According to our sources, it looks like the Santa Ana City Council is going to pay Councilwoman Michele Martinez a stipend of $18,000 a year to sit on the Board of the Metropolitan Water District.
In years past this role was filled by a Santa Ana Public Works employee – who was not paid anything extra to attend the meetings. It was part of his job.
Even the previous MWD Commissioner, former Santa Ana Mayor Dan Griset, served on the MWD Board without asking to be paid. Continue reading
Dan Griset has finally been removed from the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where he was Santa Ana’s representative since 2005. He has been replaced on that board by Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez.
I understand that the Santa Ana City Council is negotiating to pay Martinez a stipend to serve on this board. The shame is that back in the day the position was held by Santa Ana Public Works executives. Wouldn’t it make sense to have public works professionals on this important board instead of politicians? Plus you would not have to pay them more as it would be part of their jobs to attend the meetings. Continue reading
Update: So now that the Benavides cartel is running the Santa Ana City Council, are they really going to be all about change? If so when are they dumping Dan Griset from the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors? Don’t hold your breath – they already cut a deal with him. Here is what we had to say on the subject back on Sep. 21, of this year:
Do you remember Dan Griset? His father Lorin was the Mayor of Santa Ana from 1969 – 1973. Dan followed suit, serving on the Santa Ana City Council from 1979-1992. He was our Mayor for a time too.
Why am I bringing him up? Well he can’t get elected to anything in Santa Ana anymore, but for many years he has been our city’s appointed representative to the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors. Griset was appointed years ago by Mayor Miguel Pulido back in February of 2005, and even though some of our current Council Members have groused about it, he has stayed put for some time. Continue reading