We have already heard the ridiculous excuses coming from the Santa Ana Firemen’s Benevolent Association about their now-infamous mailer that “accidentally” included the OC COPS organization – alleging that they have endorsed Santa Ana City Council Candidate Tino Rivera, even though they have in fact not done so. On the heels of that disaster a new mailer came out today.
You would think that they would be apologizing for the last mailer – but then you would be wrong. Instead, the new mailer says “Your Firefighters, Paramedics, and Police Oficers need your help.” Well, what they really want is even more money, in a city that is so broke it has already closed all but one of its libraries. To get even bigger paychecks and pensions, the firefighter’s union is kissing up to Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and his entire squad of puppets – David Benavides, Tino Rivera, and Jennifer Villasenor. Problem – Rivera is not endorsed by the local police officers – so why does this new mailer mention them?
Don’t hold your breath waiting for an apology. I guess Debra Fritz, the lady who designs these mailers didn’t see the “bad mailer (that) is posted on the marlite board with bold writing instructing everyone who comes across it to NOT use it and discard it,” as Tim Whitacre put it earlier today.
These are human beings who do make mistakes. Given the amount of mail that goes out during an election I’m surprised more mistakes do not occur. I’m sure changes will be made to procedures to make sure this does not happen in future elections. Now can we please get back to talking about the issues? Thank you.
This is an issue
Fortino lies about his endorsements
Jennifer lies about her residency and her ties to a sexual predator and has people sling mud on her behalf
David takes illegal donations and lies about his employment
The issue is ethics,integrity and honesty and these three fail on all counts
I trust the good people of Santa Ana to sort this all out and select the best leaders for our city. No matter who you support, if your candidate is not elected than I beg you all to get behind the winners and work together to solve our cities problems. Together we can make this world a better place.
I don’t think this will have any impact on the elections. The cops endorsement is not worth all that much. Claudia got elected without it. Tish Leon will win big and then she will thumb her nose at the cops!
Post #2. Next election expect more candidates sending misinformation a few days before voting day, maybe candidates you don’t support. Will you then be so cavalier about them being human and foregive their erros?People learn quick to fight fire with fire.
Is this new mailer that implies the Police Assoc. is endorsing Rivera,Villasenor and Benavidez another error of Debra?Was this sent out at the same time as the other? Was it sent out after the other mistake?Can somebody go to the Firefighters’s Assoc. and find out?
A mistake? NOT.
Pulido & his machine are working very hard to hoodwink the voters. Why is Pulido afraid of his constituents?
Pulido denied Santa Ana voters the right to vote up or vote down mayoral terms. He and his pal Richardson have been responsible for raising more than $50K to wage a guerilla attack on Tinajero.
What are Frick ‘n Frat up to?
At the onset I did not consider casting my vote for Tinajero, however after receiving the most libelous mailers, the past few weeks, it’s become crystal clear Miguel and his cohorts are afraid of Tinajero.
Sal, you have this Dems vote. I do not want a puppet council.
Both mailers were sent to the Post Office by the mail house on Wednesday of last week, before any errors were identified. There was no possible way to recall any of the mail.
Yesterday (Saturday) we destroyed remaining copies of the mailer and spent the entire morning writing an apology which was uploaded to
http://www.santaanafire.net.
At about 4:00pm I received a call from Dennie DeSnoo telling me about the other error. He said Michele Martinez had called him when she saw the piece.
The second piece contained no names of other Organizations. This does not excuse the error.
I did 9 pieces of mail in two cities. Every other piece was error free.
Over the span of my career, I have done over 1,000 pieces of mail without any error more serious than an occassional typo. This does not excuse the errors either.
The most important thing to me is making certain people know that no member of the Firefighter’s Association saw the mail prior to it being sent.
They have trusted me for 18 years to be error free and I have never let them down, until now.
They will never again allow anyone to send mail in their name without first proofing it, and that is a good thing.
People who know me know that I am a straight shooter. When I do mail, I don’t lie, I don’t do “hit” mail, I don’t “stretch” the truth, I don’t misuse endorsements ( personal or group) nor will I be part of any group or campiagn that does.
I am one of the loudest critics of hit mail or mail that is designed with lies or misinformation.
I have done mail for the Santa Ana POA as well as other Public Safety groups. No one has more respect for them, the work they do or the sanctity of their endorsements.
It has been said here that the Register had space to sell for Monday’s paper and that I did not try to buy space. Please call the Register Ad Department at 796-7760 and ask to speak to Paul.
I was on the phone with him 3 times Friday attempting to buy space. I called some other political folks to see if any of them had any space booked that they might give me a piece of. No one had any they were willing to give up.
