New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Kim Nguyen

Sarmiento caught using non-union political campaign signs

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Editor Posted in 2022 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Juan Villegas, Kim Nguyen, Labor, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 3 Comments

If there is one rule that Democrat candidates in Orange County must follow it is to buy campaign signs made at union print shops. Getting support from labor unions is a very big deal for Democrats in Orange County. So imagine the chagrin of local union members when they are discovering that Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento is using campaign signs to promote his campaign for District 2 of the O.C. Board of Supervisors without the “union bug” seal of approval.

Who do you support for the O.C. Board of Supervisors in District 2?

Sarmiento’s leading challenger from within the Democratic Party is Garden Grove City Council Member Kim Bernice Nguyen. Her campaign signs do have the union bug on them.

Juan Villegas campaign sign with the union seal

This is such a big deal that even Decline to State candidate Juan Villegas made sure his campaign signs were made at a union print shop!

This might be why so many of Orange County’s leading Democrats are NOT supporting Sarmiento for District 2. Instead they are jumping on to the Nguyen campaign including these elected officials:

Nelida Mendoza, Santa Ana City Councilmember
David Penaloza, Santa Ana City Councilmember
Thai Viet Phan, Santa Ana City Councilmember
Valerie Amezcua, Santa Ana Unified School Board Trustee
Katie Porter, Congresswoman, 45th District
Dave Min, State Senator, 37th District
Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assemblywoman, 65th District
Tiffany Ackley, Aliso Viejo City Councilmember
Richard Hurt, Aliso Viejo City Councilmember
Mark Lopez, Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember
Andrea Marr, Costa Mesa City Councilmember
Arlis Reynolds, Costa Mesa City Councilmember
Glenn Grandis, Fountain Valley City Councilmember
John O’Neill, Garden Grove City Councilmember
Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, Garden Grove Mayor Pro-Tem
Dan Kalmick, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Natalie Moser, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Rhonda Bolton, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Farrah Khan, Irvine Mayor
Tammy Kim, Irvine City Councilmember
Ana Page, Orange Unified School Board Trustee
Kris Erickson, Orange Unified School Board Vice President
Letitia Clark, Tustin Mayor

Nguyen was also recently endorsed by State Senator Tom Umberg and Congressman Alan Lowenthal.

Note that THREE members of the Santa Ana City Council are NOT supporting Sarmiento. Instead these Council Members, which include David Penaloza, Thai Viet Phan and Nelida Mendoza, are all backing Nguyen. What does that tell you?

Sarmiento may have sealed his fate in this race when he veered very far to the left after becoming Santa Ana’s Mayor in a race where he only garnered 33% of the vote. Sarmiento has since resorted to calling police officers murderers and passing a flawed eviction and rent control measure that angered many residents of Santa Ana.

You can learn more about Nguyen at www.votekimnguyen.com.

Who will be Santa Ana’s next County Supervisor?

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Editor Posted in 2022 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Garden Grove, Juan Villegas, Kim Nguyen, Orange, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tustin, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

We now have certainty as to who the candidates will be for the 2nd Supervisorial District, which includes Santa Ana and parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange and Tustin. This seat was carved out to have a Latino majority – however as we saw in Santa Ana’s last Ward 3 elections sometimes a candidate can win despite gerrymandering if the vote is split.

The 2nd District candidates include:

Juan Villegas, a former Santa Ana councilman and special officer with the OC Sheriff’s Department
Jon Dumitru, Orange Councilman
Cecilia Iglesias, a former Santa Ana councilwoman and policy director
Kim Bernice Nguyen, Garden Grove Councilwoman
Vicente Sarmiento, Santa Ana Mayor

Who do you support for the O.C. Board of Supervisors in District 2?

While 52% of the voters in Santa Ana are registered Democrats 42% of the voters are either Republicans or Decline to State voters. The balance of the voters belong to third parties. There are enough Republicans and Decline to State voters in the rest of the 2nd District to make this seat winnable for a candidate who is not a Democrat.

While the seat is majority Latino there are three Latino candidates including Kim Nguyen who is half Latina and half Vietnamese.

