Yesterday morning, the Democratic Foundation of Orange County announced its annual awards dinner which is a pretty run of the mill announcement. The event will be held the evening of November 16, 2014 in Irvine. With their announcement came the list of honorees for this year. We were pleased to see that the DFOC would be honoring Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez with the Wylie A. Aitken Award for Excellence in Leadership. Congresswoman Sanchez is certainly a worthy recipient of this award.
The DFOC honoree for the Richard J. O’Neill Award for Excellence in Service is however the worst possible choice for the category of Excellence in Service. Excellent Service is best defined as selfless service to the community with integrity and honesty. In choosing Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido as this years honoree in this category, the DFOC has selected an honoree who falls as far as possible from the definition and spirit of this category. The selection of Miguel Pulido for this DFOC award, in our view, defies common sense.
The DFOC website states that the organizations mission is “to Elect Democrats in Orange County.” Bluntly speaking, you do not help elect democrats by honoring an elected Democrat who is currently on the precipice of being indicted for violations of campaign finance laws after failing to disclose a financial windfall of $200,000 from a property swap with a city contractor. An elected Democrat who voted to award a million dollar no-bid city contract to the very person who delivered that windfall while also failing to disclose that transaction to the Santa Ana City Council and failing to recuse himself from the vote.
While we understand that Mr. Pulido is part of the “Good-old-Boys club” leading the DFOC, we find it astonishing that; 1) DFOC leadership failed to recognize the hypocrisy of their recognition of Pulido while such a cloud of misconduct surrounds him; and 2) That the DFOC was unable to find, in either in Orange County or the State of California, a better suited honoree for this category. We have several suggestions of much more worthy candidates.
The selection of Mayor Miguel Pulido as their 2014 honoree for Excellence in Service, tarnishes the DFOC. It also dishonors the memory of the man in whose name this award was established.
The political situation this year is proving to be a d interesting one, perhaps testing the mayors reach a d real power. Mayor Pulido has a short time left in office (max two terms. I think). So the questions I am left with are who are the institutions of power orchestrating these latest attacks and what do they stand to gain?
As you have long reported, the SA city council has been the “sh!t show” of municipal politics for years, whether Carlos Bustamonte’s kidnapping and rape charges, Ted Moreno and Tony Espinozas graft, Michele’s idiocy and campaign finance shenanigans, David Benavides bible thumping hypocrisy and now rumblings that Vince Sarmiento lives elsewhere.
“On the edge” politics are normal in this city. Why no viable leaders emerge to challenge the status quo is puzzling and concerning.
Whats next after Pulido, who I expect to be reelected twice more and then ride off to a Pringle like existence as a power broker?
This is what Santa Anan’s should be concerned with.
You left out Sal Tinajero “it’s the staff’s responsibility to make sure I don’t take political contributions from people who have business before the council” which is one of the things Michele is often criticized for too. Does Sal get a free pass?
Honestly, I would have included Sal, Roman and even Claudia Alveaez in my original comment, but I felt my point was made.
You are correct. There is a culture of corruption in Santa Ana and it is sad to see the likes of Mayoral hopeful Roman Renya join the cabal. How long before “schoolteacher” Amezcua comes under the spell?
We will always love Miguel Pulido no matter what. Sure he is shady and a criminal, but that is ok. He is like our little Mexican puppy dog who is just so fun and lovable. If only Roman and other Mexicans were like him we would be much more willing to vote for them. But they are wild scary Mexicans who make us worried to go to Santa Ana. Be more like Miguel and we will like you.
What does being “Mexican” have to do with ANYTHING? Our whole council is Latino.
You are an agitator. Bent on avoiding the issue of responsible succession.
What do you mean by “responsible succession?” You mean turning this city over from one corrupt SOB to another corrupt SOB all because he makes you mansion dwelling pricks feel like he is your pal? I will take a rough edged honest person from the community any day of the week over a corrupt politician with a nice sounding vocabulary.
Not AP from PS: What I mean is simple: Santa Anan’s need to better prepare to replace Mayor Pulido. Whether that is this year, next or when he is termed out in 2018.
So far we have seen a series of COMPLETELY UNELECTABLE candidates seeking to replace him. None have come remotely close.
If you could find a “rough sounding” qualified candidate you should vote for him/her. To pretend that “anyone” could lead the city forward is dishonest and naive. I suspect you understand that.
Who is Santa Ana’s future? Certainly not the divisive commenters I read here. Go to the DPOC, The OCGOP and find the person to lead us forward. This is bigger than party, race or personalities. It is about leadership.
Some hope was put forth this year (and previously with Joe Dunn) with his announcement that Lou Correa would challenge Pulido. However, in both cases polling showed neiher had a chance and they both bowed out rather than suffer an embarassing loss.
Instead we get a parade of mediocre (at best) minor league candidates without the experience, education or popularity to lead Santa Ana. Is that clear enough for you?
As to your comment about the “pricks in mansions” fewer than 100 people in the city live in what I would call a mansion ( one being Vince Sarmiento)