Santa Ana Races Favor Incumbents
Posted by: John Galt | 08/15/2008 9:13 AM
Time to look at the races in our capital city.
MIGUEL PULIDO
It seems like Miguel Pulido has been in office forever. He is one of those people who went into office to do good, and has done well. He sits on the AQMD Board of Directors (where he has an AQMD car), the OCTA Board of Directors, and makes a fortune investing in neighboring cities.
Pulido doesn't just beat his opponents; he crushes them. In his first race for council, against incumbent P. Lee Johnson, Pulido dug up every dirty story from Johnson's divorce file, and splashed it in his mailers in the last week of the campaign. Two years ago, when councilman Mike Garcia unexpectedly pulled papers for mayor, Pulido not only forced him out of the race, but even out of his council seat. Word is Pulido threatened to take his job away from him.
Now it's Michelle Martinez's turn. Look for this campaign to be vicious. By the time Pulido is through with her, the public will see her as nothing but the chola she used to be. And Pulido's already grooming former councilwoman Lisa Bist to run for Martinez's council seat in two years - if not sooner.
CARLOS BUSTAMANTE
Four years ago, Carlos Bustamante was the fair-haired Republican hero of Santa Ana. He took on the Pulido machine and won. He was the GOP hope for the future.
It didn't take long for the Santa Ana establishment to suck him in. With the one exception of his vote against the anti-Walmart big box ordinance, he has followed the Santa Ana city line. He supports the massive Renaissance redevelopment gentrification plan which would master plan all of downtown Santa Ana and chase out existing businesses.
This didn't seem to bother Republican kingmakers, to whom ideology is secondary. But he went bust in the supervisor race and is now damaged goods. In spite of this, Bustamante would have appeared to be safe for re-election.
Then he pulled a George Allen. Remember George Allen, the senator from Virginia who figured to coast to an easy reelection in 2006 and seek the presidency in 2008? Then he addressed a questioner as "Macaca" and before he knew it, he was an unemployed ex-senator.
"Water bra" is Bustamante's macaca. A politician who can't refrain from telling a sex joke in public (in front of Jubal, no less!) is too stupid to be in public life. All other things being equal, Bustamante would lose this race.
But all other things aren't equal. One of his opponents, the multi-hyphenated Anna- Rebecka Valencia-Verdin, is a complete unknown. Thus far she's done a good job of alienating her would-be supporters. If she had made any kind of an impression, Art Pedroza would not have jumped into the race. But she didn't, and he did. One thing about Art - he won't suck up to Miguel Pulido if he's elected. That's his strength and his weakness. He won't play ball, and so he won't be able to raise any money. It takes much more than a blog to get elected. But if Bustamante makes another mistake, or if he gets fired from his county job, we could see Councilman Pedroza.
The fourth opponent in his race is Steve Rocco, recently gerrymandered out of his seat on the Orange Unified School District. It's hard to take Rocco seriously. But then, that's what Phil Martinez thought four years ago when Rocco was his opponent at OUSD. Rocco's a reminder that anything can happen in politics, but I still see him or the hyphenated Rebecka coming in last.
VINCE SARMIENTO
Sarmiento is the mayor-apparent in Santa Ana. If and when Pulido ever steps down, Sarmiento is in line to become the next mayor. A lawyer, he's cautious. You won't ever hear him refer to "water bras". He has token opposition.
CLAUDIA ALVAREZ
Is that a broomstick I see Claudia Alvarez walking around with? While Pulido favors the stiletto, Alvarez always looks like she has a bloody axe in her purse. Lisann Martinez won't beat her on her own. What could defeat Alvarez? The fact that when her term is up in four years, Jose Solorio will be termed out and she'll be the odds-on favorite to take his seat. That's what could motivate David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento, and anybody else who might covet an assembly seat, to take her out now. Not likely.
MIGUEL PULIDO
It seems like Miguel Pulido has been in office forever. He is one of those people who went into office to do good, and has done well. He sits on the AQMD Board of Directors (where he has an AQMD car), the OCTA Board of Directors, and makes a fortune investing in neighboring cities. Pulido doesn't just beat his opponents; he crushes them. In his first race for council, against incumbent P. Lee Johnson, Pulido dug up every dirty story from Johnson's divorce file, and splashed it in his mailers in the last week of the campaign. Two years ago, when councilman Mike Garcia unexpectedly pulled papers for mayor, Pulido not only forced him out of the race, but even out of his council seat. Word is Pulido threatened to take his job away from him.
Now it's Michelle Martinez's turn. Look for this campaign to be vicious. By the time Pulido is through with her, the public will see her as nothing but the chola she used to be. And Pulido's already grooming former councilwoman Lisa Bist to run for Martinez's council seat in two years - if not sooner.
