What’s at stake in this race

The clerk-recorder is Orange County’s data recordkeeper, and this officeholder tracks a wide range of records, including public money and birth certificates, for 3.2 million residents.

What does the O.C. clerk-recorder do? 

• Issues and manages property deeds, birth certificates and death records. 
• Provides marriage licenses and performs civil ceremonies. 
• Provides residents with copies of public records and helps them apply for passports.

You might know the O.C. clerk-recorder from

• During the pandemic, the Orange County clerk-recorder moved weddings to the Honda Center in Anaheim and connected guests to watch virtually. The office issued thousands of marriage licenses during the pandemic, and virtual weddings still are offered today.
• The office recently went mobile around Orange County. You might see their van traveling to residents, helping them with birth certificates, passports and marriage licenses.
• Researchers, historians or neighbors can look into the county’s record archive. You might use the office to look for property records or research the history of your neighborhood.

Here are some things the O.C. clerk-recorder doesn't do

• They don’t resolve legal disputes, for example, property ownership disagreements or family affairs. 
• They don’t issue driver’s licenses or other professional licenses.
• They do not manage court records.

Fast facts about the O.C. clerk-recorder:

• The clerk-recorder serves a four-year term. There are no strict term limits for this seat.
• The Clerk-Recorder’s Office has an archive in Santa Ana that operates a bit like a museum. Historic photos, records and newspapers are kept there.
• The clerk-recorder makes more than $230,000 a year, not including benefits.

What’s on the agenda for next term

• The office launched the CRBot, an AI chatbot available on the clerk-recorder’s website. In March, it began offering new languages, but the office is looking to expand what the tech can do for residents.

What it takes to win

A candidate could win outright June 2 with more than 50% of the votes cast. If no candidate crosses that threshold, the top two finishers will compete in a runoff in the November general election.

The candidates for Orange County clerk-recorder

Hugh Nguyen, incumbent

Hugh Nguyen has been the county’s clerk-recorder since 2013. He first joined the office in 1994, doing customer service. Nguyen says his vision for the Clerk-Recorder's Office is to continue modernizing services and increasing residents’ accessibility while cutting costs.

More voter resources:

• Website: VoteHughNguyen.com
• Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel, county Supervisors Janet Nguyen (no relation to the incumbent) and Don Wagner, Sheriff Don Barnes
• Full endorsements list here.

Go deeper: 

• As requests for birth certificates shoot up 36%, OC's Clerk-Recorder has gone mobile (LAist)
• A marriage license will soon cost $176 in LA area; OC clerk offers $61 licenses and $28 ceremonies (OC Register)
• With government offices closed as virus spreads, weddings return to Honda Center (OC Register)

Maria Holly Barraza, records data specialist

Maria Holly Barraza works for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a records data specialist, a position she has held since 2019. She previously worked as a staffer at the Orange County registrar of voters. Between 2007 and 2017, Barraza worked as a nutrition assistant and lactation educator under California’s Women, Infants and Children Program.

Barraza says she wants to protect residents’ records and increase department transparency.

More voter resources:

• Website: MariaHollyBarraza4OCClerkRecorder.com

Campaign finance

To see the full list of donors to each campaign, visit the Orange County registrar’s campaign finance public portal. From there, search any candidate’s name and see all their campaign finance disclosure documents, including contributors to campaigns and independent expenditure committees.