Pulido Loses While Winning; Benavides Wins by Losing

Miguel Pulido
Mayor Miguel Pulido – Photo: Chris Prevatt/LiberalOC

Mayor Miguel Pulido won a decisive victory over his opponents in Tuesday’s election but will take the oath of office next month considerably weakened.  He was elected with less than 50 percent of the vote, he’s lost his closest allies on the council, there’s an unknown councilmember that might swing his way but at best Pulido is looking at a 5-2 disadvantage on the City Council.  And Santa Ana voters approved Measure GG effectively telling Puldio he’s out by 2020.

The Mayor has no clothes.  He extended an olive branch not just to Benavides last Tuesday night but one for the entire Santa Ana Spring because Pulido knows there is precious little he can do to thwart their efforts.  Pulido doesn’t have four votes and he’ll be out of power in eight years or sooner.

Facing a challenger that took away many of the third parties he previously relied n for support, Pulido made a choice to run hard for his job while leaving Measure GG to fend for itself.  And in doing so has put a term limit on his tenure as Santa Ana’s Mayor.

Pulido attended Santa Ana’s Art Walk last weekend; regulars tell us they can’t remember the last time Pulido was out mingling among the public openly asking for votes. Because Benavides’ candidacy took away so many of Pulido’s regular support, the Mayor actually had to work for his own re-election and couldn’t take the time to stump for candidates that might benefit him on the dais.  He was counted on Brett Franklin getting elected in Ward 3 and was seen frequently at events with Karina Onofre who was the Republican candidate for Ward 5.  Having both of those candidates elected would mean Pulido would only have to flip one member of the “Santa Ana Spring” to get his way on the council.  But the only vote Pulido can truly count on moving forward is his own.  It’s often said, you need four votes to get anything done on the city council and there are five solid votes who won’t march lockstep with Pulido in 2013-14.

In terms of percentages, Benavides’ candidacy was hurt by three other candidates in the race that split the anti-Pulido vote, but it’s hard to see another sitting council member being strong enough to garner the support Benavides got from the Party and different labor/community organizations. Benavides emerges stronger on the council for his campaign.  While most politicos anticipate Sal Tinajero will be the Mayor Pro Tem as part of a handshake agreement when he dropped out of the Mayor’s race in favor of Benavides, I’m not sure sure Tinajero is going to sell out the Santa Ana Spring.  Roman Reyna, who succeeds Claudia Alvarez in Ward 5, garnered the most votes of any candidate for city council.

The first couple of meetings with the new council are going to be telling and worth watching.  But Pulido now has an expiration date on his term in office and with the makeup of the new council, it comes with significantly less influence.

25 Comments

  1. Tinajero will not sell out. What is the upside? He would be in the minority. If he is interested in challenging Pulido in two years he needs the support of the majority to have the political and financial support the majority council carries.

    The majority will decide on the candidate to challenge Pulido at each sugsessive two year cycle till Pulido terms out.

    The interest of the majority council is the economic, educational and cultural development of Santa Ana.

    They believe removing Pulido’s ability to manipulate is essential in order for them to provide the city’s residents the development they deserve…………..thus the two year cycle of challenge for the mayor’s office, the term limits on the Mayor and the marginalization of the mayor if he apposes their leadership.

  2. Tinajero sold out before once a whore always a whore and he might need pulidos help if he runs again. And dont be suprised if the others do the same because after all hes pretty much there until he terms out. Sad to say but thats pretty much how it is. As i told that clown benavides when he came to my neighborhood just before the election we need change in this city but not from him or anybody who is currently on the council they all need to be replaced including tinajero.

  3. If your argument is selling out then your issue is with Pulido. He changes and sells out as needed to stay in power.

    You are obviously a Pulido soldier. Now concerned with the council not controlled by Pulido. Your wish and those that support Pulido is to have this Pulido independent majority council replaced with one that Pulido can control.

    Tinajero got elected to council appossed by Pulido ……..why would Tinajero now need Pulido to get re- elected .

    This past election Tinajero wanted to challenge Pulido ………Tinajero will probably be interested to challange Pulido in two years.

    The point is that Pulido has no power the Majority Council does. So your argument is none sense .

  4. A pulido soldier?! Wtf!? Yeah i voted for pulido when he first ran for council i helped him get elected his first term but it only took me 2 years to figure out what a piece of shit he is and i have never voted for him again. Yes i also voted for tinajero just for the fact that he was appossed by pulido but it didnt take tinajero long to bow to the tiny dark lord did it? Hes a sellout and a disgrace just like every person on the santa ana city council including pulido. Now excuse me ive had a big breakfast and its time to go sit on my throne and poop out a lomeli.

  5. So you don’t like Pulido and don’t like the sitting council which you elected . Now you what something different which apparently have no idea of.

    Great , you are some one people should listen to????????

    A anonymous blogger blow hard is all you are.

  6. I have given my name here before its jose sanchez and i was born here in santa ana and it very much matters to me who sits on my local government and lomeli, im sorry your butt hurts.

  7. Jose sanchez. It is good to be concerned as to who governs you. Besides that your method of getting your point across is rude. You seem to be a very unpleasant person.

  8. “dan is there a way to check if theres a jose sanchez registeted to vote in santa ana?” Wow lomeli you are very pissed arent you?! I have to admit this pleases me a great deal. And actually im a pretty swell guy any of my many friends would tell you that but sure i can be unpleasant and at times i can be a downrigh asshole especially when somebody calls me a soldier for a mayor who sickens me just by the sight of him. One thing im not is a douchebag such as yourself lomeli. So go ahead and check with the regisrar to see if im there knock yourself out puto. Ok, once again its time to go to my throne and release a hostage i will call lomeli…..plop*!

  9. Jose sanchez,

    I am not pissed. You are the angry unpleasant poor soul. I do not resort to name calling people I do not know. You have no problem doing so.

    I do not worry of name calling from those I do not respect……..so knock yourself out.

    A irrelevant staement can set you off …….I pity those that have to deal with you other than on a blog.

    You spend a lot of time in the toilet. Must be associated with your sh@ty personality.

  10. Listen stool, you should read your comment and let it sink in: dan is there a way we can find out if theres a jose sanchez registered to vote in santa ana?” Dont you think thats way creepy? I sure as hell do. Lets just say there is then what? What would you do with that information? Report me? Ask for my papers? file a grievence with the national douchebaggery foundation? What? And as far as my many friends who adore me, i cant blame them. Now piss off you borebag.

  11. Jose sanchez the original question was that of you a anonymous blogger which you took great offense . That was my follow up about your stated full name.

    Get a grip on life buddy. I don’t get paranoid about you knowing about me or you calling me names.

    Anonymous bloggers are blow hards specially angry foul mouth ones. Relax anger causes stress which leads to poor health.

  12. Listen stool specimen, im not offended about you calling me anonymous in offended you called me a pulido soldier. But whats got me curious and kind of puzzled is that you would even consider checking with the registrar to “check” on me. Seriously dude that is wacked! I mean your butt is hurting and this is what you do? Like i said knock yourself out puto. and cheminowski, yes its a real email i didnt open it in case you have a virus or something on your computer i wouldnt want to catch a virus and start suing people over stupid things.

  13. Well im glad i made you laugh i crack myself up all the time i really do. Unless the offer is cash or el pollo loco free food coupons like that gordon dude gets im not interested.

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