Eugene Fields (Orange City Treasurer, California, candidate 2024)

Eugene Fields

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Orange City Treasurer

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

San Pedro High School

Graduate

University of Phoenix, 2014

Personal

Profession

Public information officer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Eugene Fields ran for election to the Orange City Treasurer in California. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Fields completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Eugene Fields provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 16, 2024:

• Birth date: May 12, 1973
• High school: San Pedro High School
• Graduate: University of Phoenix, 2014
• Gender: Male
• Religion: non-denominational
• Profession: Public Information Officer
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram

Elections

General election

General election for Orange City Treasurer

Eugene Fields and Garett P. Smith ran in the general election for Orange City Treasurer on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Eugene Fields (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Garett P. Smith (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fields in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Eugene Fields completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fields' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a husband, parent of an OUSD student, homeowner and Orange Commissioner with extensive experience in municipal oversight and managing taxpayer funds.

As a former reporter for the Orange County Register newspaper, I worte about the City of Orange. I earned my Master of Public Administration degree because i was so curious about how municial government operated and wanted to learn more.

Previously, I served as Co-Chairman and a member of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Taxpayer Oversight Committee. In this role, I oversaw the allocation of $13 billion from Measure M2 funds, ensuring every dollar was spent on transportation projects approved by voters.

As a City Commissioner, I have given input and recommendations on nearly $500,000 of annual Community Events and $3.6 million of Capital Improvement Projects - as well as worked with elected leaders to preserve open space in Hart and Handy Parks and return $850,000 in taxpayer funds in a federal earmark to Orange for a park in West Orange.

Professionally, in my roles managing county and state agency budgets, I've successfully handled budgets of up to $1 million, managed resources and personnel, and addressed taxpayer concerns effectively.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The elected City of Orange Treasurer is an oversight position, tasked to work with the City Budget Director. I am the only candidate with experience in oversight of municipal funds.
• If elected, I pledge to ask the questions and bring transparency and accountability to our city finances. I know what questions to ask because I'm currently serving as a City Commissioner, giving input on more than $25 million of Capital Improvement Projects and Community Events. I am the only candidate educated in municipal finance - Master of Public Administration.
• The current Treasurer only appears in before the City Council once a year. If elected, I pledge to deliver the quarterly reports in person and asnwer questions in front of the public.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The area of public policy that I am personally passionate about the most is politics and economic development. I have met with local, state and federally elected officials and their staffs to enact policy, as well as to secure funding to benefit residents.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Even though the City of Orange Treasurer has no voting or budgeting power, the office is a conduit between the City Council and staff and the City Council, staff and public.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to many people. My father was 4 years old when he and his family were sent to the Manzanar Relocation Center for the duration of WWII. Afterward, he eventually joined the US Air Force. My maternal grandfather served in the US Army during WWII, moved to California and eventually became a successful small-business owner. My mother worked two jobs to raise me. I was raised with the credo that anything is possible if one is willing to work for it.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Capability, humility, honesty, transparency and the capacity to work with everyone, regardless of differences of opion.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the ability to meet people where they are. In order to accomplish anything politically, you have to be willing to listen and work with people who have differences of opinion and beliefs. I have experience doing that.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The successful candidate for the City of Orange Treasurer should have have an education, background or experince in municipal finance, public policy, oversight and/or someone who understands public budgeting

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my life that I remember was the Iran Hostage Crisis. I was about 6.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working at the Disneyland Hotel. I worked in retail. It was a summer job before I began community college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Catcher in the Rye. When I first read the book, I was about Holden Caulfield's age. The story of a teen trying to figure out his place in the world and to find meaning resonated with me.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Previous experince in government would be beneficial, especially if the experince included dealing with budgeting and/or finance.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Orange Councilmembers Denis Bilodeau and Jon Dumitru; Orange County Supervisor Vincente Sarmiento; California Assemblyman Avelino Valencia; Villa Park Treasurer Bill Underwood

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

As a former journalist, I frequently reported on controversial issues in local and state government. As an employee of regional and state agencies, I strive to be transparent and accountable.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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