TUSTIN, CA — After witnessing a debate between the two leading Republican candidates for Supervisor in the 4th District, Orange County Republican Party members officially endorsed Shawn Nelson, giving him a resounding 85% of the vote, far exceeding the two-thirds needed to secure an endorsement.

“With public employee unions threatening to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to elect a liberal to replace Chris Norby, the committee felt that it was vitally important to get behind the strongest Republican to hold this seat,” said OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh. “Based on his record on the Fullerton City Council, and his performance in last night’s debate, it was clear to an overwhelming majority of our members that Shawn Nelson is a deeply principled and articulate conservative and the strongest candidate for our Party.”

Former Supervisor Norby is endorsing Nelson, as is U.S. Representative Ed Royce and many other Republican leaders, including Senator Mimi Walters, Supervisor Pat Bates and Supervisor John Moorlach.

Councilmember Shawn Nelson is a fiscal conservative who was elected to the Fullerton City Council in November 2002. He served as Mayor in 2004-05 and 2006-07. Nelson is a California native who was raised in Fullerton. The Sunny Hills High School graduate holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from USC, and a Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law. He was named the “Local Elected Official for 2009″ by the Orange County Republican Party. Active in the community, Councilmember Nelson is a member of the Fullerton Elks Lodge and the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce. He is actively involved as a member of Zion Lutheran Church, is a sponsor and “Soccer Dad” for the Fullerton Rangers youth soccer club, and is head coach and a parent sponsor for Fullerton Pop Warner Football’s Junior Peewee Team.