There appears to be an anti-Mayor Pulido cult in town and I find it rather laughable. Simply put, these folks can’t beat him. So why is that?
Well, here are my Top Ten reasons why the Pulido haters can’t beat him:
- You cannot beat Pulido if you are a criminal defense lawyer who specializes in getting gang bangers out of jail. (Alfredo Amezcua – lost badly to Pulido in 2010)
- You cannot beat Pulido if your campaign gets derailed when your half-brother gets arrested, for violating parole (Michele Martinez in 2008)
- You cannot beat Pulido if you look like a white supremacist (Thomas Gordon in 2006)
- You cannot beat Pulido if you use the word “vibrant” 2,000 times but never offer up any ideas as to how exactly you will make Santa Ana more “vibrant” (David Benavides in 2012)
- You cannot beat Pulido if you hate Mexicans (Stanley Fiala in 2004)
- You cannot beat Pulido by attacking his children (David Benavides in 2012)
- You cannot beat Pulido even if you pretend to have Loretta’s endorsement (Alfredo Amezcua – in 2010)
- You cannot beat Pulido if the first campaign picture of you features you in a Wonder Woman outfit, with a distinct “muffin top” – (Michele Martinez in 2008)
- You cannot beat Pulido by removing all references to your wife and family from all of your Facebook pages (three of them) and your campaign website (David Benavides in 2012)
- And you cannot beat Pulido if you are a Republican (Thomas Gordon in 2006)
So how can you beat Pulido, you might be asking?
- You need a good ballot designation. “School Building Inspector” and “Businessman” won’t cut it. A medical doctor? Maybe. A minister? Maybe. A professor? Maybe. Another Council Member? Nope – Martinez and Benavides already tried that, and failed.
- You can’t run on BS. Or on hate. You need solid ideas that will inspire the voters. They better be concrete and realistic. The voters in town can smell hot air a mile away.
- You also need a cause that people can rally around. Fighting obesity? That did not work for Martinez. Being vibrant? That did not work for Benavides. How about ward specific Council elections? Or reversing Measure D? Now you’re talking!
- You’re not going to Facebook your way to victory. Ask Benavides. Should you use social media? Yes. But know that it is only a small part of a successful campaign. By the same token know that campaign signs also will not put you over the top.
- You cannot beat him at the last minute. You want to beat Pulido? Start campaigning NOW.
- You need name I.D. If you are not rich then you better get started walking precincts now. And you will need to earn some attention from the press.
- You can’t beat Pulido by being a Republican, but guess what? Being a liberal won’t cut it either. A moderate might beat Pulido, but not a crazed guy on the left or the right.
- You’re not going to out-raza him either. Pulido is an immigrant. He speaks great Spanish and can sing traditional Mexican songs in that language too. Good luck if all you can muster is Pocho (Benavides, Martinez).
- He will run you out of town if you ignore white and Asian voters. Pulido rules in those demographics too.
- Finally, you are not going to beat him by ripping him in outlets that no one in town reads, such as the liberal blogs, the Voice of OC and the OC Weekly. Get off your butt and get out in the community. But know that the folks that show up to the meetings are the same crowd, at every meeting. You will be treading water if you don’t get out to see the actual people of our city. But if you must blog, do it here. We had well over 5,000 page views last November 6.
The Hall of Failed Santa Ana Mayoral Candidates:
Stanley Fiala and David Benavides, 2004 & 2012
Michele Martinez, 2008
Thomas Gordon, 2006
Alfredo Amezcua, 2010
Valerie Amezcua in 2014?
Don’t forget you can’t beat Pulido if you are a female lawyer living in Floral Park (Anne Andres)
You also can’t beat Pulido if you own a Jazz Club
(Randall Young)
Where’s that kid you always talk about and who everyone around town seems to know?
Everywhere I go someone knows his name or he’s mentioned. Bring the damn kid back already and run him for office. Kid is damn smart and knows what he’s talking about and he seems to be a moderate from what I hear.
Mr. Espinoza I know you read this blog and occasionally comment — run for office already. Santa Ana needs you!
He is still at Georgetown. He says he is no longer interested in running for office. Good move that…
Thanks for the support. I’m still at Georgetown, have to get my education first before I can come back and help my community.
I don’t think it’s a secret that I aspire to one day run for office, and I will come back to Santa Ana and run for office, but everything with due time.
Again, Thank You for the support.
God willing, and if it’s his plan it’ll happen.
You might be able to beat Pulido if you do it with a furry Moose outfit and scream at him how much you love “free-market crony capitalism”. He might let you beat him.
Um, Alfredo wasn’t wearing a furry Moose outfit. That is just how he looks! Don’t be too hard on the guy.
Half of the city is loosing faith on him…our current mayor….if he was so loved the whole city would be behind him….doesn’t look that way….but I understand stand how much you love him
You totally missed the point of this article. You’re not going to beat him with lame candidates and lame campaigns. And I don’t see anyone out there who will do what it takes to actually win. If you want to beat him then follow the steps outlined in the bottom half of this article. Good luck with that.
“Mr. Espinoza I know you read this blog and occasionally comment — run for office already. Santa Ana needs you!”
I thought you meant former one term Councilman and convicted Felon Tony Espinoza! I think he rents an apartment in the Tustin Meadows last time I checked. Hi wife Aida was also a one term school board member but she is not a Felon as far as I know.
Bring him/her back!
On that note, you also can’t beat Pulido if you are Ted Moreno. He tried too.
How about a post on this Santa Ana article Art?
http://www.ocregister.com/news/district-498692-school-newport.html
Why would anyone want to go to Corona Del Mar high school when they could go to Century High schol?
Century has an awesome soccer team!
Johnathan.
God Called. He says you “is ready!”
He said. “What this world needs now is another Moderate Puppet Tool to bend over for Corporate America!”
“You cannot beat Pulido if you hate Mexicans (Stanley Fiala in 2004)”……… Hmmmmmmm
That is as stupid comment as if Esq. Diamond claimed antisemitism. Luckily I do not play in the car with my family The “Bingo Wetback” or “Bingo Jew” as you Mexican play the “Bingo Grengo”.
“Mr. Espinoza I know you read this blog and occasionally comment — run for office already. Santa Ana needs you!”
Sure!
We need another lazy Mexican who cant make $900 for registration fee in Georgetown after he got scholarship under the affirmative action as do all Mexicans.
Santa Ana needs another young, mediocre, moderate, God-fearing Political bitch Puppet like it needs another washed-up Check-o-Slovakian! Peace Out biatches.
You too Propaganda Minister. I will see you on the promenade. Prince of Propaganda.
Like Another “hole in the head”, fish without a bicycle on the Santa Ana Bike trail that is! Silly Admin.