CARLOS BUSTAMANTEFour years ago, Carlos Bustamante was the fair-haired Republican hero of Santa Ana. He took on the Pulido machine and won. He was the GOP hope for the future.
It didn't take long for the Santa Ana establishment to suck him in. With the one exception of his vote against the anti-Walmart big box ordinance, he has followed the Santa Ana city line. He supports the massive Renaissance redevelopment gentrification plan which would master plan all of downtown Santa Ana and chase out existing businesses.
This didn't seem to bother Republican kingmakers, to whom ideology is secondary. But he went bust in the supervisor race and is now damaged goods. In spite of this, Bustamante would have appeared to be safe for re-election.
Then he pulled a George Allen. Remember George Allen, the senator from Virginia who figured to coast to an easy reelection in 2006 and seek the presidency in 2008? Then he addressed a questioner as "Macaca" and before he knew it, he was an unemployed ex-senator.
"Water bra" is Bustamante's macaca. A politician who can't refrain from telling a sex joke in public (in front of Jubal, no less!) is too stupid to be in public life. All other things being equal, Bustamante would lose this race.
But all other things aren't equal. One of his opponents, the multi-hyphenated Anna- Rebecka Valencia-Verdin, is a complete unknown. Thus far she's done a good job of alienating her would-be supporters. If she had made any kind of an impression, Art Pedroza would not have jumped into the race. But she didn't, and he did. One thing about Art - he won't suck up to Miguel Pulido if he's elected. That's his strength and his weakness. He won't play ball, and so he won't be able to raise any money. It takes much more than a blog to get elected. But if Bustamante makes another mistake, or if he gets fired from his county job, we could see Councilman Pedroza.
The fourth opponent in his race is Steve Rocco, recently gerrymandered out of his seat on the Orange Unified School District. It's hard to take Rocco seriously. But then, that's what Phil Martinez thought four years ago when Rocco was his opponent at OUSD. Rocco's a reminder that anything can happen in politics, but I still see him or the hyphenated Rebecka coming in last.
VINCE SARMIENTOSarmiento is the mayor-apparent in Santa Ana. If and when Pulido ever steps down, Sarmiento is in line to become the next mayor. A lawyer, he's cautious. You won't ever hear him refer to "water bras". He has token opposition.
CLAUDIA ALVAREZIs that a broomstick I see Claudia Alvarez walking around with? While Pulido favors the stiletto, Alvarez always looks like she has a bloody axe in her purse. Lisann Martinez won't beat her on her own. What could defeat Alvarez? The fact that when her term is up in four years, Jose Solorio will be termed out and she'll be the odds-on favorite to take his seat. That's what could motivate David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento, and anybody else who might covet an assembly seat, to take her out now. Not likely.
CATEGORY:
2008 Elections, SanTana
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
John,
Good job handicapping these races. I think you are quite correct in your analysis here.
Bustamante is the weakest of the incumbents and if anyone of them loses it will be him. However due to the power of incumbency he will be able to rack up donations that Pedroza and the others will be hard pressed to match.
If this were an even playing field Carlos would be in trouble. As crazy as Pedroza gets on the blogs he actually has something Carlos doesn't, plans on how to tackle the problems facing our city. Art has the best interests of the community at heart and not just those of his buddies like Carlos.
I realize that most folks only know Art via the blogosphere and like me have gone toe to toe with him via the keyboard. However I think you will be surprised when you hear him discuss the issues and how he plans to tackle them.
Sean:
You've called Art dishonest and a liar here and on every other blog in OC.
Do you still stand by those statements? If not, that makes you the liar. If you still stand by them, why should we elect a liar to council?
Timmy...err...Pedrozbot,
I do believe that there have been many times in his blogging that Art has been less than truthful and over the top. I have taken him to task for that. His blogging style lends itself to be over the top, much like Gustavo Arrellano's writings.
In regards to his campaign for city council Art has taken on a serious tone and is about discussing the issues and how he plans to tackle them. He has discussed his plans for more libraries, the shopping cart issue and others. Has Carlos talked about anything? Will he?
In fact, in the four years Carlos has served on the City Council, the only time I have known him to speak up and get excited about an issue is when he wanted to have me removed from the Planning Commission and when he wanted taxpayers to pay for plasma television sets from his friend and donor. Those TV's were also placed in places like Crevier BMW, another one of Carlos' donors.
