New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Jose Solorio

Southwest Community Center grand opening this Saturday, March 26

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Charities, Entertainment, homeless, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Santa Ana, Working Families Leave a comment

Join the Southwest Community Center in celebrating their grand opening after a year of rebuilding the center that was burned in December of 2009.

Stop by this community barbecue after the Cesar Chavez Celebration to see the new and improved Southwest Community Center. Assemblyman Jose Solorio says he will be there too!

Saturday, March 26, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Southwest Community Center
1601 W. Second Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703

For more information contact Ms. Jessie R. Allen, with the Southwest Community Center, at (714) 547-4073.

Assemblyman Solorio invites you to the 2011 Cesar Chavez Celebration

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Santa Ana 4 Comments

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2011

For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, cell: (916) 804-5355

ASSEMBLYMAN SOLORIO INVITES PUBLIC TO CESAR CHAVEZ CELEBRATION

Wide variety of activities planned in honor of the farm worker labor leader

ANAHEIM – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio invites the community to the 11th Annual Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday and Learning Day on Saturday, March 26, 2011, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will be held at Jerome Park located at 2201 W. McFadden Avenue, Santa Ana. Assemblyman Solorio and Maria Elena Chavez, niece of Cesar Chavez, will be on hand to greet and address the crowd.

Assemblyman Solorio marched with other attendees at last year’s Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday and Learning Day. Publications: click for larger image.

“It is always a privilege and honor to work with the community to host this event,” Solorio says. “Cesar Chavez’s example of hard work and dedication to public service played a critical role in my farm worker upbringing in the Central Valley. This event is a great way to pay tribute to an esteemed leader who exemplified the importance of education and serving the community.”

A “¡Si Se Puede! – Yes We Can!” march and rally will kick off the festivities. State Senator Lou Correa and Santa Ana Councilmember Vince Sarmiento will also join Assemblyman Solorio in a special tribute honoring the members of the United Mexican American Veterans Association who have served our country with great distinction.

There are several activities planned for the entire family. Scheduled entertainment includes performances by the “Cuatlatoa” Aztec Dancers, Ballet Folklorico, and a K-9 Unit demonstration and puppet show by the Santa Ana Police Department.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and also serves on the Assembly Appropriations and Transportation committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio represents the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. To learn more about State Assemblyman Solorio and his legislative work, visit his official website. This e-mail communication was authorized and paid for by Solorio for Assembly, ID 1314073, P.O. Box 26063, Santa Ana, CA, 92799.

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Assemblyman Solorio honors Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Exec. Director of Girls Inc.

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Assemblyman Solorio Honors Advocate for Girls at Woman of the Year Ceremony

Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Executive Director for Girls Inc., receives award on Assembly floor

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s (D-Anaheim) choice for the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District’s Woman of the Year is Executive Director for Girls Inc. Orange County, Lucy Santana-Ornelas. She traveled to Sacramento today to receive the honor at a recognition ceremony held on the Assembly floor.

“Lucy has dedicated her heart, soul, time and talent to the girls and young women in our community,” says Solorio. “She exemplifies the mission of her organization, ‘inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.’”

Born in Santa Ana, Lucy Santana-Ornelas is a graduate of Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana College and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Santana-Ornelas frequently tells her story of overcoming the advice of a high school counselor who told her to not bother pursuing college. Thankfully, she didn’t listen. In 2008, she was highlighted as one of 50 distinguished Latino graduates of CSUF at the university’s 50th Anniversary.

Santana-Ornelas’s entire career and adult life have been spent in public service. She has an extensive awareness of Orange County community issues and needs and is passionate about creating opportunities for underserved youth, especially girls age 4-1/2 to 18.

“We are seeing girls experience low self-esteem and body image issues at a younger age than ever before,” Santana-Ornelas says. “Girls Inc. can help break the barriers to success for those girls by providing girl-focused programs, adult role models and exposure to the world beyond their neighborhoods.”

Santana-Ornelas is particularly proud of integrated projects that increase girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math by involving students in solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions. Last year, Girls Inc. served 4,700 girls in Orange County. In an age of shrinking social services, Girls Inc.’s budget is projected to grow from $1.7 million to $ 2.5 million.

“We are so fortunate that our funding has increased during these tough economic times. Our proven success in helping girls achieve their potential and the recognition of the growing need for our services are huge factors in our growth,” says Santana-Ornelas. The agency is scheduled to serve over 54 outreach program locations this year. Girls Inc. is funded mainly by public/private foundation grants, corporate giving and individual donations.

“This honor is the California Assembly’s way of saying thank you for your dedication,” said Solorio. “And thank you for changing the lives of thousands of Orange County’s young women.”