I considered paying for one of those “robo” calls to contact voters about the error, but O.C. Cops wanted an immediate written correction. That’s why the letter was done and sent to the website.
It is there for all to see and for the other candidates to use in their campaigns. It was the best, fastest way to get the information out there.
I’m sorry. I am not perfect. I screwed up. I take full and complete responsibility. What more can I say?
Debra Fritz
Debra,
What more can you say?
For starters you can say that you are resigning immediately as the campaign consultant for the fire fighters association and that you will no longer be handling their campaigns.
Again, I’m sorry. I am not perfect. I screwed up. I take full and complete responsibility. What more can I say?
How about if I’ll commit to wear on of those walking billboards on Monday and Tuesday. The billboard will say that the Santa Ana Fire fighters don’t support Tino and “I screwed up.” I’ll walk from daylight to sunset.
In addition, I’ll pay for the fire fighter association to also post a sign on their truck posting, “Santa Ana firefighters don’t support Tino, don’t believe the mailer”and drive it all day Monday and Tuesday.
Would this make up for my honest mistake? Please tell me what else I should do?
Sincerly,
Debra Fritz
The most important thing is that win, lose or draw, we all come together after the election and support the winners and be kind to the losers. Santa Ana and it’s residents deserve that from all of us. I hope the winning and losing candidates will all call each other after the election and work together to improve our city. And remember, Education First!
Debra said …
“They will never again allow anyone to send mail in their name without first proofing it, and that is a good thing.”
I find it very hard to believe that you never provided your clients with a brownline/blueline of the mailers you were retained to work on. And I find it impossible to believe that you failed to protect yourself by not having the customer sign off on a blueline.
Why would you open yourself to such troubles?
You’re cozy with Miguel and there was a wink and a nod regarding this mailer.
You claim you’ve run error-free campaign brochures for 18 years and you just happen to muck up two Santa Ana mailers in a span of less than 7 days. I was born at night, but not last night.
Looks like Timmy is back to posting anonymously.
Poster #1:
Wrong!
The Firefighters Association owns a 1950’s era Hook & Ladder that they have been driving around for years. Therefore, it is THEIR Association dues that pays for operating the truck and any political advertising – NOT your tax dollars.
The banner on the truck DID NOT have Tino’s name on it.
Nice try “Anonymous” one.
Semper Fi,
Tim
Some mistakes can be costly.
This should be a lesson to the candidates, lobbyist, IE producers, the Citizens of Santa Ana are many types of people. And some watch closely for abuses by the few who may think we are ignorant immigrants. (I was born in New York myself).
So, where is this 1950s Fireman’s Assn. fire truck stored? While you’re at it you can elaborate when and where the restoration took place.
The Santa Ana firefighters DID endorse Tino Rivera.
It was the Police folks that did not. They made no endorsement in the Ward 2 race.
The Firefighters Association has owned that truck for about 12 years..maybe a little longer.
The guys do all the work on the truck and the Association pays for the parts and the insurance.
Oil changes, etc are done at the same places that do it for the public, where there are approved oil disposal/other fluid containers.
When the truck needs major repairs, they rent space at a truck repair facility or similar place that has the larger equipment they need.
Poster #17:
Thanks for catching my error. You are right about Tino’s name being on the truck – as it should be since he is endorsed by them.
I meant to say SAPD is not mentioned on the banner, which is what the whole mailer issue is about.
Sorry about the error
#20
Where did the restoration work take place?
# 21-
Are you a Santa Ana Firefighter?
Are you a member of said Union?
How do you know what they were or were not wearing?
The limits on those streets would be 22 ft legnth, 84 inches width and 10, 000 pounds.
That truck exceeds all three.
You appear to be an insider.
Where do you get your information, what do you do for a living, and where do you live?
Who do you support for Mayor and Council?
Thanks you.
As soon as this election is over we need to forgive one another and come together like one big family of Santa Ana residents! Si Se Puede!
It is my understanding that there is an ordinance that prohibits city employees from participating in activities like endorsing political candidates under colors as city employees.You see in this blog fire fighters asking for votes in city employee uniforms.It was mentioned in another post that fire fighters in uniform were walking precincts for Villasenor also violating the ordinance. Why are these violations ignored? If the Fire truck has Santa Ana Fire Dept. written on it ,it would also be in violation.Is the association a nonprofit? I believe some nonprofits are prohibited from participating in political activities.
Non-profits are allowed to shape public debate around substantive issues and even promote voter registration and participation in the electoral process.
What non-profits cannot do is