Santa Ana Councilman Joe Dunn. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? My sources are telling me that former State Senator Joe Dunn is no longer considering a run for the O.C. Board of Supervisors. Instead, he is now looking at running for Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council, against Councilman Carlos “Space Commander.”
Apparently Dunn is worried that Santa Ana Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez, who is also thought to be running next year for the First Supervisorial District, will take enough Democratic votes away from him to cause them both to miss out on a possible runoff election. In that scenario, the incumbent, Supervisor Janet Nguyen, would end up in a runoff against Trung “Photoshop” Nguyen.
But Dunn wants to keep his foot in the political door, in case Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez ends up leaving the House of Representatives in the next few years. Running for the Santa Ana Council, in what would likely be a slam dunk victory against the “Space Commander,” would allow Dunn to easily regain a political title. That title would come in handy should Dunn end up running for the 47th Congressional District in the future.
Beating the “Space Commander” would be easy for Dunn – as such it is a viable, low-risk option for him, as compared to a Supervisorial race that could spell the end of his political career. And the part-time Council position would allow Dunn to keep his job as CEO of the California Medical Association. That job pays him a half million a year. That salary would allow Dunn to fund his own campaign against the “Space Commander.”
And, if Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido somehow ends up being appointed as Ambassador to Mexico, after Hillary Clinton wins the U.S. Presidency next year, Dunn will be in a great position to become the next Mayor of Santa Ana.
A Dunn council victory would be a thunderbolt to the rest of the Santa Ana City Council. He would be a natural ally to Councilwoman Michele Martinez. I could see them setting up a new progressive board majority with Councilmen David Benavides and Vince Sarmiento.
Sal Tinajero would be left on the outside looking in. And if we beat the “Give Claudia Alvarez 4 More Years” Term Limits measure in February, it is likely that Irene Ibarra will take her ward next year. She would become part of the new Dunn majority in a heartbeat.
I spoke to about half a dozen Democratic party activists today. Every single one was thrilled to hear that Dunn is thinking of taking out the last Republican on the Santa Ana City Council. Maybe Carlos “Space Commander” Bustamante can get another part-time job after he gets the boot from the City Council as a security guard at the Bowers Museum? I’m sure they will find a spot for their board member.
Art,
I think you have officially jumped the shark dude.
I’m a lifelong Republican and Santa Ana resident and I’d love to see Joe Dunn run for the city council. This is a non-partisan position and I vote for the best man and if Joe Dunn runs against Bustamonte he has my vote. The first time I met Senator Dunn was when he was campaigning for State Senate and brought a potted flower to my door. We talked about issues important to Senior citizens and even when I didn
#1, love the “jumping the shark” comment. So very fitting as we Strike this week!
I am holding out hope that Joe runs against “Dirty Gary” Miller.
It’s not looking likely though.
Dunn could self-fund a campaign without blinking an eye. $200,000 grand of his own money would be chump change to him and he would have so much money given in addition that he could get himself elected and build a huge war chest. Note to Carlos: Joe Dunn ain’t Sandi Noll!
If Dunn jumps in or is rummored to, the money for Bustamonte will dry up. Those in the know will not want to offend Joe. Looks like Carlos may be a one termer!
We love Joe Dunn….but it seems
quite a come down for Joe to aim
as low as City Council. He has
State Office written all over him
and needs to go that route! He
had his sights set on Attorney
General before “Downtown” Jerry
Brown leaped up to bid. Joe could
do Insurance Commissioner..or even Lt. Governor but John Garamendi
seems popular and Poizner hasn’t
done enough wrong to be challenged.
Hmmm….How about for Supervisor?
Who could he challenge? NO, let
him do Congress! He’d make a great
Congressman…wouldn’t he?
Ron/Anna,
I agree with you but as Art pointed out, the city council job is a part-time job and it gives Joe humble, local elected, street cred. when he runs for Congress some day. Santa Ana is a city of over 350,000 and give him just enough profile to keep himself in the game and still have the good paying job. He also will serve or regional boards and commissions that give him the opportunity to network. I say, Run Joe Run!
I’d like to see Joe run for mayor!
Let’s cut the head off of the slimy
reptile currently seated!
Run, Joe, Run!!!!!
Have you ever been to a Joe Dunn
home event? His wife, family and
all are first cabin people. He
has plenty of street creds and the
worst part is…Joe gets bored with
stuff. Remember how he could’nt
stay out of alot of stuff at the
State and Federal level? Joe is
“dude” and shouldn’t waste his
talents fighting with local activists when he could be changing
bunches of stuff at the State and
Federal level.
Joe Dunn mkaes $500,000 per year?
And you wonder why health care is so expensive?
Great job in the tobacco settlement Joe.
Mission Viejo used it’s proceeds to print 10,000 (or so) calendars that had incorrect city commission meeting dates or times. My guess is that 90 percent of those calendars never left the storeroom in city hall. The public was to come to city hall (or the library) to pick them up when never being told of their existence?????
I digress.
Is Dunn your “great white hope”?
Why would someone reportedly making 500k want to work for free?
must be sweeps week
Cook,
Council members don’t work for free, but that is not the point. We are LUCKY that Dunn is considering taking out the Space Commander. We should be sending thank you cards to Dunn!
Please tell me that you are not a fan of the “Space Commander!” He is just an awful Council Member. Thank God his political career in Santa Ana will be limited to one term.
If Joe Dunn is indeed going to run for the Ward 3 seat that would be the best news to hit Santa Ana in some time. Bustamante is destined to be a one-termer and Joe Dunn would make that the case for certain.
This is great news!! I would definitely vote for Joe Dunn…however, I would like to see him run for Mayor.
Lot’s of people run for political office who don’t need the money or the problems of local politics. There are a few people who do it to give back to the city where they live. Joe Dunn is that kind of person and I would not be surprised if he decided to do it. He’s brighter than anyone who has done the job in recent history and would do a wonderful job. I hope it’s true.
Art I seriously doubt your parajitos on this…he was afterall a state senator. I doubt he would just run as a city councilman and not the mayor,
Flowerszzz,
Doubt if you will, but what Dunn is pondering is not without precedent. Your boy Pringle went from Assembly Speaker to consultant to Mayor of Anaheim. Villaraigosa went from Assembly speaker to L.A. Councilman, to L.A. Mayor.
Dunn will be a fine Santa Ana Councilman. Even better, he will bring an abrupt end to the Space Commander’s career! And just like that there will be NO Republicans on the Santa Ana City Council. The remaining Democrats will have only themselves to blame if they cannot shake off Pulido and actually get things done.
Art – exactly they both became Mayors of great and big cities. I could see him running for Mayor not Council.
If Dunn’s job pays 1/2 mil a year as you state, I cannot imagine why he would want to get mired in the politics of the City of Santa Ana. That kind of money is more than the President of the US makes! It would be a real step backwards, politically and socially, in my view. Higher office maybe, but a City Coucil member, or even Mayor, of a city with so many problems? Would not be a wise move in my opinion.
Stop screwing around Joe! If you truly want to serve the voters of your home district, then hurry up and pick either Supervisor or Councilmember or Mayor. The longer you wait, the more disgenuine you look. You would have made a great statewide elected official, but obviously it was not meant to be and the voters of your home district need you now more than ever.
Poster # 20 I agree whole heartedly. Joe either state where your next move is going to be or tell us that your not going anywhere. Just end the speculation once and for all. I, as an avid Joe Dunn suporter, am getting fed up with the silence. You are losing my support every day that you are silent Joe. And no amount of spin and justification by Jim and Carina Pantone will rescue that support once it is gone. And that point is coming quickly. State where you stand or I am casting my lot with Clownia Alvarez. This is no joke Joe and Carina. Im serious. And so are alot of avid Joe Dunn supporters including the major unions in the area. We are tired of being held at bay. Say where youre going or we are going with Claudia. Like it or not. The election is only a few months away and we need to get going.
There are some advantages for Joe to run for council now and not Mayor. For one thing, beating Bustamonte is a slam dunk whereas beating Pulido is possible, not not a sure victory. The Mayor’s job requires more time whereas he could do the councilman with his eyes closed. Until he says no, I believe he may run and if he does, he sends Carlos packing!
I think a run for Ward 3 suits Dunn well.
Santa Ana should not be saddled with the space commander or Clownia for another four years!
Anon 12:14, in addition a Dunn vs. Pulido match up would tear the Democratic donor base in Orange County in two. The Dick O’Neillocrats cream their pants at the thought of Miguel Pulido, but have been close to Joe Dunn as well. Frank Barbaro would be torn, as would Michael Ray, Wylie Aitken and others. Some would choose Dunn, some would choose PUlido, the match will be ugly and the bitter feelings will last for years to come.
That crowd is finally healing from the primary divide between Farber and Loretta back in 1996, Dunn will not want to risk opening up that chasm, especially if he wants to run for COngress in the future. Ward 3, these folks have no allegiance to Carlos Bustamante. Even if Pulido goes to them to give financial support, they will not support Carlos over a good ole white boy Dem like Joe Dunn. That is why it would make more sense for Joe Dunn to run against Carlos. He is the one whiteboy who can still win in Santa Ana.
I say run Joe run! Send Bustamante back to Space Command.
You guys are so far off….IF
Joe does take out Miquel or Bustamante….guess what? They
might run for Supervisor and win!!!
They might run for Congress and
win!! Then what are you going to
do?
#25
Do you really believe Bustmante has a chance at the First Sup seat?
He’d have to arm twist Clownia and he is afraid of her. Clownia has publicly castrated the Space Commander one too many times.