They were selected for their longtime public service to Orange County and the state, said Natalie Fousekis, center director and professor of history. The project records the memories of those who have played an important role in shaping the political landscape of Orange County. A decade later, he was elected Orange County district attorney and took office in January 1999, serving until 2019. Before becoming the district attorney, he was appointed to the North Orange County Municipal Court and later to Orange County Superior Court. After his military service, he joined the Orange County Employees Association in 1973.