The “Usual Suspects” spent the last few weeks trying to destroy Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who dared to run against their boy Miguel Pulido. Now they are turning their sights on Councilman Sal Tinajero. The lies they are spreading about him are truly unbelievable. In two years they hope to take him out with one of their own, but guess what? That is not going to happen.
Just look at what happened to Jim Walker this year. Sure he got 17,000 votes – but Councilman Vince Sarmiento got over 29,000 votes. Game, set and match! You cannot defeat anyone allied with Team Pulido, unless you are independently wealthy. If any of the “Usual Suspects” were wealthy they would already be living in Irvine.
They hate Tinajero because he beat their chosen candidate, Jennifer Villasenor, two years ago. And they hate George Collins for running in that race and taking away white votes that Villasendor needed in order to beat Tinajero.
Is Tinajero the worst Councilman in Santa Ana? No way! That honor goes to Carlos Bustamante. But in two years the next worst candidate comes up for reelection – David Benavides. He has to go! His only friend on the Council is Bustamante. They flew together to D.C. last Cinco de Mayo to attend an event put on by the Bush administration. When Benavides tries to get an appointment in the Obama administration, that Cinco de Mayo trip is going to doom him.
As for Tinajero, he refused to support Bustamante this year for re-election. That was impressive. He showed himself to be a man, while Benavides gladly supported his pal Bustamante.
I will be opposing the re-election of Benavides in two years. But, as usual, the “Usual Suspects” will be supporting him and trying to take out Tinajero. I won’t be playing along with that scheme! Tinajero at least tries to support the working people of our city. And he stood up against the coronation of Bustamante. That matters in my book.
Yeah, and Tinajero cozied up to the Mayor and sided with him on the term limits expansion and was an advocate for NOT including Mayoral term limits. Does that matter in your book? What did all that give us? Four more years of Claudia Alvarez. Oh, but Benavides is the one to take down.
Your logic defies the imagination.
Hey Art, why have you chosen to not publicize this event?
http://downtownocfest.com/2008soundDowntown/tabid/212/Default.aspxcosy
#1,
I did publicize that event previously in a post about the return of Koos, but thanks for the reminder, I just put up a new post about it. As I noted in that post, I cannot be there tonight as I am speaking at a Libertarian party function, but I love that Koos is back and wish the concert promoters all the best as they make our downtown a place to be, at least for tonight.
As for your first set of comments, let’s face it, none of Team Pulido is perfect. But they are firmly in power and we have to make the best of a bad lot. Tinajero stood up to his peers by not backing Bustamante. Benavides, on the other hand, has been cozying up to Bustamante for some time. Bustamante is THE WORST of them, but Benavides is a close second. What has either of them accomplished on the Council? Nada.
I know that Tinajero supports education and he wants to make a difference. That is good enough for me. I also know he will take my calls and I will do my best to get my own views across to him this year. No one else on the Council, save for Michele Martinez, wants to hear from us bloggers. In fact Bustamante still thinks we are the biggest problem in town. What a dope!
Well, it’s nice to see that you’ve found a new Councilmember to shill for. Not to mention a Planning Commissioner to help you in the effort.
I’m sure Mr. Tinajero covets the support of Art Pedroza.
#3,
I don’t shill for anyone. I will continue to do what I always do. All of the Council Members will be held accountable for their actions.
“I know that Tinajero supports education and he wants to make a difference.”
And Mr. Benavides has been involved with KidWorks for years, including being the Chairman of their board. And his wife is a teacher. Are you seriously suggesting he doesn’t care about education?
Hmmm, that looks like supporting education and making a difference to me.
#5,
And who, pray tell, did Benavides support in this year’s SAUSD School Board races? Tinajero supported Irene Ibarra, who would have made a difference. Tell me, who did Benavides support?
As for Benavides’ wife, that’s great that she is a teacher. Tinajero, on the other hand, IS a teacher. Benavides is in the mortgage business. Big difference!
Nice job changing the subject Art. Get your pajaritos on that one.
The truth is I have no idea who he voted for. I just enjoy pointing out your utter lack of logic and objective, rational thought.
#7,
All you have done is confirm that Benavides is the favored Councilman of the Usual Suspects. Thanks for making my point.
“All you have done is confirmed that Benavides is the favored Councilman of the Usual Suspects.”
