Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Roman Reyna

Team Benavides stumbles as Pulido and Alvarez win

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Estela Amezcua, John Palacio, Karina Onofre, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 12 Comments

The Team Benavides consultant, John Palacio, lost his tug of war with Mayor Pulido

What a night.  To sum it up, Mayor Miguel Pulido won easily.  Over in the RSCCD Area 5 race his longtime ally, Claudia Alvarez, also won.

What about Team Benavides?  Well, David Benavides got beat, badly.  So did Eric Alderete, in Ward 3, by an unknown candidate, Angelica Amezcua, who barely campaigned.  And while Vince Sarmiento won in Ward 1, he did so barely over another unknown candidate, Estela Amezcua.  The one guy in the Benavides cabal who won with a big margin was Roman Reyna, in Ward 5. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Election results – Pulido far ahead and Amezcua winning in Ward 3!

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Bond Measures, Brett Franklin, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Chapel, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Jose Hernandez, Mark McLoughlin, Measure GG, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Shane Barrows, Shane Ramon Barrows, Steve Rocco, Thomas Gordon, Tony Tapia, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Two winners – Mayor Miguel Pulido and President Barack Obama

As expected, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is winning handily tonight.  The O.C. Voter Registrar has posted the early returns, which are absentee ballots. Here are some of the evening’s highlights:

  • Mayor Miguel Pulido has a whopping 7,454 votes – David Benavides only has 3,676 votes.  George Collins is nipping at Benavides’ heels with 2,523 votes
  • In a shocker, the unknown schoolteacher Angelica Amezcua is leading in Ward 3, with 6,637 votes, while Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Eric Alderete has 5,097 votes and former Council Member Brett Franklin has 4,172 votes.  It is early yet but if this trend continues then Franklin has a good shot as the Latino vote in Ward 3 is clearly split.  There are however three candidates splitting up the white vote – Charles Hart, Shane Barrows and Steve Rocco. Continue reading→

Who will win in Santa Ana’s elections on Tuesday?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Bond Measures, Brett Franklin, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Jerry Hayden, Jose Solorio, Karina Onofre, Loretta Sanchez, Mark McLoughlin, Measure GG, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Orange County, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Tony Tapia, Travis Allen, Troy Edgar, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Santa Ana Mayoral challenger David Benavides wasn’t on the ballot two years ago, as he had no opponent for his City Council seat.  The last time he appeared on the ballot was six years ago, back when he still mentioned his wife and family on his fliers and websites.

So it was a daunting task for Benavides to ramp up his name I.D. this year in a few short weeks, having announced his mayoral campaign rather late in the game.

As such I think he is going to be toast on Tuesday, Nov. 6. But what about the other races? Who will win?  Comment here with your picks, including estimated vote percentages and whoever gets the closest will win a free banner ad on our blog for one month, for the business or non-profit of their choice.

Here are my predictions: Continue reading→

Disgraced Councilman Bustamante promotes Benavides for Mayor!

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Crime, David Benavides, Elections, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Benavides signs at Bustamante’s house

I got a tip today that disgraced Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante has been seen putting up signs for his pal David Benavides’ mayoral campaign, and that Bustamante has Benavides’ signs in his yard.

So I drove over to Bustamante’s house and sure enough, he had two Benavides signs in his lawn!  And a pile of Vince Sarmiento signs on his porch to boot. Continue reading→

Did the SAUSD waste several thousand dollars on useless scanners?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Jose Hernandez, Politics, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD 22 Comments

Another scandal has erupted at the Santa Ana Unified School District as evidence has come to light indicating that the SAUSD has spent thousands of dollars on scanners for their warehouse – and the scanners don’t work!

Apparently SAUSD employees have been told to carry the scanners in the warehouse even though this equipment still doesn’t work. Continue reading→

Updated: Why is the SAUSD letting hundreds of pounds of food rot?

Posted on by Posted in Food, Health and Medical, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD 70 Comments

Picture courtesy of the OC Weekly

NEW UPDATE: SAUSD Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana just sent me an email indicating that:

“The Santa Ana Unified School District is looking into programs that will allow us to donate excessive food that we are not able to use because of over ordering or food that was not used in production. We are in communication with other districts such as Los Angeles Unified that have similar donation programs.”

The District is committed to continuing best practices that ensure that the investments made to our schools are utilized in an efficient and effective manner that best serves our students.” Continue reading→

Why did Benavides blow off the ribbon cutting at the Bao Quang Temple?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Churches and Religion, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Karina Onofre, Little Saigon, Miguel Pulido, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Vince Sarmiento 13 Comments

“After a long time, through many difficulties, under the enthusiastic help of effort and money from donors and Buddhists in many places, especially Council Member Santa Ana, Bao Quang Temple was officially inaugurated on Sunday morning, with the spacious, majesty and the splendor, before hundreds of religious clergy, visitors and community members,” according to Nguoi Viet.

