No bueno! Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides appears on the home page of the so-called “Hispanic 100,” which is really a front for the Republican Party. Note that GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina also appears on their home page, as does Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante – the last Republican on the Santa Ana City Council.
Their President is Mario Rodriguez, a GOP consultant who worked in the Bush administration.
Why is Benavides hanging out with these people when he is supposed to be a Democrat?
A few weeks ago Benavides found himself in hot water when he honored Lupe Moreno and a bunch of her fellow Minutemen, after they took over the Santa Ana Independence Day event – during which one of them called Santa Ana residents “wetbacks.” Benavides told me when he appeared on the Orange Juice Blog Radio show that he has no problem working with Moreno. Of course he doesn’t – he appears to be a closeted Republican!
A few years ago Benavides even flew to Washington D.C., with Bustamante, at the invitation of President Bush, to attend a Republican Cinco de Mayo event.
Benavides is also a supporter of the mostly Republican “Usual Suspects.” He has appointed several of them to City Commissions, even though they don’t live in his ward.
Benavides is running unopposed this year. It may well be that local Democratic voters may opt to not vote for him, or perhaps write in someone else’s name.
Councilman Benavides reaches out to all political parties and I suspect it is one reason he is so popular. I wish more politicians around here could be more like him.
I dont see anything wrong , all this is public relations and it’s working for him.
You dont see any other councilmember out , LOOK ! AT the local newspapers from Santa Ana,” councilmember with the same faces from Downtown ” it must be a reason?………
Councilman Benavides…………thanks for been a good representative from your voters.