There’s a whirlwind of activity in the hotley contested AD-69 race and word of the first debate. AD-69 candidate Francisco Barragan tells us a debate is being organized by Dr. Guadalupe Mata, of Los Amigos in Santa Ana. The debate will be conducted in Spanish. There is no date and time for the debate and Barragan didn’t respond to requests for additional information, such as the location. Barragan tells us that every candidate for AD-69 has accepted the invitation with the exception of Martinez.
“Apparently, the plan is to have it moderated by a reporter from one of the main Spanish stations.” Barragan said.
But let’s start with announced endorsements:
Santa Ana council member Michele Martinez announced the endorsement of the Santa Ana Police Management Association (SAPMA) today. The endorsement was announced by Jim Schnabl (Police Commander and Secretary/Treasurer of the SAPMA), on behalf of the association that represents the Command Staff of the Santa Ana Police Department.
“We are very pleased to endorse Councilwoman Martinez for the 69th Assembly District. We are confident she will continue to do a great job in supporting public safety officers and programs to help us do our job,” said Commander Schnabl. “While on the Santa Ana City Council, Michele Martinez has not only been a strong advocate for public safety, she has also worked to find resources needed by our department to help make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. She deserves the support of everyone who lives or works in Santa Ana because she is a leader who cares about the community and supports the Police Department” added Schnabl.
“I am extremely proud to receive the endorsement of the Santa Ana PMA, especially because it comes from the men and women who command and lead our police department and have helped Santa Ana become one of the safest cities in America,” said Martinez.
Martinez got this endorsement last week (but I was out of town and unable to post it).
Labor activist Julio Perez announced the backing of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), calling Perez the best choice to represent the newly drawn 69th Assembly District. With more than 20,000 members, the group is the largest organization representing nurses in Southern California.
“Julio knows the best way to improve our health care system is by working with those who have the first-hand knowledge and experience in the delivery of care,” said Barbara Blake, RN, State Secretary for UNAC/UHCP. “He is the best choice because he understands the critical role quality health care plays for both families and the economy at large.”
The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represents registered nurses and other health care professionals. UNAC/UHCP, as the association is known, is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.
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For fundraisers, both Perez and OC Clerk Recorder Tom Daly are taking advantage of St. Patrick’s Day to announce dueling fundraisers which are being held two days before St. Patrick’s Day.
Daly’s fundraiser, and he’s been holding St. Paddy’s Day events for years, will be at the Anaheim Brewery on March 15, 2012, from 5:30 and 7:30 PM.
Host Committee
Jose Solorio, State Assemblymember, 69th District
Tom Umberg, State Assemblymember, 69th District (Ret.)
Gail Eastman, Anaheim Councilmember
Kris Beard, Garden Grove Councilmember
Bruce Broadwater, Garden Grove Councilmember
Steve Jones, Garden Grove Councilmember
Dina Nguyen, Garden Grove Councilmember
John Hanna, Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Member
Brian Conley, Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Member
David Chapel, Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Member
Leonard Lahtinen, North Orange County Community College District Board Member
Donna Miller, North Orange County Community College District Board Member
Jordan Brandman, Anaheim Union High School District Board Member
Anna Piercy, Anaheim Union High School District
James Vanderbilt, Anaheim City Elementary School District
Anaheim Neighborhood Association
And Julio Perez is hosting an event at the home of former State Senator Joe Dunn. Here are the details:
Kick up your heels, dance a little jig and celebrate (early) with us!
Thursday, March 15 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Home of Senator Joe & Diane Dunn
1911 North Heliotrope
Santa Ana, California
co-hosts
Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Lorri Galloway
Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero
Huntington Beach Councilman Keith Bohr
Huntington Beach Councilman Joe Shaw
Anaheim City School District Trustee Dr. Jose Moreno
Garden Grove Unified School District Trustee Bao Nguyen
Santa Ana Unified School District Trustee John Palacio
Westminster School District Trustee Sergio Contreras
Anaheim City Commissioner Ashleigh Aitken
Jess Araujo Alfredo Amezcua Anne Andrews Amin David
Benny Diaz Bernardo Enriquez Michael Fox Minea Gracia
Jeff LeTourneau Dr. Arturo & Raquel Lomeli Phu Nguyen
Michael Penn John Thornton Benjamin Vasquez
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees PEOPLE
Anaheim Municipal Employees Association
California Federation of Teachers
California Teachers Association
California School Employees Association
Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League
IBEW Local 441 IBEW Local 47 IBEW Local 11
Laborers Local 652
Orange County Employees Association
Roofers Local 220
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 324
SEIU Local 721- Santa Ana City Employees
Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 709
Orange County Young Democrats
…..
And Michele Martinez, a basketball player, is taking the March Madness approach for fundraising:
Welcome to the campaign’s version of MARCH MADNESS. Here at the campaign headquarters we’re moving forward and gaining momentum for what is sure to be a successful run for the State Assembly. March is gearing up to be a very important fundraising month for me and I’d be honored if you’d join me and these gracious hosts at one (or more) of the following events.
I look forward to seeing you in the upcoming weeks – your support and confidence means the world to me as I prepare to take my experience and passion for this community up to Sacramento!
Thursday, March 8th * 6:00pm – 8:00pm
San Gabriel Valley Leaders, Phil Reyes and Joseph Gonzalez co-host a reception at El Patio Restaurant
Address: 11672 Ramona Blvd, El Monte
Hors d’oeuvres & Refreshments
Wednesday, March 14th * Time TBD
HOPE hosts a reception
Address: TBD
Interestingly enough, Martinez honored HOPE at Monday’s Santa Ana city council meeting which strikes us as a conflict of interest or perhaps a quid pro quo. From the city council’s agenda:
PROCLAMATION and CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION presented by COUNCILMEMBER MICHELE MARTINEZ to Helen Torres, Executive Director of HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equity); Dr. Thelma Melendez, Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent; Dr. Erlinda Martinez, Santa Ana College President; and all of the women appointed to the various City of Santa Ana Boards and Commissions in honor of National Women’s History Month.
A debate in Spanish? Does Tom even speak Spanish? Maybe he does. If so, that would impress people, and maybe help paper over the race problem.
Meanwhile, Michele’s Spanish is worse than her English. She did not grow up speaking Spanish. She grew up playing basketball with black guys in San Antonio, Texas, and that’s where she got her unique accent, or so she’s told me.
Will the Liberal OC be able to take pictures of the taxpayer-paid rides Tom and Michele use to travel to these fundraisers?
What happened to Hanna? He USED to be listed as an endorser by both Daly and Perez (which is hard to understand.) Now I see he’s no longer on Julio’s list, but is on Tom’s. Very disappointing. I want answers!
You know Santa Ana Police Management Association is only 11 guys.
That fact was conveniently left out of her news release; but we posted as we got it since if we don’t, the onion think skin of the Martinez campaign accuses us of being negative.