Full Biography for Jim Silva

Supervisor Silva represents the 2nd Supervisorial District on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The district includes the cities of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Seal Beach, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Stanton portions of Garden Grove and Santa Ana, and the unincorporated areas of Rossmoor, Sunset Beach and Anaheim Islands. Jim was elected to the Board in November 1994.

Taking his seat one month after the County declared bankruptcy, Supervisor Silva began his career with the County of Orange facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Due to prudent fiscal planning, the Board of Supervisors was able to lead the County back to financial solvency within 18 months. During that time, Supervisor Silva spearheaded efforts to take financially conservative actions that helped to create the economic health now enjoyed in Orange County. Supervisor Silva's colleagues elected him Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in January 1998.

Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, Silva served as a City Councilman in Huntington Beach from 1988-1994. He served as mayor of the City in 1992, and has been involved in a myriad of community and public service organizations. A teacher by profession, Supervisor Silva taught high school economics for 28 years in the Garden Grove Unified School District.

Jim was appointed to the California Air Resources Board by Governor Pete Wilson in January 1995 and was confirmed by the California State Senate in January 1996. Supervisor Silva also represents the County of Orange on the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the air quality regulatory body with jurisdiction in Souther California. He sits on the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the California State Association of Counties and the Advisory Board of the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center.

Silva, 54, is a native of Orange County and has lived here all his life, except for his college years. He hold a Bachelor Degree from San Jose State University and a Masters Degree from Chapman University. A dedicated family man, Supervisor Silva and his wife of 28 years, Connie live in Huntington Beach. Their son Chad, 22, is an Air Force Lieutenant and graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Their daughter, Donna, 20, is a second year cadet at the Air Force Academy.