Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Politics

New 69th A.D. poll shows Martinez, Daly and Moreno on top

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Moreno, Julio Perez, Labor, Michele Martinez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 4 Comments

A new poll of voters in the 69th Assembly District might be the reason that Orange County Labor and the OC GOP machine are trying to squeeze Republican candidate Jose Moreno out of the 69th A.D. primary.

According to the survey memo, “Democrats Tom Daly and Michele Martinez and Republican Moreno lead the pack.  Martinez leads all candidates among Latinos and leads Julio Perez, by 16 points. She also leads all candidates in Santa Ana – home to 60% of likely voters. Martinez is also likely to benefit disproportionately from the fact that Democratic women are among the most undecided subgroups in the district initially.  And when voters were read profiles of the three major Democrats and a shorter profile of Republican Moreno, Martinez moved into the lead.” Continue reading→

If liberal 69th A.D. candidate Julio Perez is gay, does it really matter?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Julio Perez, Labor, LGBT, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Apparently one of my readers insinuated that liberal Democrat Julio Perez, who is running for the 69th Assembly District (in last place according to a recent poll) is gay.

I tried to find the comment but could not.  However it appears to have set off Orange Juice bloggers Greg Diamond and Vern Nelson.  Diamond in fact immediately began to threaten me and he said that he would use the courts to force me to give up the IP address of the commenter who apparently insinuated that Perez is gay. Continue reading→

Orange County’s financial crisis exposed by California lawsuit

Posted on by Posted in Education, John Moorlach, OC Treasurer, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Op Ed: CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT EXPOSES ORANGE COUNTY FINANCIAL CRISIS

By: Chriss W. Street

The ballooning Orange County financial crisis continued to spiral down as the State of California filed a law suit to force return of $73.5 million of property tax revenue the County skimmed from local schools and community colleges last November.  It seemed bazaar at the time that the supposed “Most Conservative County in America” would increase spending by $145.8 million, then  grab the school’s cash and cancel planned layoffs of 490 union workers.

The new lawsuit has caused increased scrutiny of other dicey actions by the County.  The biggest shock came from the recently released Orange County 2010-11 Audited Financial Report, which discloses the County is short $30,146,000 in Reserves and out of accounting compliance:   Continue reading→

Elizondo was forced to change his ballot designation as he is not a teacher

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Education, Eleazar Elizondo, Elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

I reported on Thursday about O.C. Board of Education, Area One, candidate Eleazar Elizondo’s comments to an OC Weekly reporter about how teaching adults is not teaching.  Now that OC Weekly article has been published and his comments are as ridiculous as the reporter indicated when she called me.  But even worse for Elizondo, the true story about how he arrived at the awful ballot designation of “Public Affairs Consultant” has now been revealed.

I recall that Elizondo, when I ran into him on the last day of the filing period, at the Orange County Voter Registrar, desperately called an attorney, on his cell phone, and asked the unknown lawyer to be his campaign attorney.  I wondered then why in the world he needed a campaign attorney.  Well, now we know. Continue reading→

O.C. Poltical blogger rips Moreno’s and Stroud’s lame ballot designations

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

OC Political blogger Chris Nguyen posted an article today poking fun at the top 10 worst ballot designations, pertaining to Orange County political candidates in the upcoming June primary.  His list includes a couple of Santa Ana residents – Lupe Moreno and Glen Stroud.  Both are Republicans who are running for the obscure Republican Party of Orange County (OC GOP) Central Committee, in the 69th Assembly District.

Here is what Nguyen had to say about Moreno and Stroud’s ballot designations: Continue reading→

Solorio selects Marisol Rivera, an O.C. labor leader, as Woman of the Year

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Assemblyman Jose Solorio Selects Orange County Labor Leader as “Woman of the Year”

Marisol Rivera, prominent Orange County labor organizer, travels to Sacramento to receive prestigious award

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s (D-Anaheim) choice for his Sixty-Ninth Assembly District’s Woman of the Year is one of Orange County’s most dedicated labor leaders.

“I would like to personally thank Marisol Rivera for her passion to discover the potential in her fellow workers,” says Solorio. “Marisol’s life story and how she rose above her own circumstances to help others serves as an inspiration to all of us. She is special.” Continue reading→

Is Julio Perez breaking campaign laws regarding contributions from the SEIU?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Julio Perez, Labor, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Liberal Democrat Julio Perez has already accepted the maximum campaign contributions from the SEIU (the Service Employees Union), for his 69th Assembly District campaign. And he touted their endorsement on his website.  But the SEIU also appear to be allowing him to use their office space for his campaign office.  That is called an in-kind contribution.  Perez appears to be violating campaign finance laws by accepting the maximum cash contributions from the SEIU and free rent.  That free rent could be worth thousands of dollars.

