than a decade of public policy experience at the federal, state and local levels. She served as a staff member with the California Attorney General's Office and as a researcher for the Committee on Governmental Affairs in the United States Senate, under U.S. Senator John Seymour. At the local level, she served as a field representative and legislative analyst for California Assembly Member Gary Miller (now in the U.S. Congress) and was a senior government relations representative at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). O'Malley is active in her community, previously holding leadership positions with the Junior League of Orange County. She also formed a support group for new mothers in 2002.
Chris Nguyen, Policy Advisor
(County Budget and Internal Departments)
Chris Nguyen is a native of Orange County who grew up in the Third District. His first involvement in government was as a summer intern with Todd Spitzer in the State Assembly while a student at Stanford University. Upon graduation, Chris was accepted as a Senate Fellow in Sacramento and continued for several years as a Legislative Aide in the State Capitol. Nguyen gained first-hand knowledge of the California fiscal process though his service staffing Senator George Runner on the Appropriations Committee. Subsequently, he served in the office of Assemblyman Chris Norby, providing expertise in the areas of municipal budgeting, redevelopment, state bonds, school and education funding. In addition to his government service, he has served as a political consultant to various local elected officials. In addition to his bachelor’s from Stanford, he also holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
