New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Vince Sarmiento

Tinajero selected unanimously as the new Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Planning, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 29 Comments

In the end, Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides realized he was outnumbered and so he sucked it up and made the motion tonight to select his colleague, Council Member Sal Tinajero, as the new Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem.

The rest of the fading Team Benavides tucked their tails twixt their legs and followed suit – one by one they all seconded the motion and finally Mayor Miguel Pulido, who was so horribly attacked by Benavides during this year’s mayoral campaign, announced that, by proclamation, the clear choice was Tinajero. And just like that the “Santa Ana Spring” was over. Continue reading→

Angelica Amezcua will pick the next Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Angelica Amezcua – or Angie Oliver, courtesy of the OC Register

Can you believe it? Newly elected Council Member Angelica Amezcua is now in a position to be the key vote that will determine who our next Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem will be. How this happened is an interesting tale.

The “Santa Ana Spring” failed miserably this November, particularly when Amezcua beat her Team Benavides opponent, Eric Alderete. She spent not a dime and he raised and spent a small fortune, for naught. Now the Benavides cabal is down to three votes – David Benavides, Michele Martinez and newly elected Roman Reyna. Continue reading→

Pulido opposes the Downtown Santa Ana PBID tax!

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Estela Amezcua, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Taxes, Vince Sarmiento 14 Comments

“Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said Monday he opposed allowing a controversial downtown property tax to continue, the mayor’s first declaration on the issue since he was given the OK by the city attorney to vote on the tax district,” according to the Voice of OC.

Even worse for the corrupt PBID crew at Downtown, Inc., Pulido is now part of a 4-2 Council majority that opposes the PBID. The only PBID supporters that I am aware of are Council Members David Benavides and his longtime pal Carlos Bustamante. Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has been a solid leader against the PBID for some time, as has been Council Member Sal Tinajero. Council Members Michele Martinez can’t vote on the PBID, as I understand it. But if they could I think that if she could she would support it. Continue reading→

Who is Santa Ana’s most powerful politician?

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, 2014 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Janet Nguyen, John Palacio, Jose Solorio, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Rob Richardson, Robert Hammond, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Public Opinion Poll Results

Who is Santa Ana’s most powerful politician? U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez certainly made her case this year by helping to elect Anaheim Council Candidate Jordan Brandman and Assembly Candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva. But Assemblyman Jose Solorio also was a key factor in the successful re-election of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and the victory of Assembly Candidate Tom Daly.

But what about Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez? Has there ever been a more powerful termed out local politician? She beat out two candidates who were incumbents, for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees. And she helped elect unknown and unfunded Santa Ana Council Candidate Angelica Amezcua, in Ward 3, while giving Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento a scare in Ward 1 with Amezcua’s sister, Estela. Continue reading→

Will the new City Council support finishing the Santiago Creek bike trail?

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Bicycles, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Health and Medical, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

How will the new Santa Ana City Council deal with the uncompleted Santiago Creek Bike Trail? The trail is complete right now – except for a “missing link” – a 1/4-mile gap located in the Santiago Creek, between the 5 Freeway underpass and Flower Street. The City of Santa Ana does not currently have a bike trail proposed in the missing link.

A grass-roots neighborhood organization, Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail, was formed to further the goal of a bike path in the “missing link” along Santiago Creek. Once the bike trail is completed, our neighborhoods will have ready access to adjoining trails. The Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail want open space and the ability to connect to these outlying bike trails, shopping centers and communities either by biking, jogging or hiking. Continue reading→

Pulido is beating Benavides by a larger margin than he beat Amezcua in 2010

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Education, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Lupe Moreno, Mark McLoughlin, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is currently leading his closes challenger, Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides, by over 12,000 votes. Pulido has 27,068 votes, or 48.2% of the ballots versus 14,982 votes, or 26.7% of the ballots for Benavides. There were four other mayoral candidates this year, including George Collins, Roy Alvarado, Lupe Moreno and Miguel Angel Briseno.

Pulido beat Alfredo “Al” Amezcua two years ago, in 2010, by just under ten thousand votes. Pulido got 21,588 votes, or 49.5% of the ballots, in 2010, versus 11,689 votes, or 26.8% of the ballots, for Amezcua, according to Smart Voter. There were three other mayoral candidates in 2010 – Alvarado, Collins and Charles Hart. Continue reading→

Pulido stands up for Vietnamese Americans and the Council backs him up

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Development, Jobs, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

As this year’s mayoral campaign drew to a close, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, in one fell swoop, was able to secure the vote of most Vietnamese Americans in his city. On Nov. 1, Pulido held a press conference on the steps of the Santa Ana City Hall, with Assemblyman Jose Solorio and Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, and dozens of Vietnamese American community leaders, to announce his support for a city resolution that would discourage visits by Vietnamese government and trade officials.

Tonight Pulido introduced his resolution and the Council majority reluctantly fell in line as it became apparent to them that there future in the Vietnamese community was on the line. At one point during the meeting the community leaders invited Pulido and the Council to come down and take a picture with a giant flag of South Vietnam, the fallen republic. Pulido and Alvarez quickly stood up and the rest of the Council had no choice but to do so as well. They each received a scarf festooned in the colors of the flag of South Vietnam. Pulido and Alvarez kept their scarves on but the rest of the Council took them off. Continue reading→

Meet new Santa Ana Council Members at tonight’s Com Link meeting

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Neighborhood Associations, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Thursday November 15, 2012, 3:55 PM
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Please Join Us Tonight at Com-Link Forum Meeting to Welcome Newly Elected City Officials

SANTA ANA, CA (November 15, 2012) – The Communication Linkage (Com-Link) Forum Meeting is scheduled for this evening, Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. and will be held at the Santa Ana Police Department Community Room – 60 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The new Santa Ana Council leader is incoming Mayor Pro Tem Tinajero

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Sal Tinajero got out of the way when his colleague, Council Member Michele Martinez, wanted to run for the 69th Assembly District. And he stepped aside when his colleague, Council Member David Benavides, wanted to run for Mayor this year.

