Santa Ana council member Michele Martinez has pre-announced that she will announce her candidacy for State Assembly in AD-69 later this week. The council member left a Facebook message to her friends about her plans.
The Register’s Andrew Galvin has more here.
Councilmember Vince Sarmiento had been considered the frontrunner of Santa Ana City Council members who will challenge labor rep Julio Perez for the seat now held by State Rep. Jose Solorio. Councilman Sal Tinajero was considering a run.
According to an email written by Tinajero confidant Sean Mill to the OrangeJuice Blog that was leaked to TheLiberalOC, Tinajero was “close” to entering the race and if he runs “he will win” Mill wrote to blog editor Vern Nelson. Mill asked Nelson to refrain from including Tinajero in any story about possible candidates to replace Solorio.
From the email, Mill wrote: “As far as Sal running goes, that has not been decided yet. He and I have talked about it on numerous occasions and he is not sure that is what he wants to do and if his family wants that. As soon as I know something concrete I will let you know, but try and keep the blogging about him running to a minimum until he announces for sure. The yayhoos will go nuts if they think he is running. If he runs, he will win.”
TheLiberalOC also learned that Tinajero had a meeting with labor officials on Friday and they indicated they would not support his candidacy. Tinajero was the only council incumbent who faced challengers in the last election cycle and had difficulty raising money for a competitive council race. Raising funds for an assembly run against a union-backed candidate was likely too daunting a challenge.
While Martinez has a compelling personal story, many insiders believe her run for assembly has more to do with the paycheck the state assembly reps receive than what she makes as a city council member and her job with a local not-for-profit. State assembly representatives get $95,291 annually and $142 per diem for meals, lodging and other expenses.
Martinez has had trouble following the law when it comes to accepting campaign contributions. Her blog has been dark since July 10, 2011.
Well this campaign is welcome news to Mr. Pedroza who can surely hit Snookie from Santa Ana up for more “web services” consulting.
Will voters of Santa Ana and Anaheim send, as Claudia Alvarez once said, a “drug dealer” to Sacramento?
Michele can give Art tips on which moving company to use once you lose your home to foreclosure. Does anyone know how many jobs Michele has been fired from in the past 2 years?
There is only one reason Michele is running $$$$$$. It’s the same reason Fat Sal isn’t running. He already makes $100K as a teacher and gets dough from the city council in lieu of benefits that are already covered by the Fullerton School District.
I know she spent a short time working for The Eli Home and it’s unclear if her new position is a paid one. I have to believe Tinajero’s threats to eff-up Union steward Chris Prevatt weren’t forgotten by union leaders.
Are you kidding? Is this April fools? I am embarrassed when she goes to other cities and represents SA.
She has not achieved anything in life. It’s all been given to her. Her posse needs to know that.
We don’t need someone that was given the down payment for her condo and then lost it.
Right, Calif needs someone like that.
“She has not achieved anything in life”. So, her B.A at CSUF was given to her? She is an inspiration to many here in Santa Ana!
Have you ever read anything she has written? If so, you know she had someone write her papers while at CSUF. It is so painful to listen to her speak.
Face it, she is a homey and nothing more.
The city employee who did her homework and wrote her papers will be outted.He has nowhere to hide once Ms.Martinez enters the race.
i dont think his threat to prevatt has anything to do with it sal tinajero has turned out to be a huge failure. and for that matter so has martinez. what the hell makes them even think they deserve to hold a higher office. once they sold their souls to the tiny dark lord they showed their true colors.
Ask Ms.Martinez who paid for her education….her sugar daddy. She will go wherever the money is. I think there is a name for that !!