This election is also non-partisan so the candidates cannot boast about their party affiliations or endorsements in their ballot statements.

Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County however he has spent his Mayoral term bashing the police – that may not sell to the voters at this point.

Seventy-eight percent of voters surveyed in a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times said that crime has risen statewide over the last year, and 65% said it has increased locally, according to the L.A. Times. Most voters now say that they would support changes to Proposition 47, which reduced some theft and drug felonies to misdemeanors as a way to reduce incarceration rates and save the state money.

Will voters fed up with crime get behind Sarmiento when he bashes the police consistently?

Sarmiento’s support is also known to be very thin. He won the Santa Ana Mayor’s race in 2020 with only 33% of the vote according to Ballotpedia. Previously he barely won against unknown challengers in 2016 and 2012 when he ran for reelection on the Santa Ana City Council.

In stark contrast to Sarmiento is Juan Villegas a longtime employee of the O.C. Sheriff’s Department and former Santa Ana City Council Member. Villegas has actually worked in Downtown Santa Ana, on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department, for years. He is not just tough on crime he has also worked tirelessly to keep kids from getting in trouble and has done a lot for crime victims as well.

Iglesias and Dumitru will be fighting for the OC GOP’s endorsement at their Endorsement Committee meeting tonight. Dumitru probably has the longest odds of all the candidates. Iglesias was recalled from the Santa Ana City Council a few years ago after tangling with the head of the Santa Ana police union and she came in third in the last Santa Ana Mayor’s race. The Democrats will likely attack her for being a Trump supporter although she has not been very partisan and has instead focused mostly on education over the past few years as a former SAUSD Trustee who now advocates for charter schools.

Nguyen is the x-factor in this race as the candidate in the best position to get support from local Vietnamese American voters in the 2nd District. Like Sarmiento she is a liberal Democrat but does not have his negatives. Whether she can get enough funding without the support of her party remains to be determined.

Ballots will be mailed to every registered voter in district 2 starting as early as May 9, and polling places also will open for in-person voting several days ahead of the June 7 election.

We now know who pulled papers to run for the 2nd O.C. Supervisorial District

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Editor Posted in 2022 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Elections, Juan Villegas, Kim Nguyen, Orange, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Juan Villegas is the first candidate to qualify for the District 2 ballot

We now have more clarity as to which candidates will be possibly running for the vacant 2nd O.C. Supervisorial District, which includes most of Santa Ana as well as parts of Anaheim, Orange and Garden Grove.

The following candidates pulled papers to run but they have not yet turned in, apparently, the nomination signatures needed to be placed on the March 8 ballot (except for Juan Villegas who has already qualified for the ballot):

Juan Villegas, (former Santa Ana City Council Member who works for the OC Sheriff’s department, he is the first candidate to qualify for the ballot)
Jon Dumitru, (Orange City Council Member, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias, (former Santa Ana City Council Member and SAUSD School Board Member, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Bryan Kaye, (possibly an Anaheim resident with no previous political experience, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Kim Bernice Nguyen, (Garden Grove City Council Member, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)
Vicente Sarmiento, (Santa Ana Mayor, had not qualified for ballot as of March 8)

Our informal poll shows that Sarmiento is not in the lead. He could be in trouble as he and Kim Bernice Nguyen pretty much hold the same positions and appeal to the same voters.

Who do you support for the O.C. Board of Supervisors in District 2?

Villegas is the first candidate to qualify for the ballot. He has a lot of support in the business community and as a member of law enforcement will stand in stark contrast to Sarmiento who is likely dreading the eventual campaign mailers which will remind the voters that he referred to the Anaheim police officers who shot and killed a criminal in Santa Ana after a police pursuit as murderers.

Garden Grove Councilwoman Nguyen announces her campaign for OC Supervisor

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Editor Posted in 2022 Elections, Elections, Garden Grove, Kim Nguyen, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Garden Grove, CA — Garden Grove Councilwoman Kim Bernice Nguyen today announced her candidacy for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, District 2, as well as a strong and diverse list of endorsements from across Orange County.