Well, Martinez and Benavides were at the helm of the so-called “Santa Ana Spring,” even as it went into a death spiral. Most of Team Benavides lost. Now at last its Tinajero’s turn. Continue reading→

Palacio to blame for Amezcua’s loss in the SAUSD School Board race

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Editor Posted in 2012 Elections, Cecilia Aguinaga, Cecilia Iglesias, David Benavides, Education, Estela Amezcua, John Palacio, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Term Limits, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Valerie Amezcua

Regardless of whether or not you are a supporter of Valerie Amezcua, the daughter of failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, you have to feel bad for her. She almost won a seat on the SAUSD School Board four years ago, barely losing to Roman Reyna, who vacated that seat this year and is now moving on to Ward 5 on the Santa Ana City Council.

Two years ago Amezcua had a chance to run again, and to build on her success in the 2008 election. But SAUSD Trustee John Palacio, who now considers himself to be a political consultant, got in the way. He prevented her from running out of fear that she might beat him. There were only two seats up in 2010, Palacio’s and that of his fellow incumbent, Audrey Noji. Palacio ended up keeping everyone out of that race, except for me. I was sickened to see that no Latinos were challenging Noji so I ran and lost by only 1,400 votes, with no campaign budget. Palacio ended up endorsing Noji. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Clerk announces the 2012 Nov. 6 election results

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Brett Franklin, Charles Hart, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Karina Onofre, Lupe Moreno, Measure GG, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Shane Barrows, Shane Ramon Barrows, Vince Sarmiento 10 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: 2012 UNOFFICIAL LOCAL SANTA ANA ELECTION RESULTS

SANTA ANA, CA (November 7, 2012) – In an effort to keep Santa Ana residents informed about the local election, the following information is provided. As of 11/07/2012 at 8 am, the Orange County Registrar of Voters Office has released the following results. Please note that this information is UNOFFICIAL until certified on December 11, 2012. For complete election information, please go to http://www.ocvote.com/results.

Santa Ana Mayor, Vote Count Percentage: Continue reading→

Team Benavides stumbles as Pulido and Alvarez win

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Estela Amezcua, John Palacio, Karina Onofre, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 12 Comments

The Team Benavides consultant, John Palacio, lost his tug of war with Mayor Pulido

What a night. To sum it up, Mayor Miguel Pulido won easily. Over in the RSCCD Area 5 race his longtime ally, Claudia Alvarez, also won.

What about Team Benavides? Well, David Benavides got beat, badly. So did Eric Alderete, in Ward 3, by an unknown candidate, Angelica Amezcua, who barely campaigned. And while Vince Sarmiento won in Ward 1, he did so barely over another unknown candidate, Estela Amezcua. The one guy in the Benavides cabal who won with a big margin was Roman Reyna, in Ward 5. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Election results – Pulido far ahead and Amezcua winning in Ward 3!

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Bond Measures, Brett Franklin, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Chapel, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Jose Hernandez, Mark McLoughlin, Measure GG, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Shane Barrows, Shane Ramon Barrows, Steve Rocco, Thomas Gordon, Tony Tapia, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Two winners – Mayor Miguel Pulido and President Barack Obama

As expected, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is winning handily tonight. The O.C. Voter Registrar has posted the early returns, which are absentee ballots. Here are some of the evening’s highlights:

Mayor Miguel Pulido has a whopping 7,454 votes – David Benavides only has 3,676 votes. George Collins is nipping at Benavides’ heels with 2,523 votes
In a shocker, the unknown schoolteacher Angelica Amezcua is leading in Ward 3, with 6,637 votes, while Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Eric Alderete has 5,097 votes and former Council Member Brett Franklin has 4,172 votes. It is early yet but if this trend continues then Franklin has a good shot as the Latino vote in Ward 3 is clearly split. There are however three candidates splitting up the white vote – Charles Hart, Shane Barrows and Steve Rocco. Continue reading→

Who will win in Santa Ana’s elections on Tuesday?

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Bond Measures, Brett Franklin, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Jerry Hayden, Jose Solorio, Karina Onofre, Loretta Sanchez, Mark McLoughlin, Measure GG, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Orange County, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Tony Tapia, Travis Allen, Troy Edgar, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Santa Ana Mayoral challenger David Benavides wasn’t on the ballot two years ago, as he had no opponent for his City Council seat. The last time he appeared on the ballot was six years ago, back when he still mentioned his wife and family on his fliers and websites.

So it was a daunting task for Benavides to ramp up his name I.D. this year in a few short weeks, having announced his mayoral campaign rather late in the game.

As such I think he is going to be toast on Tuesday, Nov. 6. But what about the other races? Who will win? Comment here with your picks, including estimated vote percentages and whoever gets the closest will win a free banner ad on our blog for one month, for the business or non-profit of their choice.

Here are my predictions: Continue reading→

Benavides and Sarmiento are bad for labor and for business

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Business, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Labor, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 4 Comments

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Councilmen Benavides & Sarmiento Are Bad for Labor and for Business!

I wrote previously about how Council Members Benavides and Sarmiento didn’t share with the Orange County Labor leaders that they did a ton of contracting out to private companies this year, like street sweeping, parking enforcement, and emergency medical transportation – killing hundreds of union jobs. But they were given the labor endorsement by the failed political labor staff over at the OC Labor Federation, Teferi Gebre and Julio Perez, who didn’t review their anti-labor voting records. Continue reading→