I am hearing that there is a chance that Santa Ana Council Member Vince Sarmiento may not run for the 69th Assembly District after all. Apparently it is going to be up to his wife – and as he has a successful law practice and young children she may in the end not go for it.
The incumbent legislator, Jose Solorio, is terming out – in 2012. His open seat will be a rare opportunity to elect someone decent. Continue reading
Santa Ana Councilman Vincent Sarmiento is hosting an an early 4th of July Reception on Thursday June 30, 2011, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, along with Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Mayor Miguel Pulido and the entire Santa Ana City Council.
Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine wine at one of Santa Ana’s premier restaurants – South Coast Winery Restaurant & Tasting Room, located at 3608 South Bristol, in Santa Ana.
RSVP’s can be made at VSarmiento4Council@gmail.com or by calling (714) 245-9999. Click here to RSVP on Facebook.
Sarmiento is going to be running for Solorio’s 69th Assembly District seat in 2012. Right now it looks like OC Labor political Director Julio Perez, a complete unknown, will be getting hammered by Sarmiento in the Democratic primary.
Julio Perez, a political director with O.C. Labor, is holding a fundraiser for his campaign for the 69th Assembly District – in Los Angeles. It should be noted that the 69th Assembly District is entirely in Orange County – not in L.A.
Here is Perez’ Host Committee:
AFSCME Local 741
IBEW Local 11
UFCW Local 324
Al Austin, II
Marcos Cardenas
Brenda Gonzalez
Ana Grande
Kian Kaeni
Maria Ochoa
Eric Robles
Carolina Sarmiento
How much does it cost to support this guy? Here you go:
Co-Hosting:
$3900 Madrina / Padrino $1000 Hermana / Hermano
$500 Prima / Primo
$250 Comadre / Compadre
$150 Amiga/amigo
$69 Individual
$30 Student
Please make contributions payable to: Julio Perez for Assembly 2012, ID #1338367, PO Box 6984, Santa Ana, CA 9 92706
or through ACT BLUE, https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/27098?refcode=directory
Perez is running against Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento, who is going to most likely soundly thrash him in the Democratic primary. Sarmiento is holding a fundraiser on June 30 – in Santa Ana, at a local restaurant. Click here for details. Sarmiento’s host committee is a Who’s Who of local elected officials, including the entire Santa Ana City Council and Assemblyman Jose Solorio.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ QUESTIONS KEY MILITARY OFFICIALS ON TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today questioned key military officials during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on recent developments in Afghanistan and the proposed drawdown of U.S. Forces. Rep. Sanchez has long advocated for a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and believes it is imperative that the President get our troops out of the country even faster than he has proposed. Concerned by where the Department of Defense has spent limited defense dollars, Rep. Sanchez asked witnesses to clarify when U.S. forces began to train Afghan National Security Forces and how many have gone through training.
“Last year, the Department of Defense spent more than $26 billion training and equipping the Afghan National Army, while our workers faced layoffs and reduced health care benefits and our children faced lower-quality education. This disparity is unacceptable,” said Sanchez. “I question what the President hopes to accomplish with the nearly 90,000 American troops he has directed to remain in Afghanistan beyond this year. According to our witnesses today, the Department of Defense has trained, equipped and retained about 305,000 Afghan soldiers, at enormous cost to our nation—and this number does not include those soldiers who we were unable to retain. We need to responsibly transition Afghanistan’s security to these trained Afghan forces. This is a transition I believe will actually increase the chances for long-term success of the mission and will allow the United States to bring our troops out of harm’s way and end this costly and unproductive war.”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.
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United States House of Representatives
1114 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2965 • Fax: 202-225-5859
Here is the Libertarian Party’s response to Obama’s speech on Afghanistan:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2011
Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222
Libertarians say Obama’s Afghanistan policy is a failure
WASHINGTON – Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle responded to President Obama’s June 22 speech with the following comments today:
“President Obama’s speech was disappointing, but not surprising. The withdrawals he announced are painfully inadequate. Obama’s withdrawals, even if they are carried out as he described, will still leave about 70,000 American troops in Afghanistan, probably for years to come. The president is commander-in-chief of the military. He has the power to end the war now, and withdraw all American troops, and that’s what he should do.
“The U.S. has no business fighting a war in Afghanistan. Nearly three years ago, our Libertarian National Committee adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of our armed forces from Afghanistan. We are saddened and angry that there are now more troops there than ever.
