Tino Rivera, the independent council candidate who is running for Santa Ana’s Ward 2, is holding a fundraiser tomorrow, at the historic Dr. Welte/Bustamante home located at 819 N. Spurgeon, in Santa Ana, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. You can RSVP by email or by calling (714) 651-6528.
The Honorary Host Committee for the event includes all the current Santa Ana City Council Members, except for Jose Solorio, as well as past council member Brett Franklin. Other prominent politicians on the committee include SAUSD Vice President Rob Richardson, Laguna Niguel Councilman Paul Glaab, RSCC District Trustee Brian Conley and former La Habra Mayor Juan Garcia. Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is the Campaign Chair for the event.
It is interesting that Republicans including Council Members Carlos Bustamante, Alberta Christy and Lisa Bist are all supporting Rivera. Other Republicans supporting Rivera include Parks and Recreation Commissioner Tim Whitacre; Lincoln Club and New Majority member Dale Dykema; and the aforementioned Glaab, Richardson and Franklin. As I noted, Rivera is not a Republican, and in fact one of his opponents, Evangeline Gawronski, is a member of the GOP.
Gawronski has over 25 years experience as a community activist in Santa Ana. I disagree with her support of PIP (Pre-inspection Program), which involves inspections of homes prior to their sale. However, I did refer her to the OC GOP Endorsement Committee so that she can make her case to them and seek the party endorsement. Rivera cannot do so as he is not a GOP member.
Personally, I have a problem with Republicans backing someone who is not a Republican when a Republican candidate is available. Apparently most of my GOP peers in Santa Ana feel otherwise. I have heard that Rivera plans to become a Republican after the election, but I would be more impressed if he were to do so before the election.
I also am wary of Rivera as he is obviously friendly with Pulido. The last thing we need is another Pulido acolyte on the council, in my opinion.
According to Rivera’s website, he was very involved in the recall of former SAUSD trustee Nativo Lopez. I wonder if Lopez will try to get revenge by backing one of the Democratic candidates opposing Rivera? Those candidates include Tish Leon and Michele Martinez.
Evangeline is a political gadfly with a good heart. Period. She’s about 50 years late to run and win a Santa Ana election for…PTA president. Find a time machine Evangeline and there is no limit to what you can do! Don’t hate her..just hug her and wish her well.
Luis
I realize how desperate you are to discredit Evangaline but you are really taking this to an artform.
Just to clarify a couple of statements, let me start with Evangalines’ involvement with
1 Commlink
Like it or not, Commlink is an equal opportunity involvement forum
2 NICE Committee
Like it or not, it deals with Citywide issues, all neighborhoods all the time
3 SAFETY Committee
Like it or not, it deals with safty issues Citywide.
I’m not exactly sure why you think a resident of Wilshire Square that represents her nieghborhood at Commlink and has donated countless hours on assorted boards and commissions would have ANY business in Santa Anita neighborhood. Where are their representatives?
Oh, and BTW
How many hours have the other candidates spent in Santa Anita or any other neighborhoods for that matter.
Anon,
Thank you very much. I appreciate you putting this accomplishments on the list. Now we can have voters decide what they would like, a candidate with the accomplishments you have mentioned, or a candidate like Michelle Martinez.
I stand by my decision.
Anonymous 5:53.The issue with these accomplishments is that while these committees are dealing with city wide issues(quality of life), the solutions requested are exclusively for the interests of the neighborhod association activists.Very important comment you posted to consider-Why do you think a resident of Wilshire Square who represents this neighborhood and donates countless hours on boards and commissions has any business in the Santa Anita neighborhod? Enough said . There is no interst outside of Wishire Square. Art Lomeli
Tim and Evangeline are alike in the following manner:
Tim obsesses by placing over 300 complaint calls to code enforcement and Evangeline walks her neighborhood, clipboard in hand, writing down code violations to turn into Dunhams. If she is really intrigued by a particular residence, she strays from the sidewalk, trespasses and peeps into a neighbor’s backyard. She doesn’t have the guts to confront neighbors about the alleged violations. Gee, I guess not everyone’s home is their castle, especially if it’s inhabited by the wrong skin color folks.