Mayor Miguel Pulido was there.  So was Ward 5 Council candidate Karina Onofre.  They were joined by Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, a candidate for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Area 3, and Santa Ana Council Member Vince Sarmiento.  But mayoral challenger David Benavides and his clip-on tie wearing sidekick, Ward 5 challenger Roman Reyna, were missing in action. Continue reading→

A clip on tie Roman? Really?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Elections, Karina Onofre, Michele Martinez, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 18 Comments

It is a rite of passage in just about every Western culture.  You watch your dad put on ties, perhaps on Sunday while getting dressed for Church.  One day, perhaps when you go to you first prom, your dad teaches you how to put on a tie yourself.

Santa Ana City Council candidate Roman Reyna apparently has not yet learned how to put on his own tie.  He sent out a mailer that a friend of mine received today, wherein Reyna appears to be rocking a clip on that is far too short (see the picture above).   Continue reading→

Will high gas prices doom Team Benavides as they call for tax increases?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Taxes, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

“As early voting begins, Californians are dealing with a new cost crisis as gasoline prices explode upward all over the state. The five-dollar a gallon figure was crossed at a number of gas stations at the end of last week while other stations closed down for lack of supply,” according to Joel Fox, the Editor of Fox & Hounds and President of the Small Business Action Committee.

That could be bad news for Santa Ana Mayoral challenger David Benavides and his left-wing Council majority.  Benavides and his allies – Council Member Vince Sarmiento and Council candidates Eric Alderete and Roman Reyna, have all said, at a public candidates’ forum that they support every single tax increase measure on the Nov. 6 general election ballot, including Prop. 30, which “increases the sales tax, which is applied to gasoline sales,” according to Fox & Hounds.  Continue reading→

A look at the Santa Ana Council candidates campaign finance reports

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Brett Franklin, Charles Hart, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Karina Onofre, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 12 Comments

The Santa Ana City Clerk, Mary Huizar, sent me the Santa Ana Council and Mayoral candidates’ new campaign finance reports today.  You can read them all by clicking here.   The reports are a heck of a read – for one thing it looks like Ward 3 candidate Eric Alderete raised more money than all of the other candidates.

Here is a rundown of the reports’ highlights: Continue reading→

Has Roman Reyna been missing in action at the SAUSD School Board?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Education, Elections, Karina Onofre, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD 41 Comments

A friend of mine recently spoke to two members of the SAUSD School Board – and what they had to say about their colleague, Roman Reyna, was interesting.  Apparently Reyna is often late to School Board meetings and he even skips meetings.  They also said that he has lacked engagement and seemed disinterested.

Reyna’s supporters have been adamant that he is all about the kids, yet he allegedly has a poor record at the SAUSD School Board and he is quitting the board after only one term, in order to run for Ward 5 on the Santa Ana City Council. Continue reading→

No sunshine for Reyna as he blows off Santa Ana business owners

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, 2012 Elections, Elections, Karina Onofre, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 40 Comments

It’s bad enough that Santa Ana City Council Ward 5 candidate Roman Reyna is supporting every single tax increase measure on the November ballot.  But yesterday he actually was the only City Council candidate to blow off and skip the Candidates Forum hosted by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, at the Delhi Center.  And to make matters worse, I am told that he was a no show because he feels he has the election in the bag and he doesn’t need to “waste his time” showing up to meet business owners and voters.

Wow.  This from a guy who has never held a job in the private sector, as far as I can tell.  His last job was at the Santa Ana YMCA and before that he worked at the Santa Ana Boys and Girls Club.  Both are non-profits.   Continue reading→

2012 Candidates Forum to be held tonight at the Delhi Center

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Business, David Benavides, Elections, Entertainment, Eric Alderete, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

Don’t miss the 2012 Candidates Forum that will be hosted today,.from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, at the Delhi Center, which is located at 505 E. Central Ave., in Santa Ana.

Think Together’s Director, Randy Barth, will be serving as the forum moderator.  The forum is supposed to offer a business perspective.   Continue reading→

Team Benavides supports every tax increase on the Nov. ballot

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 46 Comments

Let’s raise taxes!

A curious thing happened at the Santa Ana City Council Candidates Forum hosted by Com Link last night.  The event moderator asked the candidates if they intended to support three ballot measures that are going to increase our sales, income and property taxes – Measure Q, a bond measure to fund remodeling projects at Santa Ana College; Prop. 30, the tax increase initiative backed by Governor Jerry Brown, which actually restores a few sales and income taxes that would otherwise go away; and Prop. 38, an even bigger tax increased backed by liberal millionaire Molly Munger, much to the chagrin of Brown. 

The candidates responded and it is worth noting that the faction that is supporting Council Member David Benavides, including Ward 1 candidate (and incumbent) Vince Sarmiento, Ward 3 candidate Eric M. Alderete and Ward 5 candidate Roman Reyna, all supported all of these tax increase measures. Continue reading→

The new Santa Ana Council majority will crumble after the election

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Charles Hart, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

If there is one thing I can guarantee going into the November elections, it is that the current Santa Ana City Council is destined to crumble.  Already the coalition that is backing Council Member David Benavides is showing signs of cracking.

We exposed this week one of Benavides’ supporters after she reached out to the Charles Hart Ward 3 campaign – a slap to the face of Eric Alderete, the Ward 3 candidate who has sided with the crumbling majority.  Alderete has already distanced himself from Team Benavides. Continue reading→