“Obama talked about ‘ending the war responsibly.’ I think the word ‘responsibly’ is a weaselly escape hatch in case Obama doesn’t want to withdraw more troops later. He will just say, ‘That would be irresponsible — I need to keep the war going strong.’
“This war causes the Afghan people to justifiably feel a greater hatred toward America. It makes American taxpayers poorer. And it emboldens other would-be aggressors, who can point to American intervention in Afghanistan whenever they feel like doing the same elsewhere.
“There are two big winners from the continuation of this war: Our military-industrial complex, which seems to have the president in its back pocket, and the Afghan government, which continues to enjoy tremendous benefits at the expense of the American taxpayer.
“If anything, Republican reactions to the president’s speech were even more ridiculous than the speech itself. Republican Senator John McCain fretted that this withdrawal was not ‘modest’ enough. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, feeling the need to criticize Obama despite the fact that they basically agree on everything, complained of an ‘arbitrary timetable.’ Republican House Speaker John Boehner worried about losing our ‘gains’ in Afghanistan. All these comments show an inability to comprehend an intelligent, modest foreign policy, as well as a serious lack of respect for American taxpayers.”
The Libertarian Party platform includes the following:
3.3 International Affairs
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.
The LP is America’s third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
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On Friday, June 10th California will have the first draft maps for Congress and the State Legislature. Our Latino community cannot be left out of this high stakes process!
NALEO Educational Fund and MALDEF have partnered to bring to you resources you need to respond to the Redistricting Commission’s First Draft Maps.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission has been working long hours to draw new maps for California. Preliminary visualizations of different California regions are available on the Commission’s website. However, the official First Draft Maps will be released this Friday, June 10th.
From June 16 to June 27 the Commission will be hosting a second round of public hearings that will begin in Los Angeles (June 16 and June 17) and end in Sacramento (June 27). A full schedule of the Commission’s hearings is available by clicking here.
Community members must participate! Get ready for the upcoming hearings by joining a NALEO Educational Fund event near you!
ATTEND A WORKSHOP:
In preparation for the upcoming Commission hearings, NALEO Educational Fund will partner with MALDEF to host several workshops throughout Southern California. The purpose of these workshops will be to review the Commission’s First Draft Map, discuss implications of these maps for the Latino community and the Federal Voting Rights Act, provide onsite technical GIS assistance to determine ammendments to these drafts and provide information on how to participate in the Commission’s upcoming hearings. Please call us for further details or questions, (213)747-7606 ext 4434.
Please SAVE THE DATE for the following events in your area:
Space is limited. Please RSVP to Elsa Carrillo at (213) 629-2512, ext. 139, or ecarillo@maldef.org or Juan Gallegos at (619) 246-7550, or jgallegos@maldef.org, or agarcia@naleo.org or at (213)747-7607, ext 4434.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2011
CONTACT: Rosalind Gold, (213) 747-7606 x4420, rgold@naleo.org or Gloria Montaño-Greene, (202) 546-2536, gmontanogreene@naleo.org
COMMISSION CONGRESSIONAL LINES WOULD HALT LATINO PROGRESS
NALEO Educational Fund analysis reveals diminished opportunities for state’s second largest population
LOS ANGELES, CA – The first draft Congressional district maps released today by California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission would severely diminish opportunities for future Latino political progress in the state, according to an initial analysis by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.
“The maps present a worst-case scenario for the Latino community,” stated NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas. “During the last decade, California’s Latino population accounted for 90% of the state’s growth, and California would have lost Congressional seats without it. The Commission’s maps fail to reflect that growth by not creating fair opportunities for increased Latino representation.”
The NALEO Educational Fund analysis [click here] reveals that there are currently seven Congressional districts where Latinos can effectively elect the candidates of our choice. The Commission’s plan fails to create any additional Latino effective districts, and could reduce the current number. One of the arguably effective districts in the Commission’s map includes a large population of African Americans, which unnecessarily wages Latinos and African Americans against each other, two underrepresented groups that have worked for decades to earn fair political representation for their respective communities.
Mr. Vargas continued, “California’s maps must comply with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which protects underrepresented communities from discrimination in the electoral process. Under state law, strict adherence to the VRA is one of the highest priorities that the Commission must apply in drawing the state’s new districts. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) submitted a Congressional map to the Commission that created four additional Latino effective seats, in compliance with the VRA. The Commission’s proposed map falls far short of that standard.”
