Retired Valley High School teacher is running for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Shuntele Andrews 8 Comments

Shuntele Andrews, a retired Santa Ana teacher, is running for the SAUSD School Board in November. She taught Social Studies and History at Valley High School in Santa Ana for 35 years. She was raised in Santa Ana since the age of 11, attending Santa Ana public schools, going on to UCI to earn her Bachelor’s and then the University of Southern California to get her Masters of Education and teaching credentials. She has received the Teacher of the Year award three times and served as the Social Science/History department chair for five years. She has also served on the Blue Ribbon commission and several hiring committees for the principals of Valley High School. Upon retirement she has continued to work for SAUSD as a substitute and CELDT tester.

According to her website:

As an educator in SAUSD, she is keenly aware of the issues facing our students in our public schools. She believes that our school district deserves a leader who will work diligently to stay in touch with the stakeholders at the ground level: Continue reading→

Who will run for Santa Ana Mayor if Pulido opts to retire in November?

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 2 Comments

I am hearing from several sources that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is quite serious about defending himself as he is investigated for various issues stemming from campaign finances and real estate shenanigans. He is telling friends that his priority is his legal defense – so what if he ends up retiring from politics and not running again in November? Who will run?

First term Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna is in but no one is taking him very seriously. If Pulido pulls out you can expect much bigger names to jump in.

I am told that former Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, an Assistant Orange County District Attorney who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees, is already planning to run. Continue reading→

Pulido lawyers up – should the Council Members do so as well?

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Mayor Miguel Pulido

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has received at least $25,000 in contributions toward a legal defense fund that he established in January as he is being investigated by the state’s political watchdog agency, according to the OC Register.

The “Miguel Pulido Legal Defense Fund” was set up in January, shortly after City Attorney Sonia Carvalho began investigating a real estate swap involving Pulido that ethics experts say looks like a bribe and could have violated state conflict of interest laws, according to the Voice of OC.

My sources tell he that a few of the Santa Ana Council Members may want to set up legal defense funds of their own. One pajarito in particular told me last week that the FBI is looking at conflict of interest by the Council Members with regard to real estate development on Bristol and Seventeenth and at the property formerly known as the Honer Plaza which is now called the Bristol Marketplace. Continue reading→

Loretta Sanchez got paid off by big cable and phone companies!

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Democratic Party, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Loretta Sanchez got paid off by big cable and phone companies

It turns out that both Democrats and Republicans are screwing us by siding with the big cable and phone operators who are overcharging us for Internet use and are conspiring to slow down services, such as Netflix, unless they fork over more money. And of course the issue here is campaign contributions from this industry to Congressional representatives including Loretta Sanchez and John Boehner.

Here are the gory details courtesy of the Los Angeles Times:

Party doesn’t govern lawmakers’ stance on net neutrality — money does

By: Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times

It’s tempting to think of the network neutrality battle as one fought in Washington along party lines — after all, that’s true of almost everything in the capital.

But recent research by the campaign finance analysts at MapLight show that the reality is rather more complicated. And for advocates of the open Internet, it’s discouraging. It turns out that the views of members of Congress on net neutrality may be dependent less on party alignments than on money. Specifically, contributions from the cable industry. Continue reading→

UPDATED: Orange County Open Primary Election, June 3, 2014 Voter Guide

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

From: The OC Politics Blog

This voter guide addresses the Orange County local and legislative races as well as the State and Local ballot measures.

Open Primary Election, June, 2014:

State Elections

Attorney General:

OC Politics Blog Endorsement: Jonathan Jaech

Other candidates include: Phil Wyman, Kamala Harris

Editor’s Note: There is no way anyone should vote to re-elect Kamala Harris, the Democratic incumbent. She is far too cozy with the police establishment and the police unions. Our endorsed candidate, Jonathan Jaech, is a Libertarian who says that he “will strive to eliminate the exercise of police power against any person charged with a crime that cannot harm another.” Continue reading→

Community leaders endorse Ceci Iglesias for the 69th Assembly District

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Anaheim, Cecilia Iglesias, Latino Leaders, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Community Leaders Endorse Ceci Iglesias for 69th Assembly District

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Campaigning for the 69th Assembly District on the theme of “Put Community First,” Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member Ceci Iglesias today announced the endorsements of two respected community leaders, Reuben Martinez and Frank Garcia.

Martinez and Garcia join a long list of organizations and leaders endorsing Iglesias for Assembly, including the Lincoln Club of Orange County, the Hispanic 100, Los 32 por Mexico, the California Women’s Leadership Association, Atlas PAC, Assemblymen Travis Allen and Don Wagner, Senators Bob Huff and Mimi Walters, Orange County Supervisors Janet Nguyen and Todd Spitzer, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen, and Orange County Board of Education Trustee Robert Hammond. Continue reading→

CA Small Business Association endorses Solorio for Senate

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Business, california, Politics Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2014

For More Information Contact: Maria Unzueta – mobile: (657) 464-4742

CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ENDORSES JOSE SOLORIO FOR STATE SENATE

The Association recognizes Solorio’s commitment to jobs and prosperity for California

Santa Ana, CA – The California Small Business Association has endorsed Jose Solorio as the Candidate for Small Business in the 34th Senate District. The endorsement comes less than one month away from the June Primary Election.