Solorio urges residents to file taxes online with new IRS free file service

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Federal Government, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, cell: (916) 804-5355

Free Federal Tax Preparation and Filing Online

State Assemblyman Solorio Urges Residents to Consider Filing Taxes Online With New IRS Free File Service

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) wants his constituents to know that if they qualify, federal tax preparation is available for free online.

“If you make less than $58,000 a year, Free File is available and easy,” says Assemblyman Solorio. “Taxpayers can do their federal income tax returns using commercial online software provided by the Free File Alliance companies.”

Free File is a free, federal income tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible taxpayers. It was developed through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a group of private sector tax software companies.

“I like the fact that it doesn’t take a fancy computer program, or even any downloads to use this service,” Assemblyman Solorio added. “All of the software remains on the Free File company website and returns are filed from there. And it’s safe. All Free File company sites are equipped with the latest security programs to protect privacy.”

Filing online, whether through Free File or other options, offers everyone the safest and quickest way to receive their tax refunds. By using e-file and direct deposit, taxpayers can get their refunds in as few as 10 days. Taxpayers can even opt to have their refund deposited into financial accounts or purchase a U.S. Savings Bond.

For those who owe additional tax, e-file is still the best option. People can file now and pay later, as long as the payment is received by April 15. Taxpayers can set the date for an automatic withdrawal from their financial accounts, or they can pay by credit card. People also can e-file and pay by check by simply attaching the payment to a voucher that is mailed to the IRS.

To learn more about IRS Free File, visit www.IRS.gov and click on the “Free File” icon. The website offers step-by-step help to prepare, complete and file federal income tax returns online and at no cost. Additional consumer information, including remedies for a taxpayer who uses Free File and the outcome calculates an income over the Free File threshold, is available at www.freefile.irs.gov.

Assemblyman Solorio reminds students of upcoming financial aid deadline

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Education, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: February 14, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, Cell: (916) 804-5355

ASSEMBLYMAN SOLORIO REMINDS STUDENTS OF UPCOMING FINANICAL AID DEADLINE

Key Deadline to Apply for Financial Aid and Cal Grants is March 2, 2011

ANAHEIM, CA – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) is reminding students about an important upcoming deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“With tuition and related fees on the rise, many students and their families find college to be very expensive,” Solorio says. “However, there are many programs available to help families obtain the support they need, and they all require an accurate FAFSA application. The deadline to file a FAFSA application is March 2, so I am encouraging students to start working on it now.”

The FAFSA is the form the U.S. Department of Education requires to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA application is used to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and the State’s Cal Grant Program.

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not need to be repaid. The amount a student receives is dependent on financial need, the cost to attend school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

Students may also be eligible to receive a Cal Grant from the State. Like a Federal Pell Grant, a Cal Grant does not need to be repaid. With a Cal Grant, a student can receive up to $11,124 a year to pay for college expenses at any qualifying California college, university, career or technical school. For more information on Cal Grants, visit www.calgrants.org.

Information on FAFSA can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The deadline to apply for financial aid, including the Cal Grant, is March 2, 2011.

Affordable education is one of Assemblyman Solorio’s top priorities in the Legislature. He supports efforts to extend educational and college opportunities to everyone, and works to ensure that financial aid for students is protected.

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Solorio applauds Senate Leader’s call for simplifying state regulations

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Democratic Party, Innovation, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, Cell: (916) 804-5355

Assemblyman Solorio Applauds Senate Leader Steinberg’s Call for Simplifying State Regulations
Assemblyman Will Author Bills Targeting Outdated Regulations in the Insurance Industry

SACRAMENTO, CA – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) applauded State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg’s call for government agencies to search for outdated or duplicative regulations that can be eliminated without sacrificing important labor and environmental standards.

“I agree with the Senate pro Tem’s idea,” says Solorio. “We know there are regulations on the books that are duplicative, archaic or inconsistent with current law and may have hindered job creation. I know we can do a better job of streamlining regulations to make California function more effectively and be more business friendly. It should not take a business years to meet regulatory approval before it can begin construction, open its doors and hire employees.”

Assemblyman Solorio, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Insurance, is authoring a few bills this session that will address regulatory burdens within the insurance industry. One is a bill, supported by both business and labor advocates, to streamline the “notices” provided to injured workers, as the current system is expensive to employers, and confusing to employees. He will also work to repeal outdated regulations in the low-cost automobile insurance program.

“These measures I will be introducing are examples of regulations that are outdated and burdensome to workers, consumers and employers. I look forward to partnering with Senate pro Tem Steinberg to simplify old and duplicative regulations that exist throughout the state’s bureaucracy,” Solorio says.

