Investigators found that Santa Ana Councilman Johnathan Hernandez mistreated city staff

Outside investigators hired by the City of Santa Ana found that there was ample supporting evidence to multiple staff complaints that Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez was meddling too much in their planning of city events, according to the Santa Ana City Attorney at last night’s City Council meeting.

Although the City Council did not take any official actions in the wake of these findings, the investigators did find that Hernandez violated City Charter Section 408.

Sec. 408. – Interference in administrative matters: Except for the purpose of inquiry, the City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative branch of the City government solely through the City Manager or their designated deputy, and neither the City Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the City Manager, either publicly or privately. Neither the City Council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or their removal from, an office by the City Manager or by any of their subordinates, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers and employees in the administrative branch of the City government, except as specifically provided in this charter.

This almost certainly will hurt Hernandez’ reelection efforts. He is on the ballot in the November 5 General Election and is being opposed by Mario Alvarado.

Hernandez was investigated after city staff filed a complaint that he was “overly involved” in the planning and execution of cultural events in Santa Ana, such as the Juneteenth event and the Chicano Heritage Festival, according to the O.C. Register.

Hernandez was accused of attending planning meetings without an invitation from staff, of confronting staff members about their “lack of cultural competency” and of soliciting donations unrequested.

The outside investigators found that three out of four of the claims made against Hernandez were “sustained” by evidence presented, according to Carvalho. The allegation about Hernandez soliciting donations for the events was however not sustained.

Investigation by an independent investigator was approved by a Santa Ana City Council Ad-Hoc Committee that was required to be formed after the former City Manager forwarded the allegations of violating the Charter to her bosses, the City Council. Hernandez falsely claimed that the investigation was in response to a bogus Brown Act violation claim regarding Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua. Howver the OCDA reviewed the charge and found there was zero evidence to support the claim.

Hernandez previously told The Orange County Register that his involvement in the cultural events stemmed from concerns he was hearing from members of Santa Ana’s Black and Chicano communities who expressed discomfort about the events as they were being planned and complained of racially insensitive comments made by staff.

As the City of Santa Ana is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy perhaps we shouldn’t be funding all these events in the first place? Remember that the City Council is currently trying to also give themselves a massive pay raise, via Measure FF. Clearly they think money grows on trees!

Hernandez attended Santa Ana High School but has no college degree, according to his Linkedin page. Most of the city staff he is complaining about do have college degrees and years of experience working with the community.

Hernandez’ opponent, Alvarado, is endorsed by Amezcua. Alvarado does have a college degree, from CSUF, per his Linkedin page.