TheLiberalOC confirmed last night that Roman Reyna, an SAUSD trustee, will enter the race for Ward 5 Santa Ana City Council regardless of the legal outcome of the attempt by Claudia Alvarez to extend her term in office by lawsuit.
Reyna attended last night’s council meeting and noted speaker after speaker railing against the attempt by Alvarez to get on the ballot. Alvarez beat Reyna in 2004 but the political climate against her this time around is very different. The only speakers in her favor of Alvarez last night where not there to support her extended candidacy but those who spoke out about PBID and a proposed sunshine ordinance.
Reyna’s a native Santa Anan and was elected to the SAUSD board in 2008. He is a youth program director at the YMCA of Orange County, Mr. Reyna is responsible for High School Leadership University. In addition to his role with the school district, Mr. Reya’s bio is impressive.
He serves as Commissioner of Housing and Redevelopment for the City of Santa Ana. He served as a volunteer teaching assistant at Carver Elementary School, offering support with both community and parent outreach. Additionally, he has coordinated numerous special events, managed after-school and licensed childcare programs, and directed resident camps, recreation, and aquatics activities.
Mr. Reyna is also a popular community presenter, having served as keynote at many venues. For instance, he was a key presenter at the United Way Multi-Ethnic Leadership Initiative from 2003 – 2007; Santa Ana Civic Leadership Initiative from 2004 – 2008; and during the City of Santa Ana Camp Catalina for the last 16 years on the topic of outdoor adventures and teambuilding. He also was a guest Speaker at Youth Expo for the City of Santa Ana on numerous occasions.
Moreover, Mr. Reyna has provided nearly a decade of service to a wide array of non-profit organizations and causes including the following: Federal Empowerment Zone (Vice-Chairman); Federal Empowerment Zone-Budget & Task Force (Chairman); Department Juvenile Justice Weed & Seed Program (Member, Past Chairman); Neighborhood Housing Services of OC (Board Member); Kid Works (Advisory Board Member); Tempo Calvario Community Development Corporation (Board Member, Former Vice-Chairman); Casa Bonita Neighborhood Association (Founder, Past President); Communication Linkage Forum (Past Vice-Chairman); American G.I. Forum (Past Member); and the American Cancer Society Santa Ana Relay for Life (Past Co-Chairman).
With his first-hand experience dealing with students and knowing the challenges they and teachers face along with his varied board governance experience, Mr. Reyna is well positioned for his current role as Board of Education Trustee.
Having attended school within the district fuels his familiarity with SAUSD and underscores his zeal to serve the students of Santa Ana Unified. Mr. Reyna attended both Fremont Elementary School and Santa Ana High School. He is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Youth Development from Springfield College in Los Angeles, Calif.
no comments is not a bad sign.
YMCA? Didn’t the YMCA fire him a month ago??
Santa Ana Unified School District’s Board member, Roman Reyna, yet he doesnt have a college degree??? Do we want this guy to make education decisions for our children? Could he understand the complex economical and financial issues that the Santa Ana City Council job entails??? The guy has not solved his own financial problems, how can we trust him to solve the city’s. Clearly he’s looking for what the city of Santa Nna can do for him and not what he can do for the city.
It’s funny how people are always on the band wagon to put someone down, but in the moment they tend to make themselves look like bigger idiots. Maybe you should spellcheck before you press send.
Dan should check his posts for errors as well. The second paragraph has two glaring errors right next to one another.
Reyna did attend the council meeting as I did. His notation of the speakers was done off to the side and not in public. And there were no speakers speaking in favor of an Alvarez term extension. What errors?
It is not an illegitimate criticism to note that someone who has limited formal education be in charge of a school system. It is a frightening commentary on the state of our political discourse that anyone would question whether that is an appropriate criticism. Karma, Roman Reyna may be a great guy, but if we as citizens trust our institutions based on whether we want the person to come over for Sunday dinner, we are asking for trouble with our institutions. Didn’t George W. Bush teach you anything?