It is a perception among business leaders, throughout the United States and in California, that the state’s regulatory environment is burdensome and may be stifling economic growth, particularly for small businesses. Federal data indicates that the amount of time businesses and individuals must spend filing taxes, applying for permits and submitting reports has increased by more than 30 percent in the past decade. Also, a Small Business Administration report last year found that federal regulations cost companies with 20 or fewer workers $10,600 per employee.

“A simple clause added to a regulation can have the unintended consequence of causing ambiguity or duplication and should be reviewed,” Solorio added. “But with that in mind, we must take care to keep the rules that do have purpose. We need to be precise about this.”

President Barack Obama has also issued an executive order for regulatory review at the federal level.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and also serves on the Assembly Appropriations and Transportation committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana.
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To learn more about State Assemblyman Solorio and his legislative work, please visit his official legislative website at www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.

Will Sanchez need security when meeting the public, after Tucson shooting?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Jose Solorio, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Will Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez change the way she meets with residents in the wake of the horrific rampage in Tucson that left six people dead and terribly wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford?

Sanchez has always been good about meeting with her constituents. She has often set up shop in front of local supermarkets, which is what Gifford was doing when the shooting in Tucson occurred. Sanchez also attends many local events and marches in both the Tet Parade, in Little Saigon, and the Fiestas Patrias Parade, in Downtown Santa Ana. Can she still do that, safely?

Are any of our local politicians safe at these parades?

And it isn’t just Sanchez we have to worry about. What about her constituents? The folks killed in Tucson included a Judge, and all were there just to see Gifford. The dead includes a little nine year old girl.

Can Sanchez still engage in business as usual? And what about Assemblyman Jose Solorio and State Senator Lou Correa? Will they also need armed guards while they go out and meet their constituents?

Solorio likes to meet folks at coffee shops. Correa is just everywhere! He even took part in covering up graffiti last year in Stanton.

Can any of these legislators still do what they do, without at least doing something to enhance security when they are out in public?

Will the Tucson shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, inspire other disturbed people to do the same?

I remember a post written by a former local blogger a few years ago, when he visited Sanchez at a Stater Brothers. According to the blogger, a bunch of unhinged backers of Lyndon Larouche showed up to complain about maglev trains. He wrote that they were chanting and making a huge commotion. Would that bunch get away with that today? Or would they be viewed as a security risk and get tasered and dragged off in chains?

Poll: would you support Brandman or Sarmiento to replace Assemblyman Solorio?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 10 Comments

[poll id=”4″]

It looks like there is going to be quite a battle for Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s seat in the 69th Assembly District, in 2012. Rumor has it that Jordan Brandman, a Trustee at the Anaheim Union High School District, is going to run for the seat. If so, he will likely face off against attorney Vincent Sarmiento, who replaced Solorio on the Santa Ana City Council a few years ago.

Brandman has steadily drifted to the Republican Party since he first got involved in politics. He says he got involved in politics after taking a political science class at UCI, taught by recently termed out Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, who once was the Republican Leader in the State Assembly.

Here are a few of Brandman’s gaffes over the years:

I ran into him at the O.C. Labor Day event at the Santa Ana Zoo in 2009. I walked up and asked if I could take his picture. Sure, he said, but first he said he needed to take off his health care reform sticker. As you can see in the picture above, that is precisely what he did.
Conservative Republican Chris Norby decided to run for O.C. Clerk-Recorder, in the Spring of 2009, and before he backed out of that race Brandman endorsed him, over moderate Republican Hugh Nguyen, who lives in Santa Ana. Click here to read about that small fiasco.
This year, Brandman endorsed yet another Republican, John Leos, for the City Council, over two Democrats who were endorsed by their party – John Santoianni, who has been a leader in Orange County’s gay community; and businessman Bill Dalati. Click here to read about the Leos endorsement. It was all for naught as Leos lost.
In 2009, Brandman, voted to reject a $50,000 donation from Anaheim’s After School Fund, even though he served on their board of directors! Click here to read about that.
Brandman appeared at a candidates forum on Sep. 29, that was run by the League of Women voters. He was asked “Do you support State legislation that requires school textbooks to include history and contributions that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons have specifically made towards California’s development?” Brandman turned bright red when he heard the question. Then he said ”this is a non-issue, there is no place for gay rights in our textbooks and schools”. Click here to hear the audio recording of Brandman’s comments.
And to cap all of these fiascos, this year Brandman was endorsed by a slew of Republicans who were big supporters of Prop. 8 – the measure that banned gay marriage. Click here to see that list of GOP haters.

