Lou Correa has come out smelling like roses after being bullies by State Senate Leader Don Perata. However, another OC legislator, Assemblyman Jose Solorio, also attended the fundraiser that got Correa in trouble. They are both apparently trying to reach out to moderate Sacramento Democrats.
I have not been a huge fan of Solorio over the years, primarily because of his association with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. I have however always felt that Solorio had potential and that he was voting the way he did because he was under Pulido’s thumb. You can’t say that anymore! Solorio is free now to be his own man.
I did hear something disturbing this week, about Solorio. A very connected OC political insider told me that he appears to be lost in Sacramento. Wow! How can that be? He has already made quite an impact in our capitol. Look at the committees he is involved in:
- Chair, Committee on Public Safety
- Member, Committee on Appropiations
- Member, Committee on Education
- Member, Committee on Transportation
Solorio is also involved in a number of bills, as follows:
1. AB 37 – Solorio * Teachers: professional development.
2. AB 104 – Solorio * Criminal records: city attorneys.
3. AB 122 – Solorio * Voter intimidation: candidate notification.
4. AB 276 – Solorio * Trial courts: limited-term employees.
5. AB 343 – Solorio * Health care: employer coverage: disclosure.
6. AB 352 – Solorio * Weapons.
7. AB 369 – Solorio * Child abuse reporting.
8. AB 485 – Solorio * Special education: nonpublic, nonsectarian sc
9. AB 590 – Solorio * Parental involvement: limited-English-profici
10. AB 731 – Solorio * Health care coverage: public agencies.
To follow what Solorio is up to you can also sign up to receive his newsletter.
Solorio’s wife, Lin Lee, is a teacher for the SAUSD (I don’t know if she will continue in that role – it depends on whether the Solorios will move to Sacramento at some point). I have worked with her one Michele Martinez’ community committee. She is a pleasure to work with! You can see their family in the picture on the left. They represent the future of California – Latinos and Asians working together for the betterment of everyone. Solorio’s perspective as a father will also serve him well as a legislator.
After I was sworn in as a Santa Ana Commissioner, I received a nice note from Solorio wishing me well in that role. He did not have to do that and I appreciate that he did. I think that now that I am no longer a Republican I ought to be able to work better with the Democrats in my area. At least I hope so.
Here are a few of the news releases that Solorio’s office has made available on their website:
March 5, 2007 – Garden Grove Teacher Teri Rocco Chosen By Assemblyman Jose Solorio As Woman Of The Year For Sixty-Ninth Assembly District
March 1, 2007 – Assemblyman Solorio Leads Effort To Get $383.5 Million for Orange County Freeways
February 20, 2007 – Assembly Public Safety Chairman Solorio Introduces A Bill That Cracks Down on Gangs and Drugs
February 6, 2007 – Assemblyman Jose Solorio To Open 10,000 People Strong (est.)Tet Festival of Flowers To Celebrate 2007 Luna Year of The Hog
It sure doesn’t look like Solorio is lost in Sacramento – I think fellow legislator Jim Silva is a better example of a guy who truly has no clue as to what he is doing. I looked up Silva’s committee assignments, and here is what he had to say about the Budget Committee: The Budget Committees jurisdiction is the Budget. Wow. I wonder how long it took for Silva to come up with that statement?
But, Solorio is contending with powerful L.A. Latino leaders – and you have to wonder what they think of those of us from the O.C. If Solorio can succeed while contending with them, he will have truly accomplished something.
I doubt that the O.C. GOP will be able to come up with someone to run against Solorio in two years. I know Ryan Gene Williams won’t do it. I’m sure the Reeps will find someone – but they will have no chance of success. Solorio has a chance to stay in office to the extent that term limits allow. Who knows? Maybe he will continue in the State Senate thereafter. Transitioning from Correa to Solorio would appear to be a seamless and positive outcome.
I wish Solorio well. The 69th Assembly District has so many needs – we truly need an effective legislator to represent us. Will Solorio fit the bill? So far it looks like he is on the right track.
“I doubt that the O.C. GOP will be able to come up with someone to run against Solorio in two years”
As long as self proclaimed Party Chairman and Most Self Righteous Republican Leader aka Timothy Whitacre are allowed to infest the party like a puss filled sore and co-chair campaigns for the Democrats like his pals Fortino Rivera and Jennifer Villasenor instead of lifting a finger for the Republicans, your darn right that Solorio will serve out his term.
I hope you are right Art. Having known Solorio for over 15 years I too was dissapointed when he became one of Pulido’s minions and Ream’s disciples. I hope he can and will sever those ties that have bound him from serving our community while on the SA Council.
He is a very astute individual and worry now that his priorities will focus on higher office while spreading a few crumbs to the AD69 constituancy. We need a person who has AD 69’s interests at heart. I only hope he decides to run for senate in his hometown of Wasco, CA so that we can get a better person representing us down here. I won’t be holding my breath though.
In fairness to Jim Silva’s web site’s description of the Budget Committee’s jurisdiction, it’s not his description. It’s a default web site template given to all Republican Assemblymembers.
See Bob Huff, Chuck DeVore, Mike Duvall, Roger Niello, John Benoit, Sam Blakeslee, Paul Cook, Jean Fuller, and Bill Maze.