You obviously didn’t read the article clearly,he was raised in Santa Ana and therefore knows and understands the city’s past “emphasis” on education rather well, which is why he has dedicated his time to helping the youth in order for them to focus on their education and get that degree that he is now barely working for. To me, the lack of a degree does not make him an unworthy candidate, especially when you see what he has been dedicating his time to. His dedication and passion (which I’m sorry if you were unaware but does not come with a college degree)is what makes him a great asset to the board of education. Unlike other board members he actually takes a special interest in the welfare of the students ( something their college degrees also didn’t come with)
Jennyfer:
Wouldn’t a college degree AND experience AND passion be better? To argue that well educated people somehow lack experience or passion is asinine. You also seem to gloss over the fact that the drop out rate is astronomical in Santa Ana and the Latino community. It is important to have role models that ARE educated, not that may have succeeded DESPITE education, which is an exception rather than the rule. What is Reyna going to say when he talks to kids who don’t value college prep in High School or attending college when they tell him “What about YOU? You are an elected official and have no college degree?”
My guess is alot of these posters do not have college degrees themselves, and they obviously do not value them if they do. If voters voted based upon qualifications as opposed to what hey perceive as “Heart” and “Morals” and the desire to hang out with the person they are voting for (Try understanding the issues in the first place) Santa Ana and the country would be far better off.
“save anaheim”
“To argue that well educated people somehow lack experience or passion is asinine”..
that is a very interesting OPINION!
It’s obvious that Mario does not know Roman Reyna. I personally do. My name is Getsemani Arreola and I am one of the many lucky children that Roman inspired. Roman grew up here in Santa Ana and I learned vastly from this righteous man.He truely cares for children and their future without a doubt. Mario, those are very strong OPINIONS about a man you seem to know of very insignificantly. Please be mature, and before you run your mouth get to know Roman. He is an intelligent person that kill you with kindness. Let me know how that goes. 🙂
A college degree doesn’t give you a heart or morals and values. If thst were the case, we would be much better off than we are now, even on a national level. What WE need is people who actually care about the community and are receptive to its changing needs.
If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Roman Reyna, I suggest you call him. He is always available and more importantly honest, caring and NOT self-serving. He is all about working together to find common ground to move forward rather than focusing on different positions that only drive a wedge.
VOTE Roman Reyna!
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
Roman Reyna has been, for many years, an advocate for the advancement of youth development for years. As to handling finances? He is a SAUSD board member who handles our tax money. Our schools our doing better in his tenure. He is more than capable of handling an the cities finances. And he was not fired from the Y. He still serves as the lead advisor for the Santa Ana YMCA Youth and Government program. He manages this leadership program without major financial assistance from the YMCA.
He will do great leading Santa Ana into a prosperous path.
I had the great Pleasure of meeting Roman Reyna he took the time to stop and talk to me and hear my views of whats going on today in Santa Ana. I could feel his heart and passion of his true dedication to helping the city and its residents. I encourage all the residents of Santa Ana to help make a change and VOTE FOR ROMAN REYNA for City Council
I am lucky to be able to call Roman Reyna my longtime mentor and friend ever since I met him as my YMCA Youth and Government advisor at Saddleback High School.
Roman is the most genuine and caring role model I had growing up. I was ecstatic when I learned that my younger brother was taken under his mentorship as well. But the truth is that we are not special cases, Roman constantly goes out of his way to mentor, challenge, and inspire the youth of Santa Ana at every chance he gets because he cares about this city’s future.
Roman was born in Santa Ana. He grew up in our neighborhoods and he attended our schools; it is no wonder why he works passionately to make Santa Ana a better place. Roman understands and has experienced firsthand the issues that hold Santa Ana residents back.
Today I whole heartedly support Roman in his run for the Santa Ana City Council, confident that he will passionately fight for what’s best for the people of Santa Ana!
If you can vote this November I urge you to do so for Roman Reyna!