According to his Facebook page, Brandman is the Director of External Affairs for Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly, who also supported Leos. Daly also opposed the Gigante Supermarket that opened in Anaheim a few years ago and he had a reputation for cracking down on the poor people that live in Anaheim’s seedier hotels.

Brandman appears to be single and there is no mention of any girlfriends on his Facebook page. He has no children.

So what about Sarmiento? Here are a few excerpts from his bio:

Sarmiento’s family has lived in and around Santa Ana since 1965. He attended John Muir Elementary, Sierra Elementary, and Willard Intermediate Schools, back when the landscape was still dominated by orange groves.

Sarmiento is socially progressive but he is a moderate on business and fiscal matters. He has worked hard to attract new business to Santa Ana and to help develop jobs.

Sarmiento serves on several boards and committees. He is a member of the Santa Ana YMCA Board, which is constructing a brand new center on the south part of the City. He also serves on the Annual Cesar Chavez Event Committee that commemorates Cesar Chavez Day every March 31st. In addition, Councilmember Sarmiento is the City’s representative to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Central Corridor Advisory Committee to evaluate transportation options within the Central Orange County region, which includes Santa Ana. As a business advocate he continues to work closely with the Santa Ana Merchants Association to promote the needs of small businesses along Main Street.

Sarmiento previously served on the Community Redevelopment and Housing Commission and has previous experience on both the Historic Resources and Human Relations Commissions. Vincent is also a member of the Hispanic Bar Association and is a Board Member of the Grain Project.

Sarmiento earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UC Berkeley and a law degree from UCLA. He is a strong advocate of education and sees a great opportunity to cultivate a desire in our youth to succeed. Prior to owning his own law firm, Sarmiento was an associate attorney at an Irvine based law firm and clerked for the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the Office of the District Attorney in Riverside. Vincent was also a Legislative Fellow for the California Assembly, serving the Assembly Human Resources Committee. He also just completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Certificate Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Sarmiento and his wife, Eva, operate a home office together in the 1920’s home they purchased several years ago and rehabilitated. The home is now considered a historical property with landmark status.

Los Amigos of Anaheim to attack the Santa Ana City Council on Wed., Jan. 5

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Anaheim, Elections, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 15 Comments

Los Amigos?

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido easily defeated Alfredo Amezcua, back in November. But, for whatever reason, Amezcua’s supporters are still grousing about this – even though everyone else has moved on. This Wednesday, Jan. 5, a group of them are holding a press conference – in Anaheim, at a German restaurant, to complain some more.

Los Amigos of Orange County (which is based in Anaheim) used to be about civil rights and fighting racism. Now they are attacking their fellow Latinos. And what exactly is their beef, you ask? Well, here is what they intend to talk about at the press conference:

They are upset because former City Attorney Joe Fletcher, who resigned recently, is leaving with a huge severance package. Well, Los Amigos is a bit late to this one. The contract with Fletcher was negotiated with the Santa Ana City Council – way back in 2002. Who was on the Council back then? Lisa Bist, Brett Franklin, Alberta Christy, Mike Garcia, Jose Solorio and Claudia Alvarez. Only Alvarez remains today. Maybe Los Amigos can go to Solorio’s Assembly office, which is in Anaheim, and complain about the severance deal he likely voted for?
They are falsely accusing SAPD Chief Paul Walters of breaking the law. What did Walters do? He recorded a robo-call in support of Pulido, during last year’s campaign. That is not illegal. Apparently Los Amigos have an issue with free speech. What, by the way, did Los Amigos do last year to help Latinos get elected to the Anaheim City Council? Nothing. They did absolutely nothing and no Latino candidates won in Anaheim.
The Los Amigos complainers are also upset that Mayor Pulido was going to get a finder’s fee for negotiating the sale of a number of state buildings. Guess what? That was not illegal. Ill-advised? Perhaps – but not illegal. And a Judge overturned the deal, killing the sale. Just this week, Gov. Schwarzenegger re-appointed termed-out Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle to the State’s high speed rail commission. A court earlier established that Pringle had a major conflict of interest in serving on that commission. Did Los Amigos complain about that? No. They let that one slide. There was no press conference…
And lastly, the Los Amigos posse wants to hang the entire Santa Ana City Council because a few of the Council Members accidentally accepted donations from a developer that had business with the city. Guess what? Fletcher approved this! Why do you think he was suddenly retired? He blew it, not the Council!

The real laugher about this press conference is that these guys are making a huge stink two years before the next Santa Ana mayoral election. Will anyone remember any of this two years from now? Of course not! What a giant waste of everyone’s time.

