Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Politics

Local education unions announce their endorsed SAUSD School Board candidates

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Alfonso Alvarez, Education, Mark McLoughlin, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2016

Contact: Jason Mills (714) 576-4303

Santa Ana Teachers and School Employees Announce Jointly Endorsed Candidates for School Board Election

Santa Ana, CA — For the first time ever, the Santa Ana Educators Association (SAEA) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 41, are jointly endorsing three Santa Ana community leaders for the Santa Ana School Board.

SAEA President Barbara Pearson declared “SAEA and CSEA are endorsing the same candidates for the three openings on the Santa Ana School Board for the November Election. We came together to support three superb candidates because the Santa Ana School Board needs experienced and knowledgeable individuals who can provide steady leadership to improve educational opportunities for all of our students.” Continue reading→

Crowded field developing for the SAUSD School Board race in November

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Alfonso Alvarez, Beatriz Mendoza, Bruce T. Bauer, Cecilia Iglesias, Education, Gloria Alvarado, Mark McLoughlin, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana Leave a comment

There are three seats available on the SAUSD School Board in the upcoming November General Election. Two of the SAUSD Trustees, Rob Richardson and Jose Hernandez, are retiring from the School Board. Another incumbent, Ceci Iglesias, is up for reelection – and she has been targeted for removal by the Santa Ana Educators Association.

There are quite a few candidates vying for these School Board seats including: Continue reading→

Michele Martinez is hosting a First District campaign kickoff on July 28

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Andrew Do, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez is hosting a kickoff to her campaign for the First Supervisorial District on July 28, 2016, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Chapter One: The Modern Local, located at 227 N. Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.

Campaign contribution amounts range from $125 to 1,900. RSVP to michelemartinezfundraiser@gmail.com. Continue reading→

SAPD Police Chief Rojas gets caught promoting Supervisor Do while in uniform

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Andrew Do, Carlos Rojas, Crime, David Cavazos, Garden Grove, Michele Martinez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 4 Comments

In yet another screw-up by SAPD Police Chief Carlos Rojas, he allowed himself to be included in a picture that featured him in his uniform on a political mailer promoting O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do (a Republican from Garden Grove). Never mind the fact that Do is running against one of Rojas’ bosses, Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez, the fact is that it is a a violation of Government Code and Departmental Policies for our Police Chief to appear, in uniform, in a campaign mailer.

The matter was investigated at City Hall and while it was determined that Rojas was “unaware the picture was taken” and Rojas claimed that he did not give permission for the photo to be used by Do’s campaign.

How can our Police Chief be so clueless that he would not observe someone taking his picture in a crowded room during an important meeting?  Continue reading→

Written arguments against the Santa Ana City Council pay increase are due by 7/19

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Civic Affairs, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Notice to Voters of Date After Which No Arguments for or Against Proposed City Measure may be Submitted to the Clerk of the Council

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Municipal Election is to be held in the City of Santa Ana on November 8, 2016 at which there will be submitted to the voters the following measure:

Council Compensation Charter Reform
Continue reading→

Voters should reject a pay raise for the Santa Ana City Council

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Santa Ana’s City Council voted to give themselves a big pay raise – but the voters will have to approve it via a ballot measure that we will vote on in the upcoming November General Election, according to the O.C. Register.

Think about the last time you got a raise. Did you deserve it?  Probably – but did you ever get a raise despite not doing a good job? Continue reading→

Solorio to run for Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council this November

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Former Santa Ana City Councilman Jose Solorio, who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees, has announced that he will be moving into Ward 3 and running once more for the Santa Ana City Council, this November.

Solorio, who previously served in the State Assembly (from 2006 to 2012) , currently works for a law firm in Irvine. He was known in Sacramento for his prowess in raising campaign funds for himself and his fellow Democrats. He worked for the OCTA, in public affairs, when he first served on the Santa Ana City Council, from 2000-2006. Continue reading→

Mayor Pulido cited our progress at this year’s State of the City address

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana’s longtime Mayor, Miguel Pulido, invited me to sit at his table yesterday as he delivered his 19th annual State of the City address, at the Bowers Museum. This is an annual event sponsored by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. The proceeds of the event are used to fund various youth programs run by the Chamber of Commerce.

The room we were in was packed, which is always the case at these events. We were served a bizarre Americanized version of chilaquiles which was heaped on a slice of sauteed ham and included corn tortilla chips (with no chili seasoning), scrambled eggs, shredded Monterey jack cheese and cilantro. No salsa was served. There were also mini muffins, cream cheese and what looked like raspberry jam. Continue reading→

Statue of Miguel Hidalgo to be unveiled at Mile Square Park on July 8

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Fountain Valley, Mario Cuevas, mexico, Orange County, Politics 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2016

Contact: Brian Probolsky, (714) 834-3110, Brian.Probolsky@ocgov.com

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and Consul of Mexico Mario Cuevas to Unveil the Statue of Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico’s Founding Father in Mile Square Park

(Santa Ana, California) – Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and the Consul of Mexico Mario Cuevas, will unveil the Statue of Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico’s Founding Father in Mile Square Park. The 8-foot tall Hidalgo statue, donated by Governor Miguel Marquez of the Mexican State of Guanajuato, will be unveiled at a free public event on July 8.

