In the races for Orange County assessor, clerk-recorder and treasurer-tax collector, the incumbents took big leads over their challengers in early returns posted Tuesday night shortly after polls closed.
Read more 2026 Election Results: California Board of Equalization District 4
Assessor Claude Parrish jumped to an early lead over La Palma Councilmember Janet Keo Conklin.
Parrish, 78, was first elected to the office in 2014. If elected to a fourth term, he said he’d continue providing property tax-related assistance to residents and push to extend the assessment appeal filing deadline from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30. Parrish previously served as chairman of California’s Board of Equalization.
Conklin, 55, has worked as a real estate professional for more than a quarter century. She was a founder and former president of the La Palma Chamber of Commerce. As assessor, she said she’d ensure every homeowner and renter knows their rights and help guide them through Prop 13 and Prop 19 rules so that they can preserve low tax bases and keep their homes.
• Also see: June 2 Primary Election Results
In the race for clerk-recorder, incumbent Hugh Nguyen is leading data specialist Maria Holly Barraza.
Nguyen, 58, has served as clerk-recorder since 2013. He’s implemented a number of services, such as the Clerk-Recorder on Wheels mobile van, which issues passports, marriage licenses and birth and death certificates at community events.
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Barraza, 43, has worked in records-focused roles across multiple public agencies, including the OC Registrar of Voters and the Sheriff’s Department. She said she’d support the continued development of “secure, user-friendly digital tools” and expand community access through mobile service units and extended service hours.
In the treasurer-tax collector race, incumbent Shari Freidenrich had amassed a large early lead over Dana Schultz, the county’s chief investment officer.
Freidenrich, 66, has held the position since 2010. Prior to that, she served as the Huntington Beach treasurer for 15 years and has three decades of experience as an active CPA. Freidenrich’s current term has been marked by controversy, as the Board of Supervisors removed her ability to manage the county’s $17 billion investment pool in December 2024, later transferring investment authority to the county’s chief financial officer.
If reelected, she said she plans to roll out a “Save Our Seniors” program that will allow a friend or loved one to sign up for property tax reminders for a senior family member or friend.
Schultz, 45, served as assistant treasurer-tax collector under Freidenrich. Previously, she’s worked for the Health Care Agency, the CEO’s office and the Probation Department. If elected, Schultz said she’ll ensure that the county’s financial operations remain stable through collaboration and communication with county partners, and provide accessible and user-friendly services to residents, prioritizing enhanced online tools such as e-billing and flexible payment tools.
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