Here is an issue I would like to see Los Amigos look into. Why did Amezcua register to vote at his law office, instead of at his house in the Morrison Park Neighborhood, when he ran for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education? And why, halfway through his term, did he resign that seat? Did he get caught? Why was he not prosecuted for this fraud?

Amezcua worked to recall former SAUSD Trustee Nativo Lopez, who last year was charged with registering to vote at his office in Los Angeles, when he lived here in Orange County. Wow, that is exactly what it appears that Amezcua did! Why did Amezcua get away with it while Lopez is still trying to stay out of jail?

According to Anaheim community activist Duane Roberts, this is not the first time the Los Amigos have looked the other way for a carpetbagger. He told me he personally outed one of them a few years ago, when that guy ran for a school board in Anaheim even though he lived in a mansion in coastal Orange County. Los Amigos didn’t object to that guy’s carpetbagging either – in fact they tried to cover up for him!

I know the Los Amigos members. Many of them are good guys. I am sad that this is the best way they can spend their time – attacking fellow Latinos in Santa Ana. It is ironic that many of the Los Amigos don’t even live in Santa Ana! Their Chairman, Amin David, lives in Anaheim. And they guy they list as being the head of the so-called “Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government,” Dr. Arturo Lomeli, lives in the wealthy Orange Park Acres!

Here is their press release:

PRESS CONFERENCE

WHEN: Wednesday, January 5, 2010
9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Jagerhaus Restaurant, 2525 E. Ball Road,
Anaheim, CA 92806 (Located near the 57 Freeway at Ball Road)

WHY: Orange County Latino organizations ask the Orange County Grand Jury to investigate abuses by top Santa Ana officials, including Mayor Miguel Pulido

WHO: Amin David, Los Amigos of Orange County,

714-758-8090; Dr. Alfonso Alvarez, Rudy Escalante Chapter of American GI Form of the US, 714-605-2544; Zeke Hernandez, LULAC Santa Ana, 714-661-4428; Nelli Kaniski, MANA de Orange County; Francisco Barragan, United Mexican-American Veterans Association and Dr. Arturo Lomeli, Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government.

Poll: Who was Santa Ana’s Man of the Year in 2010?

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, David Benavides, Elections, Jose Solorio, Latino Leaders, Lou Correa, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 34 Comments

UPDATE: Voting will close on Friday, Jan. 7, at 10 am

This poll is now closed. Find out who won at this link.

Who was Santa Ana’s Man of the Year in 2010?

That is a simple enough question, but coming up with an answer isn’t easy. As such, you may vote for up to three nominees in the poll above.

Let me know if I need to add anyone to the poll.

My personal choice is Mayor Miguel Pulido. He was attacked on all sides and his main opponent, Alfredo Amezcua, spent over a quarter million, from what I am told. Most of that money was spent on negative mailers. Yet Pulido won, and he won handily. Now the ball is in his court and he has two years to show the voters what he can do, as he has been doing for so many years.

Amezcua certainly belongs on the list. He resuscitated his political career and put himself on the map, even though he lost.

Charles Hart also ran for Mayor, and while many of his early supporters jumped on Amezcua’s ship late in the game, Hart acquitted himself well, particularly in the debates.

But not all of the nominees are politicians. Francisco Barragan spent the summer doing what he has been doing for several years, volunteering for a number of charitable and community organizations. He also wrote quite a few posts for us.

And Jeff Dickman stayed active even when he was dismissed from the City of Santa Ana’s Historical Resources Commission. He led a lawsuit against the city, stopping the Transit District development, which included affordable housing.

What about Sammy Montoya? His restaurant, La Chiquita, celebrated its 60th anniversary this year. Amazing! And he also continued to book events at the Green Parrot, while growing his catering business and starting a new high-tech venture. He is quite a whirlwind! He was even honored by Mayor Pulido and the Santa Ana City Council this year.

I also included Councilman David Benavides in the poll. He won reelection easily, as he faced no opponent in November, but he got in hot water with the rest of the City Council over his support for Minuteman Lupe Moreno, who ran a 4th of July event that backfired when one of her fellow Minutemen called a Santa Ana resident a “wetback,” and the incident got caught on video by activist Naui Huitzilopochtli, who is also in our poll. But Benavides persevered and today he has four more years to spend on our City Council.

Councilman Sal Tinajero also deserved to be on the list. He did a great job with his public school debate team this year, helping a lot of disadvantaged kids to succeed. Many of his students have gone on to do great in college because of his efforts. And he, like Benavides, was reelected easily – but Tinajero beat two candidates who ran against him.