Carlos has also proven himself to be quite unprofessional. His "water bra" comment is just his most high-profile blunder. His phone call to me at my place of business was so over-the-top and juvenile that I swore I was arguing with a petulant child. And you should have heard the voice mail he left on a fellow councilmembers phone about me. After hearing that I got the impression that Carlos thought of himself as the high school tough guy he never got to be.
Speaking of liars, what about Carlos. There were three people present, including Jubal, when Carlos made the infamous "water bra" comment and two confirm that he said it. Only Carlos sticks to his denial. Should we re-elect that liar Pedrozabot?
For the record, like Carlos, I supported Paul Walters in his quest to become Sheriff. I too was upset when the Chief did not get the appointment. Unlike Carlos I did not embarass the city of Santa Ana with sexist remarks in front of the media.
Sean said, "Art has the best interests of the community at heart and not just those of his buddies like Carlos." I beg to differ.
Arturo has done absolutely NOTHING FOR SANTA ANA. He's an armchair quarterback at best when he takes his meds on time. Arturo has been an egotistical liar for many years; a bully with a blog. Lord knows many have tried to help him but sadly all the bad genes went his way...
Arturo has never walked one precinct for anybody including himself when he ran for school board and got trounced years ago. He will lie differently but the real activists in Santa Ana know better. Arturo is no activist; he's an attention seeker. He has a messiah-like complex and has always been very disingeneous. He is not trustworthy and will not hesitate to stab you in the back if he thinks you are looking better than he is in the minds of people around him - even Sean has experienced this. Not only does the O.C. Republican Party not want him; neither does the Democrat Party! His morphing from Rep to Dem is only because that's where he has found attention and back slaps for heading toward the looney left.
You'd think the Dem Party would welcome him yet you notice no welcome mat at their door. Why? His reputation preceeds him and the Dem leadership knows better than to encourage him to join up.
Yes, there are many issues with Bustamante and the whole "La Raza" council in Santa Ana, but to elect Pedroza to council would be like giving a lifetime supply of cocaine to an addict. We just can't afford that and must wait for the next election cycle for real change.
CRA Reep,
How would you describe Carlos? Is he a good person?
I do believe that there have been many times in his blogging that Art has been less than truthful and over the top.
Don't soft-pedal your prior, and accurate, statements about Art's honesty, Sean. It's not like you.
You have out-and-out call him a liar, based on your own personal experience.
And now you're supporting that same liar for council. Ward 3 voters drew a bad hand when it comes to candidate choices. Why not just face that fact instead of putting your own credibility on the line for that guy.
Carlos has some issues to be sure. The lying about the remark was absolutely stupid. Just admit you made a dumb remark that wasn't meant for the public and apologize for it.To string it along was not wise at all.
Also, if one is going to claim to be a Republican but then not vote for limited government and instead vote for almost every tax increase or bond that comes across your desk, there's a problem there too as well. But, hopefully, that can be fixed with enough downward pressure on Carlos. If not, then this will be the last time he gets anymore support from the Party and he will fade away into private life.
Compared to Pedroza, anything would be better in his place. Art's Mom said it best about electing Pedroza would be akin to giving more drugs to an addict.That is a great anology. Pedroza is poison and any kind of power given to him would be a huge, disasterous mistake.
Should we re-elect that liar Pedrozabot?
I'd probably write in a candidate, Sean.
But at least we have you on record as supporting a candidate you know to be a liar. Why you want to cover yourself in Art's dishonesty is beyond me.
Tim Whitacre's business must be doing poor -- based on all the anonymous comments he seems to be posting here against Pedroza.
Tim, quit complaining and being an "arm chair quarterback" yourself, get up on your feet, dust yourself off, have a cigar, and take the hill.
Honestly, you're just as lazy as Art.
Tim (why not just fess up?) -
'But at least we have you on record as supporting a candidate you know to be a liar. Why you want to cover yourself in Art's dishonesty is beyond me.'
Wait. So including me, two people that this blog generally considers credible have come out for Art in as many days. One of us, Sean, isn't even on the campaign committee. So please, tell me again how this isn't personal for you? Tell me again how you care about what's best for the residents of Santa Ana if you're going to slam Carlos' only legitimate challenger because of your own inter-personal issues?
You don't have to forget Tim, but I think it's time to forgive. It's what's best for the city, so please prove to us that you really care about the people. Isn't that really why we're all here? It is for some of us, anyway.
SMS
Attention, Sophia! Cease the personal attacks or I'll start dropping rounds in your perimeter!
SMS, you, Sean and Sophia only assume I'm Tim Whitacre.
But that aside, why should Santa Ana voters elect a dishonest man like Art Pedroza? That's not an "inter-personal issue." Honesty should be a basic qualification for office. You and Sean have failed to tackle that issue head-on. You just deflect and change the subject, which speaks volumes right there.
