Our friends at the Total Buzz blog have published campaign finance updates for the local races in Santa Ana, as follows:
Mayor
Miguel Pulido – $8,248
Stanley Fiala – n/a
Thomas Gordon – n/a
Ward 2 City Council
Tish Leon – $53,660
Fortino Rivera – $26,088
Michele Martinez – $21,303
Evangeline Gawronski – $13,882
Ward 4 City Council
David Benavides – $24,909
Nelida Yanez – $9,401
Ward 6 City Council
Jennifer Villasenor – $11,009
Sal Tinajero – $5,049
George Collins – n/a
Ward 2 is clearly the toughest race going. Leon lent herself $50,000, which instantly made her a player whereas Rivera and Martinez are raising money the old-fashioned way. In Rivera’s case that means taking money from Pulido’s contributors, whereas Martinez is remaining competitive despite the fact that the city establishment is behind Rivera. The only Republican in the race, Gawronski, is holding her own, but likely finding it tougher to raise money in a city dominated by Democrats, and a race that features so many other well-funded campaigns. I still think her odds are good if you consider how the other campaigns appear to be splitting the Latino vote.
In Ward 4, Yanez has raised almost $10,000 against the Puildo-backed candidate, Benavides. That looks better when you consider that the Pulido-backed candidate in Ward 6, Jennifer Villasenor, has raised only $11,009 – barely more than Yanez’s total take. In fact, Yanez has raised more than Pulido himself. And she has raised almost twice as much as Sal Tinajero, the school board member running against Villasenor.
I’m a bit surprised that Tinajero has not raised more. I suspect his final numbers will be a lot higher. I also think that labor will spend a lot on his behalf, in the form of independent expenditures.
Back to Benavides – why has he taken cash from the faith based organization SAJE Foundation if he is pro choice? He told me that he is pro-life, but he has told others that he is pro-choice. He needs to make up his mind or not talk about the issue altogether. He also abstained from voting on the Kelly’s auto shop expansion, as a member of the planning commission. Why? He took cash of course.
I know some of my readers are going to ask me why Thomas Gordon and George Collins, two candidates I am supporting, have not reported any campaign donations. They have each been attending numerous neighborhood meetings and forums, as well as the Patrias festival in downtown Santa Ana. Collins has also been busy filming the forums. You can find streaming excerpts on his website.
Pulido is clearly not worried about his opponents. He is hardly raising any money. That’s great! There are dozens of distinct constituencies angry at him – his fellow Democrat, Phil Angelides is dragging down all Democrats – and voters are angry at incumbents in general. I hope he continues to ignore his own race. Memo to Pulido: go raise more for Tino – that will only help Gawronski.
I could care less if David Benevidez or any other candiate is pro-choice. It’s irrelevant to a city council race.
And, I don’t care if a candiate believes in God, Alah, Quetzal, or an of a number of other dieties.
The bottom line is can which candidate do the job best as it relates to improving this city. That’s it.
Do we have any Quetzal believing candidates? Por Fin!!!!!!!!!
So Mr. Gordon is too busy to file the required financial disclose forms (as required by campaign laws and explained at the time of filing to run) but we are supposed to vote for him to be Mayor of a city of 350,000 people with a budget of nearly 400 million dollars? Sure.
9:04,
Correct me if I am wrong, but Gordon has not, to my knowledge, accepted any donations. So what exactly is he supposed to file?
Gordon is trying to illustrate the fact that donations come with strings attached – Pulido and his cronies are practically puppets. He is trying to stay above the fray. For that he deserves credit, not scorn.
Way to go Mr.Gordon! You the man!
Raising money is one indicator of a candidate’s strenghth and support. I think we can agree that Mr. Gordon is not raising money because he has no support.
Looks like Fortino should be working harder. I saw him walking precincts yesterday in workout shorts and tennis shoes!
What a lunk. Fortino, you should respect the voters and dress more formal when you are asking people for their votes.
Art,
The money for the Mayor’s candidates is irrelevent. The money you see now, i believe is what they have been able to fundraise for themselves. The significant amount of money will come at the end. This is where they turn the green light and pass everyone up.
So when Mr. Pedroza ran for school board and lost he did not accept any contributions? Not one?
Tino came to my door and I’m glad he was dressed casually. We are a working class city and too many of the politicians come around dressed like they are going to a fancy dinner or a funeral. Mr. Lou Correa who lives in a million dollar home in the only guard gated community in Santa Ana is like that. I like the candidates who don’t look like a Jehovah Witness salesman in a monkey suit when they come around. Don’t change Tino, estamos contigo!
Luis is right. Read todays articles about he Correa/Daucher race. It points out that Correa raises less than opponants but gets MILLIONS of dollars of independant expentitures from Unions, Indian Casinos, etc
mmmmm, indian casinos.
Thats Native American Casinos, get it right.
“So Mr. Gordon is too busy to file the required financial disclose forms (as required by campaign laws and explained at the time of filing to run) but we are supposed to vote for him to be Mayor of a city of 350,000 people with a budget of nearly 400 million dollars? Sure.”
My forms were in on time as required by law.I have chosen to not accept any of the cash offered to me.
“Raising money is one indicator of a candidate’s strenghth and support. I think we can agree that Mr. Gordon is not raising money because he has no support.”
Again, I have been contacted by many people, companies, developers and various others with personal and business interest with this city.I have chosen to not accept any money because financial support comes with strings attached.
The same people who complain anonymously about the way the city is run and the influence of the money upon our council are the same people who complain anonymously that candidates with no cash equal no support.
With your support we can make a change for the better.
Anom. 10:19
In one breath you were able to attack.