I also added Hugh Nguyen to the poll. He ran, in June, for O.C. Clerk-Recorder and he helped his uncle to open the new Lee’s Sandwiches in Santa Ana last year. They just celebrated their first anniversary a few weeks ago.

Again, let me know if I overlooked anyone. And thanks for voting! We will be following up this article with another one asking who was Santa Ana’s Woman of the Year in 2010.

A lot has changed in the last decade, in Santa Ana politics

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

We started a new decade this year – and a lot of political change came to Santa Ana in the previous ten years. We now have an all-Latino City Council. Candidates with names like Franklin, Bist and Christy are no longer electable in Santa Ana. But they were at the start of this decade. Let’s take a look at what happened in Santa Ana politics, starting in 2000.

In 2000, Brett Franklin got 20,370 votes as he won reelection to Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council with 43.7% of the vote. That would be his final term on the Santa Ana City Council. That same year, Claudia Alvarez defeated Nancy Lutz, in Ward 5, by just over four thousand votes. This would be Alvarez’ first term on the Santa Ana City Council.

In 2008, Alvarez backed the successful Measure D, which extended City Council term limits to three terms. She will term out in 2012. It is likely that SAUSD Trustee Roman Reyna will take her seat. By then, Alvarez might be appointed to a judicial bench, or she could end up running for the SAUSD School board, essentially trading places with Reyna.

Franklin termed out in 2004, and he ran that year for Area 1, on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education. He came in last place, with less than 18% of the vote. He got less votes than some unknown guy named Reuben Ross. Alfredo Amezcua won a seat on that board that year, with over 54,000 votes. He later had to resign from that seat, allegedly because he did not live in Area 1.

In 2002, Lisa Bist won reelection to Ward 2, handily, with over 65% of the vote. Alberta Christy won in Ward 4, and Mike Garcia won with over 42% of the vote, in a very crowded field, in Ward 6.

That same year, John Palacio and Audrey Yamagata-Noji won reelection to the SAUSD School Board. But Lupe Moreno, a known Minuteman, barely lost to Yamagata-Noji by about 500 votes. Moreno got more votes than Nadia Maria Davis, who lost but later married Bill Lockyer. Davis won a County Supervisorial race this year, in Alameda. Palacio and Yamagata-Noji were reelected again this November. Some things never change!

In 2004, Jose Solorio easily won reelection to Ward 1 on the Santa Ana City Council. He did not finish the term. Two years later he ran for the 69th State Assembly District, which had been held by Lou Correa. Solorio thoroughly beat an underfunded student Republican, Ryan Gene Williams, who later changed his name to Ryan Trabuco.

Another newcomer won a seat on the Santa Ana City Council in 2006. David Benavides won that year against Nelida Yanez, in Ward 4. Benavides replaced Christy, who termed out. He won reelection this year with no problem as he ran unchallenged.

In 2006, council outsiders Sal Tinajero and Michele Martinez also won, in tight races that saw them defeat better-funded insiders. Two years later, Martinez challenged Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. She lost but then joined Pulido’s team. She is now an integral part of the City Council majority, as is Tinajero.

Neighborhood activist Thomas Gordon entered the local political scene in 2006 as well. He ran, unsuccessfully, against Pulido, for Mayor of Santa Ana. He did win a seat on the OC GOP Central Committee in 2008, and he was reelected to that seat this year. He was supposed to run this year for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council, but he did not collect enough nomination signatures. That is too bad as he would have made the race more interesting.

The last decade also saw the rise of Latino Democrats in our local legislative seats. Correa served in the 69th Assembly District from 1998-2004. He then won a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where he served from 2004-2006. He left the Board of Supervisors to run for the 34th State Senate District, which was vacated by Joe Dunn, who termed out.

Dunn served in the 34th State Senate District from 1998 to 2006. He went on to serve as the head of the California Medical Association. Last year he started the Voice of OC, a watchdog news blog. He still serves on their Board of Directors. He also started a law firm, in Sacramento, that also engages in lobbying. While he is mostly in the shadows today, he remains very influential in Orange County politics.

Correa was not the first Latino to win a legislative seat in Orange County. He was predated by Loretta Sanchez, who abandoned her married name, Brixey, after losing a race for an Anaheim City Council seat in 1994. Two years later she defeated Bob Dornan in the 46th Congressional District. She now serves in the 47th Congressional District.

Speaking of firsts, Janet Nguyen moved from the Garden Grove City Council to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, after Correa won in the 34th State Senate District. She is now the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and she just had her first baby. Her main competitor in the local Vietnamese Community, Van Tran, lost this year against Sanchez. He also termed out of the 68th Assembly District, where he was replaced by Allan Mansoor, the former Mayor of Costa Mesa.

