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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Democratic Party

Alderete’s fundraiser attracted many of Santa Ana’s political players

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Latino Leaders, Lou Correa, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Santa Ana Ward 3 candidate Eric Alderete’s campaign held a fundraiser tonight at Chapter One: the Modern Local, in Downtown Santa Ana.  There were at least 80 attendees including quite a few elected and appointed officials.  These included:

  • State Senator Lou Correa
  • Santa Ana Council Members Sal Tinajero, Vince Sarmiento, Michele Martinez and David Benavides (who came to the event by himself)
  • Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustees Mark McLoughlin, Larry Labrado and John Hanna
  • Santa Ana Planning Commissioners Sean Mill, Sandy Nalle, Patrick Yrarrazaval and Mario Turner Continue reading→

Zeke Hernandez to run against Reyna and Onofre in Ward 5

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Karina Onofre, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Zeke Hernandez 4 Comments

Zeke Hernandez is pictured on the right

It looks like SAUSD Trustee Roman Reyna won’t be winning easily after all, in his campaign for the Santa Ana City Council’s Ward 5.  Zeke Hernandez has pulled papers to run against Reyna and the third candidate, Karina Onofre.

Hernandez has been involved in community affairs for many years, as a member of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, SACReD and Los Amigos.  He is well known in Santa Ana and has run for office before. Continue reading→

69th A.D. candidate Tom Daly rejected by the CA Labor Federation

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Moreno, Jose Solorio, Labor, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 23 Comments

The hard hats aren’t with Tom Daly now!

The OC and CA Labor Federations held a meeting this week to meet the candidates for office here in Orange County.  As one might expect, Tom Daly, the Democratic nominee for the 69th Assembly District failed to show up but he asked for their endorsement anyway.  It turned out to be an epic fail for Daly.

Daly was completely rejected – and he should be. This two-faced hack says one thing to the Labor Federation then he goes over to the OC Taxpayers Association and says something else altogether. There is evidence, for example, that Daly has supported privatizing government jobs.  Well, the CA Labor Federation figured it out and gave him the boot.  Well, the CA Labor Federation figured it out and gave him the boot. Continue reading→

Alvarez to run against Chapel and McLoughlin for the Rancho Board’s Area 5

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Chapel, Democratic Party, Mark McLoughlin, Santa Ana 23 Comments

As I have been predicting for some time, Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez is running for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Area 5, which includes (as per the OC Political blog):

  • Fountain Valley north of Edinger Avenue
  • Garden Grove south of Garden Grove Boulevard between Harbor Boulevard and Euclid Street
  • Santa Ana north of 17th Street and west of Santiago Street
  • Santa Ana between Euclid Street and the Santa Ana River
  • Santa Ana north of Civic Center Drive between Bristol Street and Flower Street

McLoughlin and Chapel are of course toast.  Area 5’s voters break down like this – 33% are Latino, 27% are Asian and presumably the balance are white (41%.)  But Chapel and McLoughlin are going to split the white vote.  That should put Alvarez in the catbird seat. Continue reading→

UPDATE: City Council places Mayoral term limit measure on the Nov. ballot

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 30 Comments

UPDATE: A four member city council voted tonight to unanimously put to the voters a four term limit of 2 years each for the office of Mayor.

I can understand why the Santa Ana City C0uncil Members are upset at Mayor Miguel Pulido.  Let’s face it – he has been running circles around them for almost 20 years.  But he is now dealing with a Council that, for the most part, he did not elect.  He opposed Sal Tinajero and Michele Martinez when they first ran for the City Council.  He did create David Benavides, but when Vince Sarmiento was appointed to the Council, to replace Jose Solorio, he was already his own man.  Unlike Benavides, he was a polished product and a guy most people respected.  Who would have forseen two Pulido allies going down in flames – Carlos Bustamante’s own alleged misbehavior did him in, and Claudia Alvarez could not undo the term limits she helped create.  Now Pulido, like Julius Caesar, is surrounded by short swords and although we are headed into August, it might as well be the Ides of March.