Supervisor Andrew Do, who organized the Mile Square Park statue project to honor champions of democratic values, said that the statue represents a symbol of friendship, unity and shared values between communities. Continue reading→

Bao Nguyen calls on Pres. Obama to put a moratorium on deportations

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Bao Nguyen, Democratic Party, immigration, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2016

Contact: Ender Ho, (714) 642-2120, info@bao2016.com

Anaheim, CA – In response to the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Texas the case in which 26 Republican governors are suing to block the deferred action programs, Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen called on President Obama and DHS to put a moratorium on deportations. Mayor Nguyen is running for Congress in California’s 46th district, which is 67% Latino. Mayor Nguyen issued the following statement:

I call on President Obama to use his authority to put an immediate halt on deportations. With so many people in DACA and DAPA, it’s the only responsible course of action. It’s only a temporary measure, so we also need Congress to act on immigration reform, which has been on the backburner for far too long. In Congress, I’ll fight for an immigration system that keeps families together, not tears them apart. Continue reading→

Dr. Rigo Rodríguez is running for the SAUSD School Board again this November

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Education, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2016

Contact: Rigo Rodríguez, (949) 478-4162

Dr. Rigo Rodríguez Announces Candidacy for Santa Ana School Board

(Santa Ana, CA) – CSU Long Beach professor and school district parent, Dr. Rigo Rodríguez announced his candidacy today for Santa Ana School Board.

“I want all students to have safe and excellent schools that prepare them for college and a career.” Dr. Rodriguez added, “As the youngest of 13 of a farmworker family, I experienced the economic hardships and social isolation that many families face in Santa Ana. Fortunately, I attended a great public grade school that inspired me and prepared me to stay on the path to success. Although I attended four different high schools in four years in two different countries and three states, I had the motivation and skills to get to college.” Continue reading→

Martinez will face off against Supervisor Do in the November General Election

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Andrew Do, Democratic Party, Michele Martinez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez advanced to the November General Election as she made the top two in the Primary Election in the First Supervisorial District, according to the O.C. Voter Registrar.

The incumbent Supervisor in the First District, Andrew Do, came in first place in the Primary Election with 20,730 votes. Martinez was right behind him with 20,530 votes. Do’s fellow Republican, Garden Grove City Councilman Phat Bui, was a distant third, with 11,026 votes. Continue reading→

Why Santa Ana’s Ofelia Velarde-Garcia is challenging Tom Daly in the June Primary Election

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Ofelia Velarde-Garcia, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tom Daly Leave a comment

There are a lot of good reasons not to vote for Assemblyman Tom Daly, the corporate Democrat who represents Santa Ana in the 69th Assembly District. For example when he was the Mayor of Anaheim, Daly attacked the poor residents of that city’s motels. He also tried to stop a Mexican Supermarket from opening in Anaheim. Later, as the OC Clerk-Recorder, Daly made one bad decision after another, wasting taxpayer money on questionable purchases and hiring his useless cronies, such as Jordan Brandman.

Daly is being opposed in the upcoming June Primary Election by Ofelia Velarde-Garcia, a graduate of Valley High School in Santa Ana. Velarde-Garcia enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, receiving an Honorable Medical Discharge. Continue reading→

Santa Ana June, 2016 Voter Guide

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Are you ready for the upcoming June, 2016 Primary Election? Here is our Voter Guide for Santa Ana voters:

46th Congressional District

The incumbent, Loretta Sanchez, has decided to vacate her House seat as she tries to move up to the U.S. Senate. There are a lot of candidates vying to replace her. If you like corporate Democrats then Lou Correa should be your pick. We like the more progressive Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen.  We greatly dislike former State Senator turned lobbyist Joe Dunn, who once tried to move the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals out of Santa Ana – to Irvine. If you are a Republican then your best pick is Lynn Schott, an Irvine City Council Member who grew up in Santa Ana (her family still lives here).

U.S. Senate

No Republican has a chance of victory in this race to replace the retiring Senator from San Francisco, Barbara Boxer. While Loretta Sanchez has her bad moments we are endorsing her rather than her main opponent, Kamala Harris, because Harris is yet another Bay Area politician. It is about time that Southern California was represented in the U.S. Senate! Continue reading→

Poll – should Santa Ana spend $2.5M to help Mater Dei’s expansion?

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Politics, Santa Ana 15 Comments

The City of Santa Ana has spent a fortune over the years accommodating the requests of Mater Dei High School, a private Catholic school. Now Mater Dei is asking for more city funding, to the tune of $2.5 million dollars, to come out of our city’s beleaguered General Fund, to help them as they go about building a new parking structure and a 30K sq. ft. academic building. They are asking the City to pay for construction and engineering work associated with the removal/realignment of several streets where homes have been acquired by Mater Dei High School, to expand their campus.

Is this an appropriate expenditure for our City?  Consider that Mater Dei is a private, not public school. While they do give out scholarships to low income students, the reality is that many of Mater Dei’s students don’t live in our city and quite a few of them come from high income families. Continue reading→