The Commission’s map also places some of Los Angeles’ poorest Latino neighborhoods in the same district as the wealthy western communities of Los Angeles County and downtown’s financial district. Mr. Vargas continued, “The lines drawn by the Commission gerrymander Los Angeles Latinos into a district with the millionaires of Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades. These lines would disenfranchise Latinos by denying them a fair voice in the democratic process.”
Mr. Vargas concluded, “Californians approved the creation of the Commission hoping for a sound redistricting process that would produce fair lines for all. Latinos are California’s second largest and fastest growing population group, and the state’s democracy will only remain strong if it is responsive to the Latino community. As the Commission moves forward to revise its proposed maps, it must ensure that the lines drawn provide Latinos with opportunities for full and fair representation – our democracy depends on it.”
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ABOUT NALEO EDUCATIONAL FUND
The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-profit organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
Our mailing address is:
NALEO Educational Fund
1122 W. Washington Blvd., Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Press Release, For Immediate Release: June 10, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355
Solorio Bill to Clean Up Water Quality Moves to the Senate
AB 54 will help small, underfunded water companies secure funds for clean water construction projects
Sacramento – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) presented to his colleagues in the Assembly the necessity for AB 54, a bill he authored to help solve the problem of many small California mutual water companies that cannot afford to upgrade their water quality.
Assembly Bill 54 will expedite state funding and level the playing field between mutual water companies and other public agencies that deliver drinking water to Californians’ taps. It also takes a number of steps to get drinking water quality problems on to the radar of the local government community. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously last Thursday.
“It is appalling that in an age when federal law ensures the quality of Americans’ drinking water, there are still areas in California where water is not fit to drink. AB 54 will help alleviate that condition,” Assemblyman Solorio said.
AB 54 was inspired by Assemblyman Solorio’s effort to try to help the Diamond Park neighborhood in Santa Ana secure state funding to connect to the larger, City of Santa Ana water system. Diamond Park’s 80 homes get their tap water from one groundwater well contaminated with nitrates. A non-profit “mutual water company” owned by the homeowners operates the well, although the City serves drinking water to almost all other Santa Ana residents. The neighborhood residents cannot afford to pay the high costs of cleaning up the groundwater, so the homeowners decided to dissolve the mutual water company and acquire drinking water from the City.
“We discovered many smaller public water systems throughout the state, particularly those operated by “mutual water companies,” also lack the funding and oversight to improve their systems and eliminate contamination,” explained Assemblyman Solorio. “All water providers, even small underfunded ones, need to be accountable for the quality of water they deliver.”
AB 54 expedites State funding by authorizing “letters of no prejudice” that would allow local water agencies to get started on clean water quality construction projects with their own resources while waiting for the state to finalize a loan or grant from the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
The bill also take important steps to make mutual water companies more accountable. It requires company directors to receive training on their legal responsibility to deliver clean and healthy drinking water. And, when a small mutual water company receives a fine for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act, its directors and shareholders must share in the responsibility for paying the fine, or fix the problem as an alternative to paying the fine.
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.
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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.
League of United Latin American Citizens
Santa Ana LULAC Council #147
Established: National – 1929 | Santa Ana – 1946
Orange County LULAC District #1
PO Box 1810, Santa Ana , CA 92702-1810
June 9, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
Contact Persons: Zeke Hernandez, 714-661-4428 / Arturo Montez, 714-914-3154
Local Civil Rights Organization Welcomes Support of Senator Lou Correa in Redistricting Efforts
The New Santa Ana blog expresses dismay that the California Redistricting Commission “is considering splitting Santa Ana away from Anaheim into two new State Senate Districts. This new district features a 38% Democrat and 37% Republican split of voters and should include Little Saigon, stretching north into Buena Park . This blog entry is provided at end of this press release.
The New Santa Ana blog publisher states that Senator Correa “feels that Santa Ana and Anaheim should remain in one contiguous District.”
Santa Ana LULAC #147 President Zeke Hernandez states, “I thank Senator Correa and feel it is necessary for other elected officials to express their opinions on the plans being drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, and also by the Orange County Redistricting Committee. I encourage other local elected leaders to step up to the plate as Senator Correa is doing. It is important that our community be united and together as a significant community in all parts of Orange County and that the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, the California Constitution, and the Voting Rights Act be foremost as district lines are drawn and adopted.”
Public participation is crucial as these groups have started to receive input from people of various communities of interest.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will hold a public input hearing on Saturday, June 18 (2 pm – 5 pm) at California State University Fullerton – Mackey Auditorium, Ruby Gerontology Center 13, Fullerton . Please arrive early.
