Click here to see the video footage of this forum
Jaws dropped tonight when Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and his cabal, Council Members Claudia Alvarez, Vince Sarmiento and Carlos Bustamante, got up and walked out of the NAACP Candidates Forum – after doing their introductions. I had just zinged them all by noting that our city has almost 400 liquor licenses but only one public library.
The move backfired on them immediately when Lisann Martinez, who is running against Alvarez, grabbed a microphone and said “I’m not leaving – I am with you and will stay here with you.” Martinez got a huge ovation even as folks were booing the Mayor and his gang.
I can understand why they left. Why stay and have to answer tough questions? And mayoral candidate George Collins videotaped the entire meeting. So they knew they would end up embarrassing themselves on film. But do they even realize how bad it looked when they left?
And Councilwoman Alvarez looked even worse. Once again she attacked Coucilwoman Martinez – calling her a drug dealer. And once again she got booed by everyone. Alvarez is beyond crass – she is a walking violation of the City’s Code of Ethics. Shame on her and shame on Pulido for allowing these attacks to continue.
Every Council candidate took their whacks at Pulido and company, all night long. When we were asked what is the biggest problem in Santa Ana, Collins responded – it just left the room. That got him a big laugh.
All the Council challengers were there tonight – except for Jim Walker who inexplicably never showed up. And all the SAUSD School Board candidates were there too. Most did well. Mike Gonzalez and Cecilia Aguinaga had a bit of a hard time answering the questions, but Irene Ibarra, Gloria Alvarado and Valerie Amezcua did a good job.
La Habra Council Candidate Tim Shaw showed up to speak on behalf of his boss, Assemblyman Bob Huff. Christina Avalos, who is running against Congressman Ed Royce, was there too. State Senate Candidate Gary Pritchard was there – but his Republican counterpart, Mimi Walters, was a no-show. I also met Joseph Lyons, who is running for the State Senate in District 29.
The forum included questions from the audience. We were asked about immigration raids, problems in our city, teen pregnancies, and even the death penalty.
The meeting was attended by a very diverse crowd including quite a few college students. I also ran into a friend who ran the Pew Civic Entrepreneur Initiative when I completed that program. It turns out that four of the candidates have been through the program, including myself, Reyna, Michele Martinez and Alvarado.
Thanks to the folks at the NAACP for putting on this fine event. I am sorry that they were disrespected by Pulido and his team.
Replace Team Pulido – Audio of NAACP Comments
You’re forgetting that ‘El Mentiroso Pudrido’ and his cabal are legends in their own minds; their mind thought is that they were doing the NAACP a favor by even showing up.
Alvarez has no game…other than the old dirty ball she’s throwing against Michele Martinez regarding her brother; ho hum…..BORING and OLD NEWS. What did you expect from the Devil herself in the same old worn out looking blue dress?
So, the 3 SAP’s (Sarmiento, Alvarez & Pulido) + Busty walked out. They’re arrogant bunch of banditos.
Bravo to Lisann Martinez & George Collins for their quick thinking.
I plan on voting for both Martinez’s on Nov. 4
We’re constantly discussing cleaning up the gangs of Santa Ana. Why not start with this city government \gang\ of four that has banded together and is behaving so badly? What a terrible example to set for the community and our kids. Their behavior is incredibly embarrassing to Santa Ana.
Call the district attorney office and the California Bar to make a formal complaint
Mmmm,
Sounds like these four unprofessional sitting Councilmembers made a decision outside of the Council chambers. That smells of a Brown Act violation. Where is Shirley Grindle when you need her.
I heard from one of my”pajaritos” that they were late for their self-sponsored back-slapping party.
I’m just surprised they showed up even at all. And why is Alvarez attacking Martinez? Are they running against each other? Why is Alvarez so JEALOUS of Martinez anyway. Doesn’t Alvarez know her actions make her look like a juvenile crybaby? Does she even care? It doesn’t matter anyway, there is an anti-incumbent tsunami washing over Santa Ana as I type.
The NAACP organizers of last night’s forum told me that Claudia complained to them that she felt threatened by the audience that boo’ed her. That they are stalking her every where she goes and booing her.
She violates the self imposed code of ethics by publicly and slanderousely calling a fellow Council member a drug dealer.
Santa Ana residents, business owners and other interested parties attending hear what she says, get disgusted and object the only way available, and rightfully boo her.