LOL. Yeah, that’s what I did.
#9,
Of course our readers don’t know this, but I am familiar with your comments. You are indeed an apologist for the Usual Suspects, if not a card-carrying member yourself.
Art,
You failed to mention that Sal committed the sin of all sins in the eyes of these folks, he appointed me to the Planning Commission. They have spent countless hours trying to make sure that this sin is rectified. Sadly they would rather focus on silliness like this rather than serious issues facing our community.
Let them bring on the petty personal attacks, Sal weathered that storm during the last election.
And tell me, who exactly do they think they can get to run against Sal that can actually beat him. Nobody from among their ranks will be able to do it.
Art, all I did was point out the lack of logic and objectivity in your post. If that makes me an apologist for the “Usual Suspects” (whoever they are), then that is just the way your silly mind works. I can’t help that. Next thing you know I’ll be another nefarious entity. That’s just the way your mind rolls.
Sean,
Very true!
It’s necessary to separate what a politician does to make the alliances and deals with other politico’s, without which he’d be isolated and ineffective, and the often low profile things he does that shows his character and purpose. This should be done with Tinajero. As a teacher in Santa Ana, Sal spent a lot of outside time involving his students in community activitities on weekends (I attended some, where I first meant him), and as a school board member, would privately make lunch time visits to schools to talk to small groups of teachers without the presence or knowledge of principals or other administrators.
“It’s necessary to separate what a politician does to make the alliances and deals with other politico’s, without which he’d be isolated and ineffective…”
Perhaps. But Art certainly isn’t capable of doing that. Except when it’s convenient.
Hypocrisy in action.
I am having a hard time following this. Maybe it will clear up later.
There are two council members I would consider as being the most independent and those are Martinez and Benavides.
Cook,
You’re absolutely right about Benavides and Martinez. But let me help you decipher the post; this is about Sean Mill wanting a forum to shill for Sal Tinajero at the expense of every other councilmember. In other words, tear the rest of them down to make Sal look good by comparison. And he’s enlisted Art’s help to do this. Since Sean is still on a Commission, he knows that the Code of Ethics constrains him as far as what he can say about specific Commissioners and elected officials on this blog without experiencing repercussions. So for the moment, Art is his willing accomplice in this effort.
From everything I’ve seen, Tinajero, Benavides and Michele are all reasonably cool. There are no big monsters to be taken down in 2010… except the Mayor (he’s up every two years, right?)
Vern, how DARE you come onto this thread and make sense.
Watch your back!
Vern,
Except for the fact that Benavides appoints commissioners who appear to dislike the people of our city. That is not cool.
Vern,
I believe you are right. we need another cool individual to replace Michele’s seat when she runs for Mayor in two years.
I believe they want the management of the city corrected but have no ability to make a difference due to the Mayor’s influence. The Mayor possibly wants it different but is influenced by his traditional supporters.
The point is that there needs to be a structure( political and economic) in place that competes with the structure the Mayor has so that council members and candidates have an alternative path to government.
ok…I’m officially warn out by Pedroza’s whiney blogs about everything in this city. I just happen to be responding to this post. I’m glad this blog seems to be falling apart at the seams. What, Art can’t get along with his fellow bloggers?!?! Amazing!!
I’m elated that Pedroza didn’t win a council seat (Not that I was ever concerned…As a matter of fact, Sal Tinajero has received the kiss of death of Pedroza endorses him, poor guy). Anyway, at least i can keep living in this fine city as long as Art has nothing to do with its future.
Your blog is worthless Pedroza. It has never accomplished anything. I’m officially resigning as a reader of this blog.
It’s too bad Art, this could actually have been a good blog. It’s just been lost in your whiney, bitter, small brain.
Careful out there on the fringe….you may just fall off into oblivion. We’d only be so fortunate.
Goodbye #22. This blog is the best thing that has happened to Santa Ana. Exposing not only City Hall but the Usual Suspects as well, including Thomas Gordon. I have no respect for people like the Usual Suspects as they serve no purpose other than take up space and gobble time. Whining about the Mexicans in town and worring about Northgate replacing Ralphs Market won’t change change the color of the City. The demographics of Santa Ana will continue to change and before the Usual Suspects know it, it will be an all brown City, with a few token white people.