Click here to see the SEIU’s address in Santa Ana, on their website.  You will find that it is 1651 E. 4th St. Santa Ana, CA. Continue reading→

Local business owners to host a reception for Michele Martinez on 3/29

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Business, Democratic Party, Elections, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

One thing that separates Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez’ campaign for the 69th Assembly District, from that of liberal candidate Julio Perez, is the ample support she is receiving from local businessmen.  Perez is almost entirely funded by unions – the same unions who regularly advocate for more regulations, higher taxes and other job-killing mechanisms.

Local business owners Benjamin Mendoza, Ken Taylor and Manuel “Tiger” Vasquez are in fact hosting a fundraising reception in Support of Martinez on Thursday, March 29th, 2012, from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M., at 710 S Main Street,  in Santa Ana.  Parking will be across the street at A-1 Muffler. Continue reading→

Hispanic Santa Ana businessman is running against U.S. Rep. Sanchez

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cynthia Rosas, 714-839-4976, Jorge Rocha, Candidate for 46th US Congressional District

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN SET TO CHALLENGE LORETTA SANCHEZ

JORGE ROCHA 2012 COMMITTEE FORMS

SANTA ANA, CA – March 15, 2012 – Jorge Rocha announced that he is running for the 46th US Congressional District in the Primary election to be held on June 5, 2012. He believes the highly populated Hispanic-American district is ready to be led by a more conservative, pro-business and pro-education representative.Loretta Sanchez is not properly representing the interests of all US citizens in the district and, is out of touch with the true needs of the community that she now represents. After 16 years of basically doing nothing relevant for the community, it is time for REAL positive change to come to citizens of the 46th District in Orange County. Continue reading→

Who is Robert Hammond?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Elections, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Robert Hammond got 34.5% of the vote in 2010, when he ran for the 69th Assembly District as the Republican nominee.  Incumbent Jose Solorio blew him out with 65.5% of the vote, according to Smart Voter.  Undeterred, Hammond is at it again this year.  This time he is running for the Orange County Board of Education, Area One, after he quit the race for the 69th Assembly District.  I believe he is also running for the 69th Assembly District OC GOP Central Committee.

Hammond has centered his campaign around gay-bashing.  He has an incomplete campaign website, and you can click here to see his Facebook page. Continue reading→

69th A.D. candidate Michele Martinez announces March campaign events

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez, the leading Hispanic candidate for the 69th Assembly District, has released her March campaign schedule, as follows:

MARCH MADNESS is in full swing!

We’ve made some changes to the calendar so make sure to check out the new dates and details below. Here at campaign headquarters we’re moving forward and gaining momentum for what is sure to be a successful run at the State Assembly. I look forward to seeing you in the upcoming weeks. If you can make it to any of the events below or need any other information be sure to call our office at 714-564-0130 or send an email to michelemartinez2012@gmail.com. Continue reading→

Did Nguyen and Baugh pull Hammond out of the race for the 69th A.D.?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Art Pedroza, Democratic Party, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

An OC GOP insider gave me the scoop tonight on what really led to Republican Robert Hammond quitting the primary race for the 69th Assembly District – at the very last minute, last Friday, which was the filing deadline for that race.  Hammond ended up pulling papers for the Orange County Board of Education’s Area One.

What my source told me was pretty much what I expected.  Hammond did not come up with this scheme himself.  Apparently Supervisor Janet Nguyen and OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh were the ones that advised him to leave the Republican Party of Orange County hanging, with no candidate in the 69th A.D. Continue reading→

With Republican candidate out, the 69th A.D. is down to Martinez and Daly

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Politics, Republican Party, Robert Hammond, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Republican Robert Hammond, a resident of Santa Ana, has withdrawn from the race for the 69th Assembly District, according to the OC Political blog.  There are now four Democrats vying in the open primary, but only two of them have a shot at winning in June. 

Santa Ana Couincil Member Michele Martinez has 13% of the vote, according to a poll conducted by the other leading Democratic candidate, Tom Daly, who currently is the O.C. Clerk-Recorder.  Daly has a quarter of the vote, according to his poll. Continue reading→

Bustamante sex scandal could cost O.C. CEO Tom Mauk his job

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 8 Comments

“The Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday in an emergency closed session to discuss whether they should refer allegations of sexual misconduct against Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante to District Attorney Tony Rackauckas for a criminal investigation,” according to the Voice of OC.

My sources report that Orange County CEO Tom Mauk may be hung out to dry as a result of this scandal.  A report by Peter Hughes, director of internal audit, made its way to the supervisors, according to the Voice of OC – and his allegations were stunning. Continue reading→

Orange County to receive $100 million for new jails, due to Solorio bill

Posted on by Posted in Development, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2012
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355

State Assemblyman Solorio’s 2007 Legislation Authorizing Bond Sales to Build New Jail Facilities Yields Funding for Orange County
Orange County to receive $100 million for public safety facilities

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) took particular satisfaction in an announcement made this week by the State’s Corrections Standards Authority. Orange County is slated to receive $100 million to start construction on new facilities to house local inmates and provide re-entry services. Continue reading→