At a time when voters are frustrated with the County’s handling of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Councilwoman Nguyen brings a much needed public health background, having formerly worked for CalOptima and now as a Senior Health Care Analyst for a large health plan.

“We need a bold voice at the County that understands the issues of working families,” Nguyen said in a statement. “I know the struggle of working multiple jobs to make ends meet while attending school and the frustrations of high rent and skyrocketing housing costs. As a lifelong resident of District 2, I’ve watched as the County failed to address our housing crisis, leaving many, especially in my generation, priced out of a home. At the same time, the County has turned a blind eye to our homelessness crisis, creating a public health and safety emergency. I’ve never shied from a fight and will work toward solutions to our toughest problems, it’s what I’ve done as a Councilwoman, it’s what I do everyday as a health care analyst, and it’s what I will continue to do as your Supervisor.”

Re-elected in 2020 with over 70% of the vote, Kim Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese and Mexican-American Councilmember in Garden Grove and was the first Latina and youngest person ever elected to the city in 2016. She has already secured endorsements from a diverse coalition of elected officials throughout Orange County. Endorsements from representatives within the Supervisorial District include: Garden Grove Councilmember John R. O’Neill, Garden Grove Councilmember Diedre Thu Ha Nguyen, Santa Ana Councilmember Thai Viet Phan Santa Councilmember David Penaloza, Tustin Councilwoman Letitia Clark, Santa Ana Unified School Board Member Valerie Amezcua, and Orange Unified School Board Members Ana Page and Kris Erickson, among others.

A lifelong resident of District 2, Councilwoman Nguyen attended Clinton-Mendenhall Elementary, Doig Intermediate, and Santiago High School. She graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a degree in politics and a minor in legal studies. She is the first in her family to graduate high school and receive a college degree.

The 2nd Supervisorial District includes the cities of Santa Ana, portions of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange and Tustin. Voters 18-35 comprise the largest age bloc, with over 41% of the district’s registered voters. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 20 points — making it one of the most competitive local races in California.

Endorsements

Tiffany Ackley, Aliso Viejo City Councilmember
Richard Hurt, Aliso Viejo City Councilmember
Andrea Marr, Costa Mesa City Councilmember
Arlis Reynolds, Costa Mesa City Councilmember
Glenn Grandis, Fountain Valley City Councilmember
John O’Neill, Garden Grove City Councilmember
Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, Garden Grove City Councilmember
Dan Kalmick, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Kim Carr, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Rhonda Bolton, Huntington Beach City Councilmember
Farrah Khan, Irvine Mayor
Tammy Kim, Irvine City Councilmember
Ana Page, Orange Unified School Board Trustee
Kris Erickson, Orange Unified School Board Trustee
David Penaloza, Santa Ana City Councilmember
Thai Viet Phan, Santa Ana City Councilmember
Valerie Amezcua, Santa Ana Unified School Board Trustee
Letitia Clark, Tustin Mayor

(Alphabetical order by jurisdiction, titles for identification purposes only)

Will you vote for Miguel Pulido for the O.C. Board of Supervisors?

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Andrew Do, Elections, Kim Nguyen, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Sergio Contreras, Steve Rocco Leave a comment

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido first won a seat on the Santa Ana City Council way back in 1986. He has been Mayor now for 13 two-year terms, since 1994. Now he has filed to run for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, in the First District.

Will you vote for Pulido and put him in a position to influence not only what happens in our city but also at the County of Orange?

Pulido won’t have a cake walk in this race. He will have to beat the incumbent, Supervisor Andrew Do, a former Garden Grove City Councilman who has also worked for the O.C. District Attorney’s office.

And Pulido is not the only challenger in this race. Three others have pulled papers, including :

Westminster City Councilman Sergio Contreras
Garden Grove City Councilwoman Kim Bernice Nguyen
and Steve Rocco, a former Orange Unified School District School Board Member who has been a perennial candidate for many years

I don’t see Contreras having much of a chance. He and Nguyen are both Democrats but Westminster doesn’t have nearly the influence that Garden Grove does. Nguyen is also dating Santa Ana City Councilman David Penaloza. He will surely work hard to help her to garner votes in Santa Ana.

Rocco never spends any money on his campaigns. But he is the only non minority candidate in the race and he always gets a chunk of votes for that reason.

There were rumors for a while that former State Senator Janice Nguyen would file against Do but I suspect she will resort to working behind the scenes, most likely to help either Pulido or Nguyen. Her aim is just to make sure Do loses.

Pulido has many detractors but he enjoys the highest name I.D. in this race. He does not have much of a grassroots following. You won’t likely see volunteers walking precincts for him. But he does raise money easily and most likely he will resort to using direct mail to try to win the March Primary election.

Pulido’s major claim to fame is redeveloping the city and fostering the Artists Village in DTSA. He may have overplayed his hand with the Streetcar that is being built now and will ultimately connect DTSA to Downtown Garden Grove. The project is very unpopular and expensive and many doubt it will ever be worth the trouble.

While Pulido is a lifelong Democrat I suspect he will not get the support of his own party. Most likely the liberals who now control the DPOC will back Nguyen (pictured above).

Nguyen is far too liberal to win this seat. But unless Pulido can deal with her the road to victory will be a tough one for him. The good news for Pulido is that Nguyen most likely won’t be able to raise the money that Pulido can raise. The bad news though is that County races are subject to major constraints when it comes to fundraising. Pulido however always gets elected with help from PACs – and they are not subject to the same fundraising limits that will handcuff the actual Supervisorial candidates.

Liberal women uniting behind Kim Nguyen for Supervisor

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Elections, Garden Grove, Kim Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Women 3 Comments

Garden Grove, CA – In less than a week after her announcement for Orange County Board of Supervisors, District 1, Garden Grove Councilwoman Kim Nguyen has secured the endorsements from four prominent local councilwomen; Councilwoman Tiffany Ackley from Aliso Viejo, Councilwoman Andrea Marr from Costa Mesa, Councilwoman Farrah Khan from Irvine and Councilwoman Leticia Clarke from Tustin.

In announcing their endorsements, the councilwomen stated:

Councilwoman Tiffany Ackley – “I am proud to endorse Councilwoman Kim Nguyen for the Board of Supervisors. Councilwoman Nguyen has been an effective leader for Garden Grove. Combined with her background as a Health Policy Specialist, she will be a powerful force on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. We need her voice and expertise on the Board to build in Orange County that works for people of all backgrounds.”
Councilwoman Andrea Marr – “Kim Nguyen is an inspiring leader who will tackle the County’s most difficult challenges head-on, with the same courage and dedication she has shown in her years on City Council. We need a representative at the Board of Supervisors who will truly listen to every single voice in the community and act on behalf of the entire district; there is no one better suited for that role than Kim.”
Councilwoman Farrah Khan – “I’m proud to support Kim Nguyen for Supervisor, Dist 1. Kim has proven her ability to lead by example. She is the right candidate for this district and this seat. We need new voices in government to lead us out of our homeless crisis, secure benefits to those in need through CalOptima, and ensure all our county workers have a champion working for them. I hope you will join me in supporting Kim.”
Councilwoman Letitia Clark – “Kim has a proven track record of fighting for her community and advocating for those with the greatest needs. We need more women of color like Kim in regional leadership roles.”

Councilwoman Nguyen had this to say about her most recent endorsement:

“As a woman of color in politics, it is often hard to find your voice and ensure that good policy gets passed, but these women have broken through that glass ceiling time and time again. I am proud to kick off my campaign for Supervisor with their support and endorsement.”

As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and Vietnamese refugee, Kim knows the value of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Her humble beginnings as a first-generation American shaped her advocacy and drive to create a more inclusive community. She was the first in her family to graduate high school and obtain a college degree. She has continued to break barriers and open doors for others to follow. In 2016, she became the first Latina and youngest person to ever be elected to the Garden Grove City Council. During her time on the City Council, she has been a leader in creating economic opportunities for low-income communities, increasing funding for infrastructure repairs thought the City, and has worked tirelessly to protect immigrant communities.