Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Democratic Party

Why not name the O.C. Great Park after Harvey Milk?

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, irvine, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Will Irvine Mayor Beth Krom support naming the O.C. Great Park after Harvey Milk?

While everyone has been focusing on the ruckus between Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez and the Chase family, at last night’s special session of the Santa Ana City Council, there was one other controversial item on the agenda.

The Council named a city-owned plaza that is in the East End Promenade, formerly the Fiesta Marketplace.  They chose to name it the Plaza Santa Ana.

An Irvine blogger ripped this decision and he questioned why the City Council did not name the Plaza after Harvey Milk, the gay San Francisco politician who was murdered by another Supervisor.  Milk has since become an icon of the gay movement. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez invites the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam to join human rights panel

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 18, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

SANCHEZ EXTENDS INVITATION TO U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM DAVID SHEAR TO JOIN VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today extended an invitation to the newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear to join her in Orange County for a Vietnam Human Rights Panel with the Vietnamese American Community of Orange County. Rep. Sanchez is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and her district is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Vietnamese communities outside of Vietnam. Continue reading→

Solorio responds to mounting criticism of his anti-employer bill, AB 350

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Business, california, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s Communication Director, Carol Chamberlain, contacted me today with news that Solorio had in fact responded to mounting criticism of his proposed bill, AB 350, in a letter sent to the Sacramento Bee.  I am reprinting that letter below.

AB 350 Provides Fairness for Low Wage Workers

By: State Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Anaheim

The Bee editorial, Union Bill would tie hands of employers, misses the mark, includes factual errors and is biased. Anyone knowledgeable of AB 350 and who read this opinion would recognize the voice of the highly financed, anti-union alliance feeding inaccuracies to a welcoming Bee editorial board and other newspaper boards throughout the state. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: Will Brandman be the next O.C. Clerk-Recorder?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Jordan Brandman went to work for Tom Daly, the O.C. Clerk-Recorder, in January of this year, as his “Director of External Affairs.”  Yes, that sort of government job usually comes with a six figure salary.  Brandman was hired despite an Orange County hiring freeze, according to the Friends for Fullerton’s Future blog.

Daly is now thought to be running for the 69th Assembly District.  Does that mean Brandman, who is on the Anaheim Union High School District’s Board of Education, will be running to replace Daly, should Daly end up getting sent to Sacramento by the voters?

Never mind the fact that Brandman is not a Clerk-Recorder and he really has no experience at this sort of work, there are plenty of other reasons to oppose him. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: Tom Daly to run for the 69th A.D.

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 13 Comments

The chisme has it that Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly is going to run for the 69th Assembly District, a seat currently held by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who if memory serves correct employs Daly’s wife.

Daly is the former Mayor of Anaheim.  I am told that “business interests” want him to run as they don’t like OC Labor Political Director Julio Perez, who like Daly hails from Anaheim.

Where does that leave Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez?  She announced she was running this week. Continue reading→

Perez should drop out now that Martinez is running for the 69th A.D.

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, california, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez made an interesting announcement this morning on her Facebook page, “Good Morning! I wanted to share some great news with all of you. In the next week or so I will officially declare my candidacy for the 69 Assembly District. Michele Martinez.”

I have been tracking this story for weeks.  For awhile it looked like Councilman Vince Sarmiento was going to run but his wife put the kibosh on that.  Then it looked like Councilman Sal Tinajero was going to run – but now it is Martinez who is going to run for Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s 69th Assembly District, when he terms out in 2012. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez’ statement regarding the U.S. Congressional debt deal

Posted on by Posted in Credit, Democratic Party, Economy, Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Politics Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON DEBT DEAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) released the following statement regarding her vote tonight in favor of the debt deal.

“It is with the well-being of Californians in mind that I have cast this vote in favor of an increase in the debt ceiling,” said Sanchez. “If we do not increase the debt limit, our economic recovery and our future prosperity will be seriously jeopardized. Continue reading→

Santa Ana continues to dominate redistricted 69th Assembly District

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana will continue to dominate the 69th Assembly District, in the latest redistricting proposal that is now headed for public comment.  The new district map includes all of Santa Ana, for the most part, and just a piece of Anaheim.

