California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris, wrote a legal brief regarding local municipal term limits that should have a considerable bearing on