Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Politics

First District candidates are looking for volunteers to help their campaigns

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party, Garden Grove, Lou Correa, Lupe Moreno, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

There are several local candidates running for the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors – and several of them are looking for volunteers to help them as the special election is coming up very quickly, on Jan. 27, 2015.

  • If you would like to help former State Senator Lou Correa, a Democrat who lives in Santa Ana, contact Alex Flores at 714-474-8768 aflores18@gmail.com.
  • If you are interested in helping Garden Grove Councilman Chris Phan, a Republican, contact George Brietigam at gbrietigam@gmail.com.
  • If you want to help Andrew Do, a Republican who quit the Garden Grove City Council a few years ago, click here.

Continue reading→

Has First District candidate Andrew Do hooked up with Brian Probolsky?

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Brian Probolsky, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party Leave a comment

Brian Probolsky and Andrew Do

 

By the OC Politics Blog

I am hearing that Orange County administrator Brian Probolsky has taken a one month leave of absence from his job at the O.C. Community Resources (after being on loan for awhile to Pat Bates, who like Janet Nguyen has left the O.C. Board of Supervisors) to help the campaign of Andrew Do, the former Chief of Staff to Nguyen.  I am told that Do will retain Probolsky as his Chief of Staff if the First District Special Election goes his way.

Probolsky, moved to a position that was created for him, as Business Practices Manager at OC Community Resources, after working as a Bates staffer, in February of 2013. His new job came with an 81 percent raise, from $31 an hour to $56 an hour, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Andrew Do sends out the first campaign mailer in the race for O.C.’s First District

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Andrew Do mailer side two

Andrew Do appears to be the first candidate running for Orange County’s First Supervisorial District to get a campaign mailer out.  The mailer is nothing special but it serves to establish that Do is backed by a bunch of mostly white Republican elected officials – and his former boss, Janet Nguyen.  Notably he does not appear to be backed by any Latinos.

I checked Do’s campaign website and there also he does not list any Latino supporters.  And his campaign Facebook page only has six supporters – which is probably why he needed to get the campaign mailer out right away.  Do has been out of office for awhile, having resigned from the Garden Grove City Council a few years ago.  I am not sure the voters know who he is. Continue reading→

Applications being accepted to replace Bao Nguyen on the G.G. Unified School District’s Board of Ed.

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Bao Nguyen, Education, Garden Grove, Politics Leave a comment

Garden Grove Unified School District Logo

GGUSD Board of Education Accepting Application for Provisional Appointment

The Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education is currently accepting applications for provisional appointment to fill a vacancy created when former trustee Bao Nguyen was elected to serve as the mayor of Garden Grove.

The application and supplemental materials are available below and must be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent before 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2015. All eligible Garden Grove Unified School District residents who are interested in the position are encouraged to apply.

In order to be eligible to serve as a trustee, applicants must: Continue reading→

Why is the City Council going after food truck vendors again?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Food Trucks, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana food truck

Santa Ana leaders are once against considering options to regulate the catering and produce vending trucks that dot city streets and offer everything from heads of lettuce to tacos and gummy worms, according to the Voice of OC.

Apparently state and federal courts in the past ruled that previous city laws went too far and unfairly restricted the businesses.

Why is the Santa Ana City Council so upset with these food trucks?  “City officials say they are prime targets for graffiti, produce a glut of trash and litter, are known to sell cigarettes, and block views at crosswalks and intersections.”   Continue reading→

First District candidates forum set for January 6 in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Entertainment, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Candidates for the 2015 First District Special Election

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2014

Contact: Connie Hamilton, Connect-to-Council, 714-745-1692, connect-to-council@earthlink.net

Connect-to-Council to present Candidates Forum for Orange County Supervisor, First District, on January 6, 2014

Santa Ana, CA, – Connect-to-Council, along with promotional support from the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce and Westminster Chamber of Commerce, is presenting a Candidates Forum for the voters of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley and Westminster. This forum will feature candidates that are running for the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. This will be a special election taking place on January 27.

This forum will take place on Tuesday, January 6, 2014, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Room, located at 2323 N Broadway, in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The candidates for the First District Special Election are set

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Lou Correa, Lupe Moreno, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

David Benavides and Chris Phan

 Hanging out with Democrats didn’t work out for Chris Phan

The field for the First District’s Special Election, to replace Janet Nguyen, who was elected to the 34th State Senate District in the November, 2014 General Election, is now set.  The candidates include (appearing below in the order they will be placed on the ballot):

  • Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), California State Senator
  • Andrew Do (R-Garden Grove), Supervisor’s Chief/Businessowner
  • Lupe Morfin-Moreno (R-Santa Ana), Office Specialist
  • Chuyen Van Nguyen (NPP-Garden Grove), Television News Anchor
  • Chris Phan (R-Garden Grove), Councilmember/Deputy DA

Phan had a shot at earning the endorsement of the Republican Party of Orange County (OC GOP) tonight but he blew it when he stupidly sat down for an interview with liberal blogger Greg Diamond of the Orange Juice Blog.  Phan made one statement in particular that cost him the endorsement: Continue reading→

The new City Council majority won’t include Reyna and Benavides

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, David Benavides, David Cavazos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Roman Reyna and David Benavides

While none of the Santa Ana City Council incumbents lost in the November General Election there is still major change coming to our City Council.  You might recall that former Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero withdrew his support for Councilman David Benavides, prior to the General Election.  Now Tinajero has joined forces with the new Mayor Pro Tem, Vince Sarmiento.  In short, the adults are now running the Santa Ana City Council.

