New Orange County supervisor of elections takes office; county confirms payroll and inventory checks

Karen Castor Dentel took office as Orange County Supervisor of Elections at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, the county comptroller and county attorney reported at the Jan. 7 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Comptroller John Diamond told the board his staff conducted immediate oversight: petty cash on hand was counted and verified, initial payroll funding was wired so employees would be paid on the next payday, and staff began an inventory of election equipment and supplies. Diamond said staff was still assessing the full scope of outstanding checks and invoices the office may have had while the previous supervisor was in office, and that the county would receive a fuller accounting as new staff finish their review.

County Attorney staff also reported that a lawsuit the prior supervisor had filed against the county was dismissed without prejudice on Dec. 31, 2024, and that the interim transition was proceeding. The board earlier approved a draw schedule to provide funds for election-office payroll; Diamond said money was wired after the consent agenda passed and employees will be paid on the next scheduled payday.

Commissioners thanked the comptroller and county attorney for the rapid oversight work during the transition and noted a press conference was scheduled at the Supervisor of Elections office to provide additional detail for the public.

Why it matters: Supervisors of Elections are constitutional officers responsible for voter registration and administering elections. The county’s immediate steps ensured continuity of employee pay and initiated an equipment inventory, which the board said was necessary for public confidence in the office’s operations.

Next steps: County and supervisor staff will complete the equipment inventory, reconcile outstanding checks and invoices, and report back to the board with findings.