John Moorlach
Member of theCalifornia State Senate from the37th district
In office March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020
Preceded by	Mimi Walters
Succeeded by	Dave Min
Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
In office January 12, 2012 – January 8, 2013
Preceded by	Bill Campbell
Succeeded by	Shawn Nelson
In office January 8, 2008 – January 13, 2009
Preceded by	Chris Norby
Succeeded by	Patricia C. Bates
Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
In office January 12, 2011 – January 11, 2012
Preceded by	Bill Campbell
Succeeded by	Shawn Nelson
In office January 9, 2007 – January 8, 2008
Preceded by	Chris Norby
Succeeded by	Patricia C. Bates
Member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from the 2nd District
In office December 5, 2006 – January 5, 2015
Preceded by	Jim Silva
Succeeded by	Michelle Steel
Orange County Treasurer–Tax Collector
In office March 17, 1995 – December 5, 2006
Preceded by	Robert Citron
Succeeded by	Chriss Street
Personal details
Born	Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach[1] (1955-12-21)December 21, 1955 (age 69) Groningen,Netherlands
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Trina Lehmaier
Children	3
Residence(s)	Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
Alma mater	California State University, Long Beach (BS)
Occupation	Certified Public Accountant (inactive)
Website	Campaign web site

Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach (born December 21, 1955) is an American politician who served as a member of theCalifornia State Senate representing37th Senate district, which includes portions ofOrange County, from 2015 to 2020. He was narrowly defeated for reelection byDave Min in2020; he lost a 2021 special election to return to the Orange County Board of Supervisors; he withdrew from the 2022 election for Orange County Auditor-Controller; and he lost the 2022 election for Mayor of Costa Mesa. A Republican, he previously served on theOrange County Board of Supervisors from December 5, 2006, to January 5, 2015, and as Orange County Treasurer–Tax Collector from March 17, 1995, to December 5, 2006.

Johannes Meindert Willem Moorlach was born inGroningen,Netherlands, and came with his family to the United States when he was four years old. He grew up inCypress, California, andBuena Park, California. He earned hisBachelor of Science degree in business administration from theCalifornia State University, Long Beach in 1977.He is a certified public accountant and certified financial planner. Before entering public office, he was vice president of accounting firm Balser, Horowitz, Frank and Wakeling, and the administrative partner of its Costa Mesa office.^{[citation needed]}

Moorlach first came to public attention by predicting the largestmunicipal bond portfolio loss and bankruptcy in U.S. history while campaigning for the office of Orange County Treasurer–Tax Collector against incumbentDemocratRobert Citron in 1994. Citron resigned later that year and was replaced on an interim basis byTom Daxon. On March 17, 1995, Moorlach was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1996 he was elected by the voters to complete the unexpired term, and re-elected in 1998 and 2002, serving nearly twelve years.^{[citation needed]}

He is recognized as a leading expert on municipal bankruptcies.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, he opted not to run for re-election as Treasurer–Tax Collector and instead ran forOrange CountySupervisor, winning 70% of the vote. Moorlach was unopposed for re-election in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

While on the Board of Supervisors, he served on theOrange County Transportation Authority,OC LAFCO,CalOptima, and Southern California Regional Airport Authority boards.^{[citation needed]}

He was succeeded on the board byMichelle Steel and ran in the 2021 special election to succeed her following her election to theUS House. He lost to Democrat Katrina Foley.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, Moorlach announced his candidacy for theUnited States House of Representatives seat being vacated byJohn Campbell, but dropped out shortly before the deadline to file candidacy.^[2] The Congressional seat was won bystate SenatorMimi Walters. Moorlach won the special election to succeed her in thestate Senate with 50.3% of the vote, defeatingstate AssemblymanDonald P. Wagner, a fellow Republican who won 44.0% of the vote.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019, Moorlach introduced a bill to expand Interstate 5 and State Highway 99 with two additional lanes. The proposal also included the repeal of speed limits on those two roads.^[3][4] The bill mandated a report be delivered by January 1, 2021, which has not occurred.

In the fall of 2020, Moorloch lost his bid for re-election to DemocratDave Min.^[5] Moorlach later filed papers to run for his old seat on theOrange County Board of Supervisors.^[6]

After losing his Senate re-election bid in 2020, Moorlach made several failed attempts to return to office:

• Losing aMarch 2021 special election for his former seat on theOrange County Board of Supervisors^[7]
• Withdrawing from the March 2022 election for Orange County Auditor-Controller amid charges that he did not meet the legal qualifications to hold the office^[8][9]
• Losing the November 2022 election for Mayor ofCosta Mesa, California^[10]

Murloch and his wife have three children.^[1]

• Official state website
• Official campaign website
• Join California John M. W. Moorlach
• John Moorlach atBallotpedia

• 1955 births
• Dutch emigrants to the United States
• Living people
• People from Cypress, California
• California State University, Long Beach alumni
• Orange County Supervisors
• Republican Party California state senators
• People from Buena Park, California
• People from Costa Mesa, California
• Naturalized citizens of the United States
• 21st-century members of the California State Legislature

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from November 2024
• Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020