Back in Pulido’s heyday, he and former City Manager Dave Ream knew how to work this bunch.  Once they got elected, they would be warmly welcomed, even if they had initially been opposed.  Commission appointments would be handed out like Halloween candies and just like that Council members would be subverted.  But Ream is gone and so is his magic bag of redevelopment – and now even the developers that lived high on the hog in our town for so long are slinking to the Council’s side.  Continue reading→

Will SAUSD Trustee John Palacio run for Santa Ana’s Ward 3?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Brett Franklin, Carlos Bustamante, Charles Hart, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Shane Ramon Barrows 9 Comments

Editor’s Note: This picture is not doctored. This is John Palacio.

I am hearing from multiple sources today that SAUSD Trustee John Palacio is inexplicably considering running for our City Council’s Ward 3.  There are already several candidates including Planning Commissioner Eric Alderete, who has the support of almost the entire City Council (Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has not endorsed anyone yet); O.C. middle manager Charles Hart, a Republican; former Santa Ana City Council Member Brett Franklin, who has Mayor Miguel Pulido’s endorsement; Park Santiago resident Shane Ramon Barrows, a cop in Irvine; former Orange School Board Member Steve Rocco, and Ana Rebecca Valencia-Verdin, a friend of current Ward 3 Councilman Carlos Bustamante, who lives in Floral Park.

Palacio was first elected to the SAUSD School Board in 1998 and re-elected in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He was appointed Board President in 1998, re-appointed in 1999 and served again in 2001.  He is involved in the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, but I am not sure in what capacity as his name does not show up on their financial reports.   Continue reading→

Tinajero running for Mayor, making Benavides an afterthought

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Labor, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 31 Comments

Popular Santa Ana Council Member Sal Tinajero pulled papers today to run for Mayor of Santa Ana.  Tinajero served on the SAUSD School Board before getting elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 2006, when he beat a candidate backed by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  Tinajero won by just under a thousand votes against Jennifer Villasenor, according to Smart Voter.

Tinajero just missed being the top vote-getter when he won a seat on the SAUSD School Board in 2004.  He was the top vote-getter when he first won a school board seat in 2000. Continue reading→

Benavides announces campaign for Mayor of Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2012
Contact: Benavides for Santa Ana Mayor,  714.475.1630, david@davidbenavides.com

Santa Ana Councilmember David Benavides announces candidacy for Mayor; thanks incumbent Mayor for over 25 years at City Hall.

Santa Ana, CA (July 30, 2012) – “Santa Ana is ready to once again be the thriving urban center and heart of Orange County. I am ready to be the Mayor with the vision and commitment to help our city realize its potential,” Benavides said. “As Mayor I will engage our residents and businesses and bring our community together around the common goals of safe neighborhoods, strong businesses, and building our city into a cultural destination – a city in which we can all take pride.” Continue reading→

Why I won’t be voting for Benavides in November

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 36 Comments

Is it any surprise to anyone that Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides chose to break the news that he is running against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido on the Republican OC Political blog?  That is exactly what I have come to expect from Benavides. 

When Benavides was first elected, back in 2006, he had a great story to offer.  He had come to Santa Ana as part of a ministry and he decided to stay here and put down roots.  But he very quickly was compromised by Santa Ana’s racist old guard – the Usual Suspects.  Mostly old and angry Republicans they brought him up through the Neighborhood Association movement – which pretends to represent the people of Santa Ana but realistically represents at most 1% of our community – and is heavily subsidized by our tax dollars.  He declared on his Smart Voter page that he was the winner of the “Neighborhood Hero Award,” the penultimate badge of honor for these metiches.  Continue reading→

Updated: Verino and Amezcua to run for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Democratic Party, Education, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sergio Verino, Valerie Amezcua 20 Comments

Valerie and Al Amezcua

UPDATE: Valerie Amezcua has pulled papers to run for the SAUSD Board of Education.  She last ran for the SAUSD School Board in 2008, when she lost by less than a hundred votes to Roman Reyna.  Reyna is running for the Santa Ana City Council in November and is walking away from the SAUSD School Board.  Amezcua had a chance to run for the SAUSD School Board in 2010, but she declined to do so. 