Semper Fi!
Tim (since you sound so much like him it's still appropriate) -
Hold on there a second. Don't you remember elementary school math? Transitive property my friend. Sean and I are lending some of our credibility to Art, which he wouldn't even need if it weren't for the many obvious personality conflicts between the two of you. He slams politicians for doing a poor job, not because he doesn't like them. It doesn't get any more 'head-on' than that. Nobody's deflecting anything and I think your assertion is extremely unfair.
That's all I care to say on this issue.
SMS
Pedrozabot,
Who should we support in this race? Carlos? Writing in a candidate is not an option since there is none that have official qualified.
You are the one focused on personal attacks. You have totally ignored the character issues regarding Bustamante, and they are much worse than anyone has stated here, and have tried to just express your anger instead.
SMS-
"He slams politicians for doing a poor job, not because he doesn't like them. It doesn't get any more 'head-on' than that."
What a ludicrous statement. Art slams politicians that he is not friends with, pure and simple.
When two candidates that I don't support are running for the same office I tend to either not vote, or campaign heavily against the person I like the least. In this case it's Art Pedroza. Because he's dishonest, malignant, petulant, AND because he doesn't care about the community.
I don't know why we're still talking about this race. It's not like Art has a snowball's chance in hell to win...
Sean-
You are ridiculous. You have been slamming Art for MONTHS for being dishonest and unethical, and now you're on record supporting him for city council? WOW! Do you see how silly you look? Do you not understand that everyone sees through your transparent BS? Do me a favor: re-join OJ and start blogging for them again. You might as well.
On a side note, Bustamante's character issues are nothing compared to Art's. Carlos burned you in the past more than Art has, so you choose to slam him and support Art.
How much does your soul cost Sean? Pathetic...
"Bustamante's character issues are nothing compared to Art's"
D'Aconia,
I wouldn't bet the farm on that one if I were you. But then again you probably don't think Larry Craig or David Vitter have character issues either.
Carlos has never "burned" me. So again you know not of what you speak.
You willing to put your "soul" on the line for Carlos' character? If so, make sure you dress lightly.
Sean Mill's brain is out of sync. today! I would never trust Art Pedroza.
CRA Reep,
You failed to answer my previous question, how would you describe Carlos? Is he a good person?
I realize that you are in attack mode, but I would love to hear what you think of Carlos. Would you vouch for his character like D'Anconia?
Sean, I don't want to disappoint you but your Art has been in my "sub-human" list for last 2 years and anyone, including Carlos, looks whole lot better than Art Pedroza.
Art has wrong principles and he mis uses every opportunity to hurt individuals without justifiable cause under the thin shield of his near defunct, political blog, orange juice.
I have no respect for Art Pedroza!
Sean you continue to support Art and you might end up in the Santa Ana Zoo yourself! Remember my "sub-human" list?
CRA Reep,
I am clear that you don't like Art. Got it!
So please tell me your opinion of Carlos Bustamante. Do you view him as a man of high moral character?
I'm guessing most regular readers of this blog don't think SMS or Sean have sufficient credibility to lend Art P.
All 3 are seriously lacking.
As far as Marines go, Tim Whitacre ranks alongside Cesar Laurean and just like Laurean, I'm sure Timmy would flee to Mexico from a fight as well.
The man is an anonymous scuzball. It's just a shame he's not more anonymous in real-life.
SMS, Arturo "Viva Mexico" Pedroza attacks EVERYBODY who doesn't kiss his ring. He can't keep a serious professional relationship going for more than a number of months at best and he has long had the title of Village Idiot way before you ever came into town. Quite honestly, your defense of Arturo shows you to have zero credibility to help him. He will get slaughtered in this most recent bid to stroke his ego. You would be wise to distance yourself from him but apparently, you're neither wise nor astute. You and "Sophia Petrillo" (One of Arturo's and a fellow blogger's many "anonymous" names) are comical in assuming Tim is even part of the string of comments (Semper Fi, Pedrozabot!) LOL!!! You have never even met Tim and talked with him and yet you assume you know anything about him. So much for your quest for the "truth" huh? Arturo "Viva Mexico" Pedroza has a reputation that is damaged beyond repair. People who othewise wouldn't care too much about this race will now vote just because they can't stand Pedroza and his slimy, dishonest ways.
"...and his slimy, dishonest ways."
well, I must admit... if Art Pedroza is slimy, and dishonest then so is Tim "I back endorsed-Democrats as an elected Republican Central Committee member but don't get in trouble for it" Whitacre. He also tries to go out with "Blanche Devereaux" type women.
The man is an absolute scuzball.