The Democrats ought to be able to hang on to this seat easily – and odds are that a Santa Ana Council Member will be following the incumbent, Jose Solorio, to Sacramento. Continue reading→

Little Saigon gets redistricted into two congressional districts

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Garden Grove, Janet Nguyen, Little Saigon, Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 8 Comments

The last round of redistricting deliberations has split Little Saigon into two Congressional districts – and then splits the Viet vote even further by putting Fountain Valley into a third district.

This is good news for the incumbent in the 47th Congressional District, Loretta Sanchez, who now will barely have much of Little Saigon in her district.

Most of Little Saigon is now going to be dumped into a district dominated by Long Beach which means that district would likely elect a Democrat. Continue reading→

Will Silva and Solorio face off in the redistricted 34th State Senate District?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, 2014 Elections, california, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The final proposed redistricting of the 34th State Senate District is now headed for the public comment phase, but I doubt it is going to change much.  The new district has changed in shocking fashion. No longer does it stretch all the way up to Fullerton.  Instead it has grown westward and now includes a chunk of the coast, including Seal Beach and part of Huntington Beach.

The new district has a slight Democratic voter edge, according to the O.C. Register.  And it appears to include all of Little Saigon, including other communities with large Vietnamese communities in Fountain Valley and southwest Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Three Democratic events in the O.C. this Wednesday, July 27

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Entertainment, Fountain Valley, irvine, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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If you are a Democrat, there is a lot going on this Wednesday, July 17, here in Orange County, including:

  • Wednesday, July 27, 6-8:30pm, Fountain Valley: Democratic Club of West Orange County Outdoor Dinner and Green Fair starting at 6 PM with dinner at 6:30 PM. at 17250 Los Jardines West, Fountain Valley. Visit dcwoc.org for maps and contact westocdems@yahoo.com for more information.  We are working to make sure this event supports local businesses and farmers, having organic (or homemade) foods and drinks, that are in regular cookware or at least, in sustainable containers. No paper plates or plastic forks here, we’ll have real plates and flatware! Thanks to the food vendors we’ll be using, such as Whole Foods with their sustainably farmed salmon, Z-Pizza Vegetarian Pizza, fresh tomatoes from local farmers, and luscious apple tarts from Laetitia’s Bakery. Thanks also to the board members for some homemade items, too. For reservations (for us to order food), the minimum donation is $15 per person. Cost is $20 after July 20. Continue reading→

Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America to meet in Santa Ana on July 26

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Entertainment, Politics, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America is meeting on Tuesday, July 26, at 7pm, in Santa Ana, at the Marie Callenders located at 1821 N. Grand.

Come join the Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America for the documentary, “Cancer is Curable Now,” Also join in the lively discussion about the budget and how to make our government more responsive to the people.

Why didn’t Supervisor Nguyen submit a redistricting plan proposal?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Latinos, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 1 Comment

The Voice of OC blog reported this week that “Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s hopes of changing draft maps of proposed new supervisorial districts were blocked Friday by aides of her colleagues, who voted to stick with existing proposals.”

But then the Voice of OC also stated that “So far, all supervisors except Nguyen have submitted proposals for their aides to discuss, as did members of the Latino and Vietnamese communities.”

What gives?  Why did Supervisor Nguyen shirk her duty by avoiding the redistricting issue? In doing so she let both her Vietnamese and Latino communities down! Continue reading→

New Santa Ana’s editor, Art Pedroza, joins the Democratic Party

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Latino Leaders, Politics, Santa Ana 30 Comments

Santa Ana is dominated by voters registered with the Democratic Party – and it has gotten worse for the Republican Party over the past few years.

Take a look, for example, at voter registration in the First Supervisorial District, which includes all of Santa Ana.  There are 98,164 Democratic voters in the district, versus 76,738 Republican voters.  And there are only 1,306 Libertarian voters in the district.  The only other significant voter demographic is the 45,876 voters who have no party preference. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Parks and Rec Director Mouet appointed to the O.C. Fair Board

Posted on by Posted in california, Costa Mesa, Democratic Party, Governor Jerry Brown, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Gerardo Mouet, 53, of Santa Ana, has been appointed to the 32nd District Agricultural Association, Orange County Fair Board, by California Governor Jerry Brown, according to the California Newswire.

Mouet has served in multiple positions with the City of Santa Ana since 1990, serving as executive director of Parks and Recreation since 2004.  In that position he oversees a number of city departments including the Santa Ana Zoo and the Santa Ana Library. Continue reading→