Senator Correa and Hernandez are also encouraging community residents to attend two quickly-arranged arranged workshops in Orange County by NALEO and MALDEF. Presenters will review the Citizens Commission’s first and up-to-date latest draft maps, allow for community discussion of the implications resulting from these maps related to the Federal Voting Rights Act, in addition to encouraging public participation at the Commission meeting of June 18.
These meetings are scheduled for Sunday, June 12 (9 am – 10:30 am) and Tuesday, June 14 (6 pm – 8:30 pm) at Delhi Community Center , 505 East Central Ave. , Santa Ana 92707 .
Established in 1946, Santa Ana LULAC Council #147 is the oldest LULAC council in California and is an affiliate of Orange County LULAC District#1 and LULAC National – founded in 1929 with its national office in Washington , D.C.
The mission and objectives of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is to advance the economic development, educational advancement, public policy outcomes, housing opportunities, health awareness, and general civil rights protection of Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico through community-based programs and services through more than 700 local LULAC councils nationwide.
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~ Redistricting May Split Santa Ana and Anaheim into 2 Senate districts ~
New Santa Ana Blog
By Admin
June 8, 2011
http://dev.newsantaana.com/2011/06/08/redistricting-may-split-santa-ana-and-anaheim-into-two-senate-districts/
The California Redistricting Commission is considering splitting Santa Ana away from Anaheim , into two new State Senate Districts. Currently, both of these are in the 34th State Senate District, which is represented by State Senator Lou Correa.
If you look at the graphic above, you will see that the new Santa Ana District will include Little Saigon and will stretch up north all the way to Buena Park . The new District will also include Cypress and Stanton . It will feature a close split of the voters, with 38% Democrats and 37% Republicans, putting the seat in play for the OC GOP.
The new Anaheim District will include that city plus Fullerton , Placentia , Yorba Linda , Chino Hills, La Habra and perhaps even Diamond Bar. The seat will favor the Republicans, with a margin of 41% GOP versus 34% Democratic.
Click here for a better view of the proposed Senate Districts.
I met with Correa today and he feels that Santa and Anaheim should remain in one continguous District. I agree. To me this split will disenfranchise Latino voters in particular.
Click here to read about the upcoming California Redistricting Commission meeting that is coming up at CSUF. This will be your last chance to speak up before these Districts become reality!
The California Redistricting Commission is considering splitting Santa Ana away from Anaheim, into two new State Senate Districts. Currently, both of these cities are in the 34th State Senate District, which is represented by State Senator Lou Correa.
If you look at the graphic above, you will see that the new Santa Ana District will include Little Saigon and will stretch up north all the way to Buena Park. The new District will also include Cypress and Stanton. It will feature a close split of the voters, with 38% Democrats and 37% Republicans, putting the seat in play for the OC GOP.
The new Anaheim District will include that city plus Fullerton, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, La Habra and perhaps even Diamond Bar. This seat will favor the Republicans, with a margin of 41% GOP versus 34% Democratic.
Click here for a better view of the proposed Senate Districts.
I met with Correa today and he feels that Santa Ana and Anaheim should remain in one contiguous District. I agree. To me this split will disenfranchise Latino voters in particular.
Click here to read about the upcoming California Redistricting Commission meeting that is coming up at CSUF. This will be your last chance to speak up before these Districts become reality!
The California Redistricting Commission has released preliminary maps of the proposed new Congressional, Assembly and State Senate Districts here in Orange County.
“There is a long list of potential winners and losers on the Congressional front, but none are more striking than the Sanchez Sisters. In these draft maps Loretta Sanchez is put into a Republican seat with Dana Rorabacher, and her sister, Linda Sanchez is put into a Long Beach seat with Laura Richardson. That should get tongues wagging in DC,” according to an online news site.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez’ new district would have a Republican edge in total votes, by a 38% to 37% margin. You can bet both the Democrats and the Republicans would quickly get busy registering new voters in the 47th.
Click here to see the proposed new congressional districts.
The revised map of the 34th State Senate District, which is currently held by State Senator Lou Correa, would stretch from Buena Park to Villa Park, and would still include most of Santa Ana. But Anaheim would move to a north County district that would include Fullerton and stretch up through Diamond Bar.
But this new district would now feature a 39% Democratic versus 37% Republican vote split. And the new district’s voters selected Whitman over Brown by a 47% to 44% margin. In this new district, independent voters would essentially decide our next State Senator.