Tinajero and Sarmiento are working to form a new City Council majority with Council Members Angie Amezcua and Michele Martinez.  The latter has at times joined with Reyna and Benavides. But if Martinez wants to survive in politics she will now dump them and work instead with Sarmiento and Tinajero.

If Martinez decides to be obstinate then Tinajero and Sarmiento have another option.  They can form a Council majority with Amezcua and Mayor Miguel Pulido. Continue reading→

Poll – Who should be Santa Ana’s next Mayor Pro Tem?

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

David Benavides supports the PBID

Is Councilman Benavides capable of running a Santa Ana City Council meeting?

Apparently our current Mayor Pro Tem, Sal Tinajero, is going to vacate the position and allow one of the other Santa Ana Council Members to become our new Mayor Pro Tem, at the next City Council meeting coming up on Tuesday.

Mayor Pro Tem is largely a ceremonial title but in the event that our Mayor, Miguel Pulido, is absent from a City Council meeting, or he either arrives late or has to leave early, the Pro Tem would step up and run the meeting. Continue reading→

Candidate filing now open for the Board of Supervisors’ First District vacancy election

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

OC Registrar of Voters Press Release

Candidate Filing Now Open for Board of Supervisors First District Vacancy Election

Special election called to fill vacancy on the Board of Supervisors

SANTA ANA, CA – December 2, 2014 – A special election has been called to fill the vacancy in the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ 1st District. The election will be held on January 27, 2015. Candidate filing is now open and will be open until December 15, 2014.

Any qualified person can file the declaration of candidacy papers until December 15, 2014, 5:00 p.m., in the office of the Registrar of Voters, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana , California . Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Continue reading→

Poll – will you vote for Do or Correa in the First Supervisorial District?

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Andrew Do and Janet Nguyen

 Pictured: Andrew Do and Janet Nguyen

There might be a half dozen candidates interested in replacing Supervisor Janet Nguyen in the First Supervisorial District – but make no mistake about it, this race will come to two candidates – Andrew Do (Nguyen’s former Chief of Staff) and Lou Correa.

Do has already lined up the support of Supervisor Nguyen, along with Supervisor Pat Bates, Senator and Congresswoman-Elect Mimi Walters and Congressman Ed Royce. This means the OC GOP establishment is firmly lining up behind Do – not Garden Grove Councilman Chris Phan.

Correa already had about $600K in his campaign war chest – but now he also has the support of the Orange County Employees Association (the OCEA) and he has the backing of two high profile Republicans – OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and OCDA Tony Rackauckas. Continue reading→

Janet Nguyen’s former Chief of Staff to run for the 1st District

Posted on by Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Westminster Leave a comment

Andrew Do Picture

For Immediate Release: November 20, 2014
Contact: Dave Gilliard, 916-626-6804

Andrew Do to Run for Supervisor in First District Special Election
Nguyen, Bates,Walters and Royce to serve as Campaign Co-Chairs

Westminster, CA – – Today, Andrew Do announced his candidacy for Orange County Supervisor in the First District, where a special election will be called soon to replace Senator-elect Janet Nguyen.

Supervisor Nguyen, along with Supervisor Pat Bates, Senator and Congresswoman-Elect Mimi Walters and Congressman Ed Royce will serve as honorary co-chairs of Do’s campaign.

“I am honored that so many community leaders have encouraged me to run for Supervisor to follow in the footsteps of Janet Nguyen, who has done such a tremendous job for our communities,” said Do. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez’ statement on Obama’s immigration overreach

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, immigration, Loretta Sanchez, Politics 6 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ’S STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ACTION

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, and member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today responded to President Obama’s announcement that he will use his authority to protect over four million undocumented immigrants from the threat of deportation.

“The President’s announcement tonight provides long-awaited relief for millions of families suffering from our broken immigration system. It’s been 511 days since the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. All House Republicans had to do was bring it to the floor, but because they were unwilling to use their power to act the President had to act. Executive action is not ideal, but unfortunately it is necessary. Continue reading→

Senator Correa’s Annual Santa Ana Zoo event and food drive set for 11/23

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Labor, Lou Correa, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Lou at the Zoo

SENATOR LOU CORREA HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL DAY AT THE SANTA ANA ZOO EVENT

SANTA ANA – On Sunday, November 23, 2014, Senator Lou Correa will host his 14th Annual Holiday Canned Food and Toy Drive at Prentice Park located in the Santa Ana Zoo. The City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency is co-sponsoring the “Showmobile” that will be used for the live entertainment.

During the 14th Annual Holiday Canned Food and Toy Drive attendees will enjoy free health screenings including flu shots, lunch provided by the Orange County Employees Association, and opportunity drawings including: a television and tickets to Disneyland, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Knott’s Berry Farm. Families are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or canned food that will be donated to Toys for Tots and the Orange County Food Bank.

The event will be held on: Continue reading→