“We are proud to support Jose Solorio because of his strong record of fighting for small businesses, protecting jobs and having an open door for us,” said Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the California Small Business Association. Continue reading→

Lupe Moreno and her sidekick Rosie Avila put Sherry Walker on the 69th A.D. ballot

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Lupe Moreno, Politics, Santa Ana, Sherry Walker, Thomas Gordon, Tim Whitacre, Tom Daly Leave a comment

Lupe Moreno

We have been wondering for a few weeks now how it is that an unknown former Democrat from Lake Forest named Sherry Walker ended up on the ballot as a Republican nominee for the 69th Assembly District in this June’s Open Primary Election. Now we know. A reader forwarded us the nomination signatures that Walker turned in to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. You can check out the signatures for yourself by clicking here.

Popular SAUSD Trustee Ceci Iglesias, a Republican as well, should have no problem advancing to the November Runoff Election but nevertheless putting Walker on the ballot was a dirty trick and now we know who did it.

Two names jumped out from the list of voters who signed Walker’s nomination papers – former SAUSD Trustee Rosie Avila and crazed Minuteman Lupe Moreno. Now isn’t that interesting? These two ladies like to pretend that they are Christian stalwarts but here they are trying to undermine the campaign of a fellow believer, Iglesias. What gives? Continue reading→

Solorio Senate campaign seeking volunteers and interns

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Jobs, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

TEAM SOLORIO VOLUNTEER & INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Solorio for Senate campaign is looking for talented, committed people to work with us on a cutting-edge political and community organizing campaign. With the June primary only a few weeks away, they are looking for additional volunteers and interns to join their team. Star volunteers and interns will also have priority for paid campaign positions openings.

Job Duties

The primary objective of our volunteer and intern program is to participate in voter contact (via phone banks and door-to-door canvassing) for identification, persuasion, and
engagement. Continue reading→

The OC Firefighter’s union appears to have paid off Janet Nguyen

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, OCFA, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

The county firefighters union had donated $4,000 to county Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s state Senate campaign, according to the OC Register.

That didn’t please OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh, who has a policy of not issuing party endorsements to candidates who accept union money. But apparently there is a loophole as the Baugh edict applies only to local,non-partisan offices. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez will face a serious challenger in the Nov. Election

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Michele Martinez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez was not challenged when she last ran for re-election in 2010. She got just over 34K votes in that race according to Smart Voter. But there were over 43K votes cast in that year’s Santa Ana Mayoral contest, again according to Smart Voter. That means 9K Santa Ana voters simply could not stomach voting for Martinez. So they didn’t vote for anyone in Ward 2 that year.

This year Santa Ana’s voters will have a chance to vote for someone other than Martinez in Ward 2. She is being challenged by Mirna Velasquez. And Martinez better take her opponent seriously. Continue reading→

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez goes after charter schools with H.R. 10

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

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

STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, 202-226-8373, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ’S AMENDMENT TO STRENGTHEN CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PASSES

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) today spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of her amendment to H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. The amendment was adopted and H.R. 10 was subsequently passed. Rep. Sanchez’s amendment will require state entities to report how charter school programs encourage community involvement in the planning and opening of additional charter schools. Below are her transcribed remarks and a link to the video.

Watch the speech by clicking here. Continue reading→

Meet candidates Iglesias and Vazquez on May 16 in Santa Ana

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Carlos Vazquez, Cecilia Iglesias, Entertainment, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

You can meet Cecilia Iglesias, a candidate for the 69th Assembly District, and Carlos Vazquez, a candidate for the 46th Congressional District on Friday, May 16, 2014, from 6 to 8 pm, at the home of John and Anna Coil, located at 2024 Victoria Drive in Santa Ana.

RSVP to anncoil@att.net or call 714-648-0227.

Iglesias was the top vote-getter for the SAUSD School Board in 2012. She is also a representative of State Senator Mimi Walters. Iglesias immigrated to the United States and to Central Orange County three decades ago. She is a proud product of Central Orange County public schools and earned degrees at Santa Ana College and Cal State Fullerton. Her child attends a Central Orange County public school. Continue reading→

Solorio’s campaign for the 34th S.D. to host an Open House this Saturday

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Jose Solorio’s campaign for the 34th State Senate District is hosting a Campaign Open House this Saturday, May 10, 2014, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, at 1535 W. Warner Ave., in Santa Ana.

There will be food, good company & sign-up opportunities for the Solorio for State Senate and Vote for Vets campaigns.

Solorio’s Biography: Continue reading→

Santa Ana Council Member Martinez to host a campaign reception on May 15

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Friends of Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez, invite you to attend a Fundraising Reception for Councilwoman Michele Martinez, Ward 2.

Diego’s in Downtown Santa Ana
224 E. 3rd St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Thursday, May 15, 2014
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Continue reading→

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