The new proposed Orange County Assembly maps are not out yet.
“The 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission — set to release draft statewide maps on Friday — has crisscrossed the state in recent months, collecting testimony from people with often opposing viewpoints about what the new districts should look like. The commissioners must digest all of the feedback and balance it against other priorities, including compliance with the federal Voters Rights Act and creating congressional districts that are as close as possible to 702,905 people each,” according to the Press Enterprise.
According to the Redistricting Commission’s website:
The Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) is celebrating Flag Day on June 11, from 12 pm to 3:00 pm, at 144 South Marks Way, in Orange.
This event is sponsored by the 67th Area Democratic Alliance; Teamsters, Joint Council 42; Teamsters Local 952; and South County Labor AFL-CIO.
The event features:
Military and Youth Groups are welcome. Free Parking. Click here for more info.
Press Release: June 02, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: (415) 703-5837
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Top Law Enforcement Appointments
SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced a series of appointments to senior law enforcement positions in the Department of Justice.
Larry J. Wallace, a 25-year-veteran of law enforcement, serves as director of the Division of Law Enforcement. He is the first African-American to hold this position in the California Department of Justice. In this role, Wallace has day-to-day oversight of the department’s $238 million budget, 437 special agents, 281 criminalists, and 693 non-sworn personnel. Wallace most recently served as the deputy chief of the bureau of investigations for the San Francisco district attorney’s office. He began his law enforcement career in 1987 with the Berkeley Police Department, where he was named Officer of the Year and awarded the Medal of Valor. Wallace also worked for 10 years as a special agent with the San Francisco Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
Wayne J. Quint, Jr., a 29-year-veteran of law enforcement, will serve as assistant for external affairs to Director Wallace. For the past 12 years, he has served as president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. Quint is the longest-serving president in the history of the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Agencies, which represents more than 40 public safety organizations and 80,000 statewide peace officers. He retired as sergeant after 29 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Jerry Szymanski, who spent 37 years with the Los Angeles Police Department and retired as a commander, will serve as assistant for evidence-based law enforcement to Director Wallace. He led LAPD’s Narcotics, Commercial Crimes and Burglary-Auto Theft divisions and helped reduce crime in the city to historic low levels by setting realistic goals and objectives, using best practices and measuring results with COMPSTAT, an accountability process. Szymanski also served as second-in-command to deliver police services in the San Fernando Valley.
Christopher Cunnie, a 30-year-veteran of law enforcement and retired undersheriff of San Francisco, will serve as a special advisor for labor and law enforcement to Attorney General Harris. Cunnie, who has 17 years of experience as a patrol officer with the San Francisco Police Department, is a past president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (1996-2004). Prior to serving as undersheriff, he was chief of investigations for the San Francisco district attorney’s office and director of the San Francisco Emergency Communications Department. He has received two Medals of Valor and the Labor Lifetime Achievement award from the Golden Badge Foundation.
Suzy Loftus is a veteran prosecutor who specialized in domestic violence, elder abuse and firearms cases in the San Francisco district attorney’s office and served on the San Francisco district attorney’s executive staff. In her current role, Loftus serves as a special assistant attorney general, working on criminal law issues and public safety policy, as well as serving as the office’s primary liaison to local, state and federal law enforcement offices.
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Is the Democratic Party of Orange County going to give Republican Supervisor Janet Nguyen a free pass in 2012? It certainly looks like that is going to be the case.
Assemblyman Jose Solorio is not going to challenge her, even though he terms out in 2012.
O.C. Labor Federation Political Director Julio Perez is going to challenge his fellow Democrat, Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento, in 2012, for Solorio’s seat in the 69th Assembly District, instead of doing the right thing and going after Nguyen.
Phu Nguyen, a Democrat who came close to winning in the 68th Assembly District last year, will probably run for that seat again.
I have heard rumors that one of the Santa Ana Council Members might challenge Nguyen, but so far that has not come to pass.
Nguyen should be ripe for the picking. Her district leans blue and the voters in the district voted for Obama in 2008, and will probably do so again in 2012. Plus Nguyen angered local Vietnamese voters when she tried to take over their Black April event last year. Her former Chief of Staff, Andrew Do, quit after that debacle.
So why are the Democrats giving her a free pass? Well, labor paid for the recount that put her in office. She has been their gal ever since.