Amezcua is the daughter of local attorney Al Amezcua, who challenged Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido in 2010, losing badly.  Al and Valerie both served on the Measure G Campaign Committee – helping to pass a bond measure that raised our taxes for dubious purposes (the SAUSD School District remodeled their district offices after Measure G passed).  Both of the Amezcuas also supported liberal union hack candidate Julio Perez in the Open Primary, for the 69th Assembly District.  Perez spent a small fortune on that race, as did his labor allies, but he lost to a Republican, Jose Moreno, who spent almost nothing on his campaign. Continue reading→

Judge rules that Alvarez cannot run again for the Santa Ana City Council

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Courts, Democratic Party, Elections, Karina Onofre, Miguel Pulido, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 18 Comments

 

An Orange County Superior Court judge has ruled that Santa Ana City Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez may not run for a fourth council term, according to the Voice of OC.  I have also confirmed this with my own sources – Alvarez’ political career is over – or is it?  She can still run for Mayor of Santa Ana, although that is not likely as Mayor Miguel Pulido supported her attempt to run again.  And she could run for the Santa Ana Unified School District’s Board of Education, or for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education. 

The unfortunate side affect of this ruling is that it decreases the chance that an opponent to Pulido will arise.  If someone does challenge him then Alvarez will likely run for Mayor and count on a vote split putting her in office, particularly if one of her male colleagues opts to run against Pulido.  Her defeat in this lawsuit likely means Pulido will sail to an easy victory in November. Continue reading→

Steve Rocco becomes fifth candidate to announce for Ward 3

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Shane Barrows, Shane Ramon Barrows, Steve Rocco 10 Comments

It looks like Steve Rocco is back.  According to Santa Ana neighborhood leader Connie Hamilton, Rocco has pulled papers to run for Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council.  He previously ran for Ward 3 back in 2008.

Here is a rundown of the many races Rocco has been involved in over the years:

  • Nov 7, 2000 – Ran against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  Got 5,733 votes according to Smart Voter.
  • Nov. 5, 2002 – Ran against Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee John Hanna.  Got 19,247 votes according to Smart Voter.
  • Nov. 2, 2004 – Ran against Phil Martinez for the Orange Unified School District’s Board of Education.  Rocco won this race with 33,503 votes according to Smart Voter.  Red County blogger Matt Cunningham admitted afterwards that he voted for Rocco rather than vote for his Latino Democrat opponent. Continue reading→

Alvarez joins Madrid’s term limits lawsuit against the Santa Ana City Clerk

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Claudia Alvarez, Courts, Democratic Party, Elections, Max Madrid, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Term Limits 12 Comments

Courtroom video courtesy of George Collins, Santa Ana Insight TV

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has joined Santa Ana Parks and Rec Commisioner Max Madrid’s lawsuit to compel the Santa Ana City Clerk to issue nomination papers to Alvarez, as “a party to the action.”

Adding Alvarez to the lawsuit dispenses with the issue of whether or not Madrid had standing to bring the lawsuit to the court.  Now he does, end of story. Continue reading→

Sanchez hosting a free workshop on doing business abroad on Thursday

Posted on by Posted in Business, Democratic Party, Entertainment, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez is hosting a free small business workshop “Expanding your Markets: Doing Business Abroad” on Thursday, July 26, 2012, from 8:00am to 11:00am, at the Rancho Santiago Community College District, located at 2323 N. Broadway St., in Santa Ana.

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that many small businesses think they are too small to compete globally. However, 97 percent of all exporters are small businesses. As such, the federal government has various programs to help small businesses become exporters or expand current exporting business operations. Continue reading→

Legal brief by Attorney General implies that Alvarez can run again in Nov.

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, california, Claudia Alvarez, Courts, Democratic Party, Elections, Karina Onofre, Orange County, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 13 Comments

California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris, wrote a legal brief regarding local municipal term limits that should have a considerable bearing on tomorrow’s hearing regarding Santa Ana Park and Rec Commissioner Max Madrid’s lawsuit to compel the Santa Ana City Clerk to issue nomination papers to Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.

In the brief, which is dated July 17, 2012, Harris concludes that “a term served on a town council that was served prior to the effective date of a local initative term-limit ordinance may not be counted against that term limit by that ordinance.” Continue reading→