Nguyen will likely redistrict her seat this year, moving to make it more Republican. She may end up running against one or more Santa Ana City Council Members. That will be most interesting!

One of the Santa Ana City Council Members, Vince Sarmiento, is likely to run for the 69th State Assembly District, where Solorio is terming out. Solorio is likely to have to wait two years for Correa to term out of the 34th Senate District.

The one constant in the past ten years has been Pulido, who easily won reelection as Santa Ana Mayor this year. That means he will start yet another decade in office. He wisely moved to the left last year, leaving his closest competitor, Alfredo Amezcua, in the dust. Pulido will leave office when he wants to.

What will the next decade bring? I suspect that we will see the first Vietnamese American elected to the Santa Ana City Council, perhaps as soon as 2012.

If Dianne Feinstein retires from the U.S. Senate in 2012, Sanchez will likely run for her seat. If Sanchez moves on, Correa will surely run for her seat. He will likely face Tran, or maybe even Nguyen? The congressional seat will be hotly contested to be sure.

I also believe that the last Republican on the Santa Ana City Council, Carlos Bustamante, is a marked man. He openly campaigned for Tran this year, against Sanchez. The local Democrats won’t take that lying down. He is surely toast. His seat comes open in 2012.

In 2012, SAUSD Trustee Rob Richardson will have to run for reelection. He won a seat on the SAUSD School Board in 2003, after Nativo Lopez was recalled that year. Will Richardson finally lose in 2012? It isn’t likely, but then again, it is a new decade. Who knows what is in store for Santa Ana in this decade?

Solorio fights to save the OC Fair, but does it really matter?

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, irvine, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana 3 Comments

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio issued a statement today regarding the filing of a lawsuit “asking for an injunction to stop the current sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds.”

The suit was filed on behalf of State Senator Lou Correa, State Assemblyman Jose Solorio, former Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley and the Orange County Fair Preservation Society (OCFPS).

Solorio listed a few reasons to oppose the sale of the O.C. Fairgrounds, as follows:

Why was there no appraisal done to learn the fair market value of the property?
Why weren’t the requirements of the original legislation and the Department of General Services (DGS) own bid documents followed?
How do we know the bid process was fair when the terms of the deal favor one bidder above all others? This whole bid process has been flawed.

According to Solorio, the Orange County Fairgrounds generates $180 million annually in economic activity, including hundreds of jobs.

What sort of jobs is he talking about? Janitorial? Carnies? Ticket booth operators? These don’t seem like very good jobs, and they are temporary at that.

I have been to the Fair a few times over the past few years. My kids find the animals boring and just want to ride on the overpriced, rickety carnival rides. The food is totally unhealthy and disgusting and way overpriced. The carnies all look like meth addicts!

We already have two zoos in Orange County – the Santa Ana Zoo and the Irvine Zoo. Both feature farm animals. Do we really need the OC Fair? Really?

Let’s face it – Orange County is no longer even remotely an agricultural county. We just aren’t. Most of our farms were paved over years ago. Kids today don’t know one end of a cow from the other, and they could care less.

The O.C. Great Park, in Irvine, does have a farm, that they use for educational purposes. Why not move the O.C. Fair there? It makes sense. They have the room to accommodate the Fair.

The land the Fair sits on, in Costa Mesa, is prime real estate. Why not sell it and use that money to pay down California’s debt?

And why is Solorio spending so much time on this? Is the Fair even in his Assembly District? I don’t think so. Odd.

Will Jose Solorio run for the Santa Ana City Council again in 2012?

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Assemblyman Jose Solorio won reelection easily in November, as he always has. But he is going to term out of his seat in the 69th Assembly District in 2012. It will finally be time for him to move on to something else.

I thought for some time that Solorio would run against Supervisor Janet Nguyen in 2012. I am beginning to have my doubts about that. The O.C. Board of Supervisors is going to redistrict before the 2012 elections. Nguyen will find a way to move Latinos out of her district and replace them with more Vietnamese voters.

Solorio has never had to run against a determined, well-funded opponent. His Republican challengers have all been cupcakes. Nguyen won’t be a pushover. And she will make sure that she changes her district to give her an innate advantage over Solorio.

That is why I have now come to believe that Solorio will punt. He will instead either resort to lobbying or government relations work, go to a non-profit, or, most likely, find another way to spend his time as he waits for State Senator Lou Correa to term out, in 2014. Solorio will then run for Correa’s seat.