It should be noted that Nguyen recently got up and walked out of a Board of Supervisors meeting when a group of Harvey Milk Day supporters was talking to the Supervisors. She later said she had to go breastfeed her baby, but she could have had a surrogate give the baby bottled breast milk. I suspect she used the baby as cover so she could leave and not have to vote to support Harvey Milk Day.
Nguyen was also a staunch supporter of failed anti-Latino gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.
Can any Democrat beat her? Of course. I think any of the Santa Ana City Council Members could beat her, with the exception of Carlos Bustamante, who I heard today is trying to convince the rest of the City Council to hire the former City Attorney from the City of Bell. Bustamante is also a Republican and an ally of Nguyen. And, as an Orange County employee, Bustamante also works for her.
I also think that former Assemblyman Van Tran could easily beat Nguyen, as could any of his allies.
Nguyen is going to continue to support awful Republicans if she gets reelected. The Democrats need to challenge her. Giving her a free pass would be a real insult to Democratic voters in the First District.
When I first heard that Julio Perez, the Political Director of the Orange County Labor Federation, was interested in running for the 69th Assembly District, I figured he was just testing the waters. But he is holding a fundraiser on June 2, at Santa Ana’s Bistro 400, so I guess he is serious about running.
The 69th Assembly District is currently held by Jose Solorio, but he is terming out, after six years in Sacramento, in 2012. Solorio previously served on the Santa Ana City Council. The man who replaced him on that Council, Vince Sarmiento, is also planning to run for the 69th.
Remember also that the election rules have changed. Candidates have to win by 50% or more, or else they have to face off against their runner-up, regardless of their partisan affiliation. This means that we could end up with two Democrats running against each other in the 2012 general election!
Why is that? Because the Republican Party is basically dead in the 69th A.D. They have no chance of winning in the primary, at all. And I doubt any Republicans would vote for Perez in November, given his obvious ties to labor.
Sarmiento is a known quantity. He is a successful attorney and he has been a quiet leader on the Santa Ana City Council. You can read his bio here. What do we know about Perez?
According to his online bio, Perez is an Orange County native, having been raised in the low income immigrant neighborhood situated literally ‘on the other side of the wall’ from Disneyland.
Here is the rest of his bio:
Perez received a BA in International Studies from UC Irvine and continued his education, obtaining a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Michigan.
Perez began his career in labor as a Policy Analyst with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), and helped win organizing campaigns, worker-friendly policies and health care initiatives. He continued this work throughout his career working with SOL (Strengthening Our Lives) PAC, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD) and more recently with SEIU-UHW West.
Rick Eiden, President of the Orange County Labor Federation said “The Orange County Labor Federation has been tirelessly working to improve the lives of working men and women in Orange County. Julio’s policy, research and organizing experience will contribute immensely to our efforts of growing our labor movement in Orange County.
Can Perez, who has never run for office, beat Sarmiento? Well, just look at the map of the 69th A.D. There isn’t much Anaheim in it. It is dominated by the City of Santa Ana.
Has Perez had much of an effect in Orange County? Well, last year labor got behind a Republican, John Leos, for the Anaheim City Council. That didn’t work out so well. Leos lost, although labor spent a small fortune on his campaign. So did the two Democrats in the race, Bill Dalati and John Santoianni. I doubt they will be backing Perez in 2012.
The only victory that Perez can boast about is paying for a recount that put Republican Janet Nguyen on the O.C. Board of Supervisors. Labor spent a ton of money over the past few elections trying to take out Republican Supervisors John Moorlach and Shawn Nelson. That didn’t work out so well.
Perez would be better off running against Republican Supervisor Janet Nguyen, in the First Supervisorial District, even if he had to move into the district. But since Labor funded her recount, they will likely give her a free pass in 2012. Instead they will waste thousands trying to defeat Sarmiento, which of course makes no sense at all. He is a progressive Democrat. Apparently Perez is not aware of that.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825
SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT’S NOMINATION OF ARMY GENERAL MARTIN DEMPSEY FOR JOINT CHIEFS CHAIR
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement in response to the President’s nomination of Army General Martin Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“I fully support President Obama’s decision to nominate Army General Martin Dempsey to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” said Sanchez. “General Dempsey’s significant experience in Iraq and his intimate knowledge of the situation in the Middle East will be an enormous asset to our nation’s Armed Forces. I look forward to working with him to ensure our troops have the resources they need to responsibly and successfully wind down operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.
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United States House of Representatives
1114 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2965 • Fax: 202-225-5859