“But, Solorio is contending with powerful L.A. Latino leaders – and you have to wonder what they think of those of us from the O.C”
Art: I’ve been scratching my head over this statement. What does it mean? Are you suggesting that Latinos elected from LA have something against Jose or Latinos from Orange County. I dobut that is the case since many L.A. Latino legislators work well with other Latino electeds from San Jose, Fresno, San Diego and all parts in between.
Poster 4,
Two things – in L.A. the Latino politicians are used to being in power. Not so in O.C., where they have only prevailed in recent years, in the center of O.C.
Secondly, the L.A. Latinos are simply a tougher lot. Many are ex gang bangers. Not so with the Santa Ana contingent.
Lou Correa was a tough kid, and a former boxer, but Solorio? Pulido? Bustamante? Benavides? Have you ever run into SO MANY weak men in your life? I am not trying to be mean, but honestly, Santa Ana is the home of the weak, limp handshake, or so it seems.
Look at Pulido’s hobbies – speaking French, playing tennis, and the arts. Do you think he has anything in common with Fabian Nunez, Gil Cedillo, etc.?
L.A. Chicanos are into soccer, boxing, women and drinking, in no particular order. They like the Dodgers and the Raiders. Santa Ana’s politicians have more in common with elitists from Newport Beach and Irvine than they do with their Latino counterparts in Los Angeles.
Art:
You seem to buying into the white/Anglo-Minutemen, Reconquista state of mind.
Fabian Nunez was never a gang member, nor was Kevin DeLeon, Gil Cedillo or any other assembly member from LA (no, not even Richard Polanco or Antionio Villaraigos). In fact, discredited councilmembers Mike Hernandez and Richard Alatorre used drugs and are perfect examples of weak men.
And, the fact that our Mayor speaks French and may play tennis is a plus in my book. Why do Latinos need to be only bilingual? (And, most Latinos born here hardly speak Spanish in any event).
Art,
As always, it’s open mouth, insert foot! To judge Pulido by your standards only proves how much you don’t know. Pulido is one of the most powerful Hispanic elected’s in this State. He knows and works well with all the L.A. guys and Nunez. They would love to have him run for higher office, but understand and respect his choice not to. They also know that he has many D.C connections and has been able to bring a lot of $$ to Santa Ana. You have absolutely no idea of his relationship with those folks, so stop spouting off about it.
Solorio has always been his own man. The fact the he voted with Pulido on many issues only proves they have the same priorities. Pulido helped Solorio get elected to the Assembly, and introduced him to a lot of folks along the way. And Solorio will do just fine in Sacramento. Don’t worry about him.
Poster 7,
Really? I had heard otherwise. I don’t know that I would call Alatorre a weak man – he may have been on drugs but he was a tough guy. That is what I am talking about – most Santa Ana politicos are rather wimpy by comparison. Does anyone really believe Bustamante when he talks about putting gang bangers in jail?
As for Pulido, who could forget what happened during the immigration riots? We had cops from eight cities in Santa Ana – but Pulido was nowhere to be found. I heard he was at home, quivering under a desk.
As for the French language, have you forgotten that the French invaded Mexico? They are hated back in the old country. Why would Pulido embrace that language, of all languages? We have a word for that – vendido.
Poster 9,
Don’t worry? I think not. These legislators answer to us. It is our job to worry about what the heck they are up to.
I don’t buy this “been his own man” spin. No one who bends knee to Pulido is his own man. Perhaps now that Solorio is free of his influence he can indeed be his own man.
Pulido and I have been working to ensure a complete Democrat council and have taken cash from many sources,including unions, to ensure that we get rich at your expense. Wait till Bustamante II
I am so glad to hear that Pulido sent Solorio to Sacramento to get money for Santa Ana. With Solorio working in Sacramento, Dave Ream and Jim Ross won’t have to shove an assessment tax down Santa Ana residents throats or shove it up their annus’. Glad to hear Ream & Ross will give up the fight! Let’s see how much money flows directly to Santa Ana for street improvements.
Ok Art. I need to make sure I understand your comments. Pulido is not a powerful politician because:
He is not a former gang banger, tough guy and he is not a tall, muscular man.
During the immigration riots, Pulido was not out leading the Police effort to quell the riot.
And last, but not least, because he speaks French, he is a vendido.
Is that correct?
Monies (funds) for street maintenance and repair come from three sources. 1) the City’s General Fund. 2) Sacramento. 3)City Bonds or Assesments (local voter approved taxes). Money from the Feds is designated towards design only. The Bristol Widening is funded mostly by OCTA and that is wonderful. However, what about the rest of Santa Ana’s streets?
Jose’s email newsletter is great!
I enjoy receiving his communiques and I wish him well in Sacramento.
Poster 14,
Sorry for the late reply. I was at a training seminar all day.
Think what you will of Pulido. His counterpart in LA was there when his city suffered through a similar riot. Villaraigosa did not run and hide.
As for the French issue, go to Mexico and ask folks what they think of that. They were invaded by France! The only country that treated them worse was the U.S. – when we stole the southwest from them.
That’s the point – Pulido may be a Latino, but he is totally out of touch with most Latinos, particularly his paisanos.