Those who own nice homes (million dollar home), Religion (Jehovahs Witness) and salesman. Although I live in a working class neighborhood I enjoy bathing, combing my hair and looking presentable when the mood suits me. Why should others gains through hard work and the pleasure they get from looking nice bother anyone. I have weeds in my yard that flower and look nice, but i still prefer my roses.
10:15,
I am not running for anything. I admire Gordon’s stance, but I don’t have exactly the same outlook. I did raise $5,000 when I ran for school board. But my opponents did raise over $50,000 each.
Thomas:
I believe the city needs to change and a leder at the helm. We don’t have thatin this city.
Unfortunately, you are not an agent for change. If you were, you’d be running to win, not to make a point about the influence of money in politics.
Why don’t OJ Bloggers come up with the David Letterman style top 10 list of excuses Art and Claudio will make when Mayor Pulido and his candidates all get elected! This could really be interesting so let those creative juices flow and have some fun with it!
I think Big Sal likes attending school board meetings that go past midnight and isn’t serious about this race for city council. All he has done by running such a lame campaign is ensure that he will have some strong opposition when he runs for re-election to the school board. I believe he will get knocked off the board in two years and he can go back to being a professional Hispanic, I mean teacher!
Didn’t the Orange County Republican Party endorse Gordon, Geronsky and Collins? Maybe they will be doing some MAJOR I.E.’s so they will all cruise to victory in November. Just what exactly does the Republican Party do for the candidates they endorse Art?
I find it utterly fascinating that Pulido has managed to wrestle half of Villasenor’s $11,000+ from the execs at Birtcher. Isn’t this the developer that purchased a few buildings from Harrah about 1-1/2 years ago?
Villasenor is for sale.
Tax the campaigns, committees and pac’s., and repeal the income tax on labor.
Anon #11 continues to repeat the refrain that Correa lives in a “guard gated community” – completely untrue. His neighborhood is gated, but there is no guard. Not even a guard shack. The security consists of the same kind of automatic gate and callbox you’d find at hundreds of apartment complexes in Santa Ana.
And Lou at least lives in the 34th.
How many Birtcher executives donated the $5,000 to Villasenor’s campaign.
This incident gives the meaning sugar daddy a whole new meaning.
Jennifer is smart, pretty, and works so hard that it is no wonder that so many you losers and haters want to dis her. Did someone kick sand in your face when you were in high school or perhaps a cheerleader turned you down for a dance? Don’t hate, appreciate!
Thanks for posting Jennifers Mom.
If Jenn is so smart and works so hard, why has she worked for Rosemead,El Monte, Bell Gardens and now her hometown of Huntington Beach in the last 5 years? Can’t she keep a job?
And please do tell us all why you refuse to fill us all in on Gregory Villasenor and what he is in prison for?
Five Birtcher execs donated $1,000 each to the Villasenor campaign and Ms. Villasenor accepted these donations. That’s a fact.
It’s unfortunate that candidate Villsenor is non-compliant when it comes to the $249 rule or SAMC’s that govern the city.
If Ms. Villasenor disregards the laws of our Charter, as a private citizen, what makes you think she’s capable of abiding and/or enforcing them as an elected official?
That’s the question that needs to be asked. And the electorate must continue to explore the source of her campaign donations.
NO candidate is above the law. It doesn’t matter how pretty or handsome he or she may be. And I haven’t a clue what cheerleading has to do with SAMC.
On 9/30 David Benavides recorded a $500 donation from DiRienzo – according to his campaign statement. What’s fascinating about this donation is that five days earlier Benavides, a planning commissioner, voted to approve David DiRienzo’s 6-story loft project in Santa Ana.
It appears that Miguel’s slate of candidates are ignorant of city laws that govern council campaigns or they believe they are above the laws that govern our city.
Miguel’s zest, to put in place a board majority, at any cost, needs to be carefully examined by the voters.
Villasenor and Benavides are for sale!
ana#28—sorry, I’m voting for Sal but regardless, here’s the City Charter piece you are referring to:
Sec. 2-107. Prohibited campaign contributions.
No councilmember or any campaign committee controlled by the councilmember shall solicit or accept any campaign contribution or loan of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or more from any person for a period of three (3) months following the date a final decision is rendered in any proceeding before the council involving a license, permit, or other entitlement, if the councilmember knows or has reason to know that the person had a financial interest in the proceeding.
That doesn’t apply to Villasenor because she is not a councilmember voting on a project. (It will apply id she gets elected and votes in the next 3 months).
The article of the Muni Code that does apply is this:
Sec. 1206. Campaign contribution limitation.
No person shall make, and no candidate for mayor or city council or campaign treasurer shall solicit or accept, any contribution or loan which would cause the total amount contributed or loaned by that person to that candidate, including contributions or loans to all committees controlled by that candidate, to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in any election cycle; provided, however, that the city council may, by ordinance, adjust such limit to reflect changes in the consumer price index; and provided further that nothing herein shall apply to a candidate’s contribution of his or her personal funds to his or her own campaign contribution account.
Villasenor was fine in accepting those donations. Benavides however, should have, and rightly did so, return his $500 check from DiRienzo.
Benavides only returned the donation after a reporter starting investigating the DiRienzo contribution. It was only when Ms. Taxin posted her findings on The Buzz that this violation came to his attention. This lapse of judgement should concern voters.
It’s important to view this violation in its timeline — there was only a 5 day span between Benavides voting on the DiRenzio project and accepting the campaign donation. It has all the appearances of “Benavides for Sale.”
Pulido brought the Birtcher money in for Jennifer.
I’ve heard the Republican Party endorsed Gawronski, Gordon and Collins, but the looming question is — why has Tim “Big Time Rep” endorsed Democrats Jennifer Villsenor and Tino Rivera?
We all know why Mr Whitacre is helping Jennifer Villasenor.
For the same reason Carlos Bustamonte buys women drinks in bars.