Since everyone yearns for the days of Ozzie & Harriet and My Three Sons, then lets call it as it is … Evangeline and Tim are common snitches.
Why would anyone want an elected official who doesn’t have the character to confront? Evangline’s style is duck, hit ‘n run.
On the other hand, I was impressed that Ms. Martinez did not fall for Pulido’s enticement to endorse if she moved to Ward 6. That’s character.
Wow , this just keeps getting better. Now the comedic tag team of Art and Luis are together, bobbing and weaving around the fact that Evangaline is the ONLY candidate who has actually had an ongoing history of involvement with this Citys’structure of neighborhoods, and their forums for participation. First you deny Evangaline her kudos by saying you don’t like the City administration anyway. Then you say years of participation and giving was worthless because she didn’t go to Santa Anita. Please let me remind you one more time that Commlink, NICE, and the Safety Committee, are open forums where any and all residents of Santa Ana may come and participate. For you to continue to suggest that somehow it was Evangalines responsibility to go to ANY other neighborhood proves you are desperate to malign her.
Let me ask the obvious question.
Which of the other candidates have participated in Santa Anita or any neighborhoods other than their own?
Oh wait, none of the other candidates have participated at all, in their neighborhoods or anyone elses.
So Luis and Art stop working so hard putting Evangaline down it just makes you look like jackasses.
Anonymous 3:36pm. Let me give you some more comedy relief.I only speak for my self. There is no bobbing and weaving about her participation in those committees. There is no attempt in not acknowledging her participation.Full credit is given.An explanation of the nature and interests associated with that participation was presented for readers to consider. You were the one that questioned why a neighborhood activist(Evangeline) should be intersted in neighborhoods of a different make-up than hers.You are the one that maligned her ,not I.Michele Martinez participates in all neighborhoods,including Wishire Square as I do.I have purchased tables at the Wishire Square street event various years as Michele has as a representative of Gold Coast Bakery.I was not invited to participate this year.Please don’t be so angry and resort to name calling,it doesn’t help you,instead it hurts your credibility. Art Lomeli
Art
Anon 3:36 was right
You are a jackass.
Why do you think you weren’t invited to the Wilshire Square concert? Are you going to blame EG for that too?
The engagement of words is amusing. Evangeline is nothing more than a budinsky. It’s well known, on her block, that she calls the police whenever neighbors hold a fiesta.
Families cannot celebrate graduations, birthdays and other festivities without Evangeline summoning the police.
We are not talking about late night parties or raucous gatherings. Evangeline dislikes the brand of musica and large guest list that invades “her neighborhood.”
She, like Tim, is viewed as a lonely woman who has nothing better to do than sit by the window waiting to pounce on the neighbors.
Hasn’t anyone noticed that the causes she gets behind always lose in the courts??
Doesn’t Evangeline and the ComLink crowd get it?
Anonymous 8:17. Calm down,don’t be intolerant about other people’s opinions.Do you embrase exclusionary behavior due to differances in opinions.I assume that is the reason you insinuate I wasn’t envited this year to the Wilshire Square concert.I was welcomed when I spokeout about retail diversity and inclusion of the Artist village in the Downtown.I am excluded when I speakout about inclusion and fair play for the Hispanic community.Everybody should have an opportunity to get a piece of the pie.What is next, exclusion based on culture,language,economics,what kind of car you drive,who you support politicaly,the size of your family,how many cars your household has,if you have children that play in neighborhood esthetic parks,if your sport of choice is soccer,if you do not own a car? Where does the word jackass fit best. Art Lomeli
Education (Intelligence) has much less to do with being a good politican as does wisedom and understanding. Dis-qualifying any candidate on the basis of education alone is pretty… well, uneducated. There are many successful individuals who do not have a college education, and from what I understand Candidate Rivera runs a successful business built from nothing.