She instigates controversy and then feels threatened by the publics response?
I said it before,Claudia gets no benefit from these attacks the Mayor does.
She is doing her role for the team.
Pulido’s team walking out before the question and answer period is so disrespectful towards the NAACP.
The next candidate forum is scheduled for Tuesday October 14. It is being put on by the South Santa Ana Merchants Association at the OC Musicians Union Hall at 6:00.
Call SSAMA President Mr. Jorge Doffo, Co-Owner of Doffo Auto Body & Paint
at 714- 547-8600 or via email: jorgedanield@hotmail.com and ask him to tell Claudia to stay home.
Call SSAMA Vice President. Abdul Qadeer, D.V.M. at 714 545-8281 or via email:
Dr_aqadeer@yahoo.com and ask him to tell Claudia to stay home.
Call SSAMA Treasurer Maggie Rodriguez at 714- 532-2100 or via email: maggie.rodriguez.qye9@statefarm.com and ask her to tell Claudia to stay home.
Call SSAMA Secretary Ms. Mary Guzman at 714-380-2210 or via email: guzmar@peoplepc.com and ask her to tell Claudia to stay home.
The rest of the board is as follows:
Mr. Sergio Velazquez
Owner of Velazquez Publishing, Inc.
2025 S. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone (714) 668-1010 / Fax (714) 668-1013
Email: miniondas@miniondas.com
Mr. Rene Mancia
Owner, El Pupusodromo Restaurant
819 S. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone (714) 542-3001 / Fax (714) 542-1342
Email: manciarene@sbcglobal.net
Gustavo Barcenas
The Mill Bakery
312 S. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone (714) 543-4236
Ms. Alma González
Taqueria Baja Cachanilla
1431 W. Warner Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone (714) 754-1990
Benjamin Mendoza
Kelly’s Body Shop, Inc.
2041 S. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone (714) 540-0322
info@kellysbodyshop.com
PAST PRESIDENT
Mr. Octavio Pina
Casapueblo Realty & Mortgage
1926 S. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone (714) 432-8282
Call often
Have your friends and family call
Tell them to un-invite Claudia aLVAREZ
Concerned Voter,
It would be interesting to see if any calls made to these people would have any effect. I have found the most of SSAMA to be very much like Pudrido. They have a disdain for the people of SA. Velasquez Publishing has been in bed with Pudrido from the get-go.
You have to remember that this association was formed to support their businesses along the Main Street Corridor. That being said most of these Board members are on it in order to promote their businesses. Politics is just a means to maintain the favorable votes on the Council. Just ask Ben Mendoza. He was once on the outside looking in and now he is considered The Godfather of South Main. Problems with the City? Just pay him a visit.
What really boils my blood is that the SSAMA regularly “extorts” “donations” from a lot of its regular members for the Board Members candidates of choice. The candidates of choice mostly always being the Pudrido backed candidates
Un-inviting Alvarez would actually boost her campaign. We don’t want to make her a martyr do we? I say let her shoot more holes into her boat and let her sink herself. I’m actually inclined to show up for this one. Maybe I’ll even bring an anti-incumbent banner or something.
How much is the SSAMA charging to attend this candidate forum and are they going to forbid any resident from taping this forum?
Isn’t Ben related to Mike Metzler by marriage?
CTQ96 – Claudia sang the same tune about feeling threatened by voters at a candidates forum years ago. If she doesn’t want to deal with the public, then she shouldn’t be running for political office. Claudia is perfectly capable of imploding on her own. Claudia is one crazy chica.
Is the “experienced”team so RACIST that they did not care about the NAACP that with out respect they left the forum before the questions and after deplorable behavior from Claudia?
It is time to vote them aout of the city council on Nov.4th. Vote for Collins, Pedroza, Walker and Lisann Martinez.
Alvarez complained about being stalked in 2000 and 2004. When she ran against Armando dela Libertad and Tom Umberg in 04 she blasted them with false accusations and innuendo. So this is not surprising. But sadly she will probably win. Most voters in Santa Ana are uninformed.
Also not surprising about Pulido. He has been running around for years saying he could take out Congresswoman Sanchez anytime he wanted to. His sheep, Dennis DeSno was furious that Pulido didn’t get the Democratic Party endorsement. It was laughable when he went up to a central committee member and said the DPOC wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Pulido. I am sure Congresswoman Sanchez would find that amusing since no one knows who Pulido is outside of Orange County.