With the 34th apparently settled, special election coming up next

It looks like OC Supervisor Lou Correa will prevail after all in the 34th State Senate District, thanks to the dirty tricks of Otto Bade and Correa’s handlers in Sacramento. Congratulations to Lynn Daucher and her excellent campaign staff for their valiant effort! I wish the best to each of them in their future endeavors.

Now of course we have three holes to fill in Santa Ana – Ward 1 on our City Council, Sal Tinajero’s seat on the SAUSD School Board, and Lou Correa’s seat on the Board of Supervisors. Here is what I know about each race:

  • While Garden Grove Council Members Mark Rosen and Janet Nguyen are all but announced for Correa’s seat, as is Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante, there are a couple of big fish we have yet to hear from. Tom Umberg has not decided whether to jump in, according to my sources. And today I heard that Assemblyman Van Tran may be thinking about making a run at Correa’s seat. If he does, Nguyen will pull out and run for Tran’s Assembly seat. Bustamante will stay in – and lose. Will any other Latinos run for Correa’s seat? What about Benny Diaz in Garden Grove?
  • I am hearing that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is going to go all in behind one of his cronies for Ward 1. Who that will be is anybody’s guess. My sources tell me that Vince Sarmiento is having second thoughts. The opposition candidate figures to be backed by Claudia Alvarez, Lisa Bist, Michele Martinez and Sal Tinajero. I should know more about that person by Monday.
  • Bertha Rivera was recently appointed by SAUSD trustee Rob Richardson to an SAUSD committee that is helping to pick the next SAUSD Superintendent. Could that mean that failed council candidate and Pulido puppet Tino Rivera will be in the running for Tinajero’s seat on the school board? Armando De La Libertad may also be interested.
  • Keep your eyes on a couple of other items that may end up on the special election ballot: ward-specific council elections and mayoral term limits. I believe both would pass with over 70% of the vote.

I don’t expect Daucher to concede the election – State Senator Dick Ackerman will surely call for a recount. However, it doesn’t look good at this point. There will be plenty to write about though, for at least the next few months. Stay tuned!


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