First off, Fortino Rivera has two sons, not one, as well as a daughter. The oldest is about to graduate from San Diego State University, and I believe is working on attending law school. The younger son is the one who attended Westpoint Academy. Both played football, and the oldest was all c.i.f. and all county like his father. I have seen the two sons being combined into one person, with both lives being combined, and feel it is important to clear this up.
When we look at candidates for this critical election coming up, I feel it is very important for us citizens to look very closely at the actual families and households of each potential candidate, and not simply the party affiliation and experience.
No doubt are experience and education important when looking at a candidate, but so many times I have seen candidates with an impressive education and experiences become elected, only to do a much worse job than those candidates with less education and experience. Or, the elected candidate will become a so called “puppet.” I have known Tino for a very long time, and out of all the potential candidates I have spoken with, I can tell you Tino is the LEAST likely to become a “puppet.” He has always spoken his mind based on what he believed, and not based on what the majority believed.
Tino’s family is living proof that this man indeed believes in the city of Santa Ana, and has had all of his children attend grade school all the way up to high school, in Santa Ana public schools. He has balanced a business, family, involvement in city organizations, all while staying active in his neighborhood. Tino is a great father, and is very well respected. I for one will have his support every step of the way.
Also in regards to the last post, I am in agreement with Mr. Lomeli. We all have the right to speak our opinions and deserve the right to be heard. The whole principal of this nation is based on ones ability to speak freely. My statements are only from what I myself have experienced and seen, and are simply my opinions. I believe all the candidates are capable of helping our city, I myself believe Tino is the best candidate for the job.
Anon,
EG accomplishments are not being questioned. Her validity as a candidate and ultimately a council member are what I am discrediting. I do not want a candidate who will only represent the ideals of Wilshire Square. I want a candidate who will represent all the residents in Santa Ana, and all the neigborhoods in Santa Ana.
If a resident does not pertain to a neigborhood association, does that mean they dont deserve representation? For that reason, I believe Michelle would be the better candidate as, in my opinion, she seems to be more in tune with all residents.
If we had ward elections, than I would understand your choice. Your ward would be entitled to elect a candidate whom would represent your ward best, but since we have citywide elections, than I am looking for a well rounded candidate who has the potential to assist the entire city.
One more thing, I would like to add is, the beef is not with Com-Link, NICE, and other organizations, but lets be honest, do they represent the entire city? Is Com-Link well represented by all members of the city? Look at their board…do you know feel it is a little disproportionate?
I encourage everyone to make their own decision as to whom they would like to vote for, I simply feel Michelle would do the better job without any influence from the city establishment, and without being partial to specific neighborhoods. I dont see the other candidates able to do that.
Anon,
A few years ago, I attended Com-Link meetings, I was not comfortable with the way some members spoke. I also had conversations with other members in the audience, and realized this was not the place to be. What I want from the city, is not the same as those who serve and participate in this organization.
Secondly, if you know me, than you would know, nothing I have to say would be listened to by any member of that board nor any person in the audience. By the way, you may not think I am aware of what happens in the com-link meeting, but I did have a good friend of mine who served on your board for awhile. I know enough not to participate.
Anonymous6:56am.Please recall ano.8-26-06 8:17 post. and my reply.I was not invited to the Wilshire Square concert apparantly because I speakout about the inclusion and fair play for the Hispanic community.Comlink seems to have unifying concerns not in line with individauls with the kind of message I have been excluded for.My presence there would just cause you to piss and moan.I did attend the Washigton Square cocert and had paparazzi pictures taken by Wishire Square activists.Art Lomeli
Michelle Martinez did attend the Wilshire Square and Washington Square concerts.Her intention is representation for all of the city’s residents.Invite her over to address you. Art Lomeli