Solorio does have another option. He could run for his old seat on the Santa Ana City Council. It is highly likely that his replacement on the City Council, Vince Sarmiento, will run for Solorio’s Assembly seat. So what they will do is trade places. Solorio has been gone from the City Council for years. He will be able to run for three more consecutive terms, if he wants to.

I suspect that is exactly what Solorio will do. He will then get a good-paying job at a public agency. Remember that he used to work at the OCTA. He will land on his feet.

This may actually work out well for the City Council majority. Solorio will work well with Council Members Sal Tinajero, Michele Martinez and Mayor Miguel Pulido. Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez will term out in 2012 and she could easily run for the SAUSD School Board – and win.

As for Nguyen, she will still face challengers, but most likely they will come from the right, not the left.

Jose Solorio invites you to his Holiday Open House, on Dec. 9

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Arts and Culture, Democratic Party, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: December 7, 2010
For More Information Contact: Nadia Villafana – Office: (714) 939–8469

Public Invited to Assemblyman Solorio’s 4th Annual Holiday Open House

Come Meet Assemblyman Solorio and His Staff, Contend for Raffle Prizes

SANTA ANA – On Thursday, December 9, State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D–Anaheim) is welcoming residents and community leaders to his annual holiday open house. Those who stop by to celebrate with the Assemblyman this year are encouraged to bring nonperishable food for local charities. Those that do will be eliglible for raffle prizes. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided, and holiday spirit will be plentiful.

“This is an opportunity to enjoy some holiday cheer and to discuss issues on the minds of my constituents,” says Assemblyman Solorio. “I’m looking forward to mingling with my constituents and hearing their ideas.”

At last year’s holiday party, Santa and Linn Lee (Mrs. Solorio) drew the winners of the raffle drawing.

This year, Assemblyman Solorio’s annual event will take place at his Assembly District Office, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Suite 640, in Anaheim (just west of the Katella exit off the 57 freeway). The open house begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and serves on the Assembly Appropriations, Local Government and Transportation committees. He represents the Sixty–Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.
________________________________________

Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 • Sacramento, CA 94249–0069
Phone: (916) 319–2069 • Fax:(916) 319–2169
District Office: 2400 East Katella Avenue, Suite 640 • Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: (714) 939–8469 • Fax:(714) 939–8986
E-Mail:Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site:www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio

It is highly unlikely that Lou Correa will run against Janet Nguyen in 2012

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Matt Cunningham, a Republican blogger at the Red County blog, thinks that State Senator Lou Correa, who just won reelection, is going to run against Supervisor Janet Nguyen in 2012. Here are a few excerpts from Cunningham’s post:

In 2012, Correa will be in the middle of his final term not only in the state Senate, but in the state legislature. If he has aspiration to remain in public office rather than seek his fortune in the private sector, his options are limited once he is termed out in 2014.

Challenging Sup. Janet Nguyen has several advantages, which I am sure have already occurred to Sen. Correa and his advisors as they ponder his future options:

It’s a free ride: if he fails to unseat Nguyen, he still has two years left in the state Senate.

Since Correa served less than two full years of his original term on the Board of Supervisors before becoming a Senator, he is eligible for two full, consecutive terms on the Board. Two more years as a state Senator versus eight as a county supervisor: in an age when county offices have become landing pads for termed-out legislators, that’s a pretty good trade.

I think Cunningham is very wrong, for a number of reasons:

When Correa first quit the O.C. Board of Supervisors, he angered organized labor. They were particularly tweaked to see his seat end up in Republican hands.
However – the OCEA (Orange County Employees Association) ended up befriending Janet Nguyen, who took Correa’s seat. Does Cunningham really think they will turn on her now? No they won’t.
Plus Correa really did not like being the only Democrat on the Republican dominated OC Board of Supervisors. Why would he go back to that arrangement?
Correa has a few years to figure out what to do before he terms out of the State Senate. Even Cunningham acknowledged that U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein could retire and Sanchez could run for her seat, opening up the 47th Congressional District for Correa.
Correa lives in Santa Ana, as far as I know. I believe he lives in Carlos Bustamante’s ward, which is opening up in 2012 and in 2016. Correa could finish his term on the State Senate and run for the Santa Ana City Council, or for Mayor of Santa Ana, if Mayor Miguel Pulido has moved on by then.
Correa could also, at the end of his term, run for a statewide office. As a moderate Democrat he would do well in the open primary.
Correa could also opt to leave politics and work in the private sector. He could make some real money as a lobbyist or government consultant.

I think that Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the one who is going to challenge Nguyen in 2012. Even if she redistricts her seat, I think he has a great shot at beating her. She has lost a lot of support even in her own community, in the wake of her disastrous attempt to take over the Little Saigon Black April event this year.