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.
Griset recently saw the writing on the wall, and he panicked. On August 9 of this year he signed on to the ballot argument in favor of the fraudulent Measure GG – the lastest flawed term limit measure to be put forth by our City Council. This Council extended their term limits last time around, with Measure D, to 12 years. This time they are trying to limit the Mayor’s term limits to 8 years while keeping their own 12 year terms. And Griset signed on to that.
That was of course a slap to Pulido by Griset. But the implications are broader than that. If Pulido’s Council challenger, David Benavides, somehow prevails, Griset has put himself in a position to stay on the MWD Board – and apparently Benavides and his colleagues – Council Members Michele Martinez, Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero, are OK with that.
They are OK with Griset even though the state Fair Political Practices Commission fined him $10,000, the maximum possible penalty, for five improper campaign mailings sent during his 1988 bid for reelection, according to the L.A. Times.
According to the FPPC, Griset’s campaign committees sent out four mailings that were identified as coming from the “Santa Ana Progress Committee.” Each mass mailing reached about 29,000 people and contained such titles as “Meet the Real Rick Norton,” “Beware of Tricksters” and “7 Lies.”
A fifth mailer, sent to 300 people, was on the letterhead of the Washington Square Neighborhood Assn. Griset lives in Washington Square.
None of the five mailings identified Griset or his campaign committees as the sender.
This was of course supposed to be a “Santa Ana Spring” but instead it is more like business as usual as crusty corrupt politician Griset will survive and continue to serve on the MWD Board – unless of course Pulido wins, in which case Griset’s days will be numbered. Pulido will eventually get his four votes, even if he has to wait two years to take out Benavides and Martinez.
When you look at the Benavides cabal it is full of old dogs like Griset, including Alfredo Amezcua, who used to be Pulido’s hatchet man; John Palacio, who was fired from Santa Ana’s city administration (and ironically held that against Griset!); John Acosta, who left the City Council in disgrace; and Art Lomeli, the wealthy dentist who lives in Orange Park Acres and like Acosta belongs to the Republican Party. This is no revolution of the young – it is a bunch of Mexpendables!
If you are expecting change from Benavides and company, guess again…
And don’t feel too bad for Griset. He also served as Director of Orange County Sanitation Districts, Chair and Commissioner of the Orange County Transportation Commission, Director of the Orange County Transit District, Director and Advisor of the National League of Cities. That’s a lot of pensions!
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Art, What does Griset get out of being on this Board? Why is he willing to sell his soul to stay on it?
A big monthly check, a little pension and major league connections.
How are The Santa Ana Springsters courting The Inc.ers and Art Lomeli at the same time?
That is just WEIRD!
That would be like me dating you and your wife at the same time. kind of creepy.
Politics makes for strange bedfellows but where in this post did I mention Inc. ers?
You mentioned Lomeli.
He Hates the Inc.ers
But Everybody knows how much the Springsters love the Inc.ers
It is like they have this strange Stockholm syndrome thing going on.
Pretty lame revolution..
Looks like he gets some pretty nice all expenses paid vacations too! He's in the top 5 of Junket spenders!
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/01/14/water-board-members-rack-up-400000-in-expenses/72660/
No wonder our water rates in Santa Ana are so HIGH! We are paying for Grisets trips!
mateo,
The majority council is:
-David Benavides
-Michele Martinez
-Sal Tinajero
-Vince Sarmiento
Sarmiento and Martinez can't vote on the PBID/ DTI issues due to conflict of interest.
At the last council meeting dealing with the PBID Benavides,Bustamante,Tinajero and Alvarez voted 4-0 to direct the city attorney set up a town hall meeting with objective to see if a compromise agreement can be hashed out by the two groups.
Also , the city attorney was directed to form a ordinance to abolish the PBID.
The un-Democratic, un-constitutional PBID/DTI was formed ,orchestrated and implemented by mayor Pulido, David Ream,Joe Fletcher and Cindy Nelson.
The majority council has negotiated out of Santa Ana city government Ream, Fletcher and Nelson.
Editor lists a number of negatives attributed to Griset. GRISET WAS APPOINTED BY PULIDO for the sake of argument Griset with these fault was appointed by Pulido regardless OF KNOWING THESE NEGATIVES ALLEDGED BY EDITOR.
Griset supports measure GG so now Griset's baggage is on Benavides and the majority council.
THIS IS MORE OF EDITOR'S FALSE OPINIONS.....PROPAGANDA.
Pulido has never voted for the PBID and your pals most certainly did cut a deal with Griset. His signature on the Measure GG ballot argument is proof of that. So it looks like you're the one slinging propaganda.
Looks like he has no problem spiking pensions either!
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2009/09/mwd-trying-to-spike-employee-pensions-which-will-drive-up-our-water-costs/
This dude Griset is something else!
http://law.justia.com/cases/california/cal4th/8/851.html
Pedroza,
Pulido formed the undemocratic unconstitutional PBID. HELLO!!!!!
Editor wrote:
"your pals most certainly did cut a deal with Griset. His signature on the Measure GG ballot argument is proof of that. So it looks like you’re the one slinging propaganda."
So, all those signing the GG ballot have a deal??????
You signed AND ARE part author of opposition to measure GG.....WHAT DEAL DID YOU SIGN???????
I serve on no commissions. I serve the people of Santa Ana.
Measure GG is a such a mess as Measure D was. Your boy Benavides used D to give himself 12 years on the Council. Now he wants to limit the Mayor to 8 years. Why the inequity?
By the way, I also was the only way who convinced the OC Register to oppose Measure GG.
Art, have you noticed that the defenders of this "new majority" like to blame a guy with one vote on the council (pulido) for a list of things they could have changed (had they really wanted to) with their 4 votes? Is it a lack of testicular fortitude or just a good old fashioned political power grab? I think the voters of Santa Ana are too smart and will see that they(David and company) are far worse than Pulido in terms of selfish politics without any of the upside that came with Pulidos ability to bring new invetment and good projects to the city.
Well said. They are complicit, they have no good ideas and they will prove to be an East Los Angeles style embarrassment to our city.
I did not say you are on any commission......not necessary to sign on a deal. WHAT DEAL DID YOU SIGN????
Your boy Pulido orchestrated and negotiated with council to give himself no term limits and them 12 years. Why the inequity here??
You were only the front guy with the Register .....maybe, probably had no influence at all that came from past Pulido supporters that thought Pulido still had council power.
I wrote that ballot argument because I am opposed to Measure GG. Ask Rob Cook how it went down. He signed it too. Are you going to impugn h as well?
I have no idea what you're trying to say in your last paragraph. The Register editorial writer who investigated GG is a friend of mine. He is a fellow libertarian.