Just two years ago she lost a seat on the SAUSD School Board by less than 800 votes, according to Smart Voter. Today Cecilia Aguinaga is trying again – but this time she is facing 8 opponents for three seats, versus only two opponents in 2006, for two seats. And two of her opponents are incumbents.
Aguinaga has racked up some impressive endorsements, including:
- Congresswomen Linda and Loretta Sanchez
- Former Santa Ana Councilman John Acosta
- Former Santa Ana Councilman Mike Garcia
Aguinaga is a School Police Coordinator at the SAUSD. And she serves on the City of Santa Ana’s Human Relations Commission. While she sent her kids to private schools, she does like to say that she is in it “for the children.”
Here are a few excerpts from Aguinaga’s biography, from her campaign website:
I have been a resident of Santa Ana for nearly thirty years. My husband and I own and operate a small business in Santa Ana. I was born in Jalisco, México and immigrated to the United States in 1978. My husband Armando and I have two sons and a daughter. Allan is a student at California State University, Fullerton. Ramses is a police officer for the Santa Ana Police Department, and Sylvia is a junior at University of California, Berkeley.
After helping my husband manage the grocery store, I wanted to do more to help children be successful in school. I began as an instructional assistant and was promoted to Special Education Interpreter and Community Worker. I presently serve as a School Police Parent Coordinator.
Mayor Miguel Pulido appointed me to the Human Relations Commission for the City of Santa Ana in 2004. As the Vice Chairperson, I presided over the selection of social service programs and funds to improve the quality of life in Santa Ana.
Aguinaga’s top priorities include:
- Teach English
- Parental Involvement
- Security in the Schools
I have heard that Aguinaga is consistently polling in the top three or four SAUSD candidates. My guess is that she has a higher name I.D. than the other candidates given that she ran just two years ago for a seat on the SAUSD School Board.
What will Aguinaga do if she wins? Who knows? If she can pull it off this time it will be anybody’s guess what she ends up espousing on the SAUSD School Board. Hopefully she won’t all y with Audrey Noji and Rob Richardson.
You may contact Aguinaga at this link.
The Focus on SAUSD School Board Candidates series now includes posts on Irene Ibarra, Gregory Barraza, Roman Reyna, Gloria Alvarado, Mike Gonzalez, Valerie Amezcua and Jose Hernandez Up next: Rob Richardson.
Politics in Santa Ana are truly strange. Last June Art posted a piece on Cecilia as she was one of the first to have a campaign webpage up and running. At that time I did a little digging and found that the webpage company was located in Fullerton, where former SAUSD board member/city councilman Fat Sal Tinejaro teaches. A little further digging resulted that this same webpage company also did the webpage for council member Vincent Sarmiento and the South Santa Ana Merchants Association which Art recently posted on regarding the taping of a candidate debate.
This may seem like a small point but most are judged by the company you keep. Vote however you prefer but from my look at this Cecilia is pretty well wired up to the SA city council, the south Santa Ana merchants association, and a ton of other city and state politicos. For my money she would fall right into the puppet slot that Noji wants to keep school business as usual.
Cecilia and her husband operate a LIQUOR store not a grocery store.
Vote for Pedro!
Cecilia is losing ground. She’s down to number 5 in the latest poll. Looks like Gloria Alvarado is gaining ground. She’s number 3.
At age 62, Cecilia should get ready for official retirement.
#6 –
That’s good news! Maybe her mentor Rosie Avila will retire as well after Loretta cleans her clock. 😉
SMS
Very well I will proceed, I am a close friend of Cecilia and I am uphold by the negativity in the comments mentioned above. They are lies simply to prevent her election (which unfortunately occurred). Cecilia is a wonderful human being who cares for her family and for the Santa Ana Community. She has dedicated 15 years of her life to SAUSD, and only wishes to continue to do so. I am especially surprised to see that Art Pedroza ( a so called professional) took part in this conspiracies. Have some dignity and respect and if you have nothing good to say about people then don’t say anything. Cecilia is a fighter and an inspiration to immigrants who come to this country for a better life, education, and opportunities to succeed.
Teacher,
Did you actually read the story I wrote about Cecilia? It was more than fair. Don’t blame me for what my readers posted.
I don’t have a problem with Cecilia. But I did not support her this year because she put her kids in private schools. She ought not be running for a public school board if she doesn’t believe in the public school system.
My kids are all in Santa Ana public schools, except for my daughter who graduated this year from Santa Ana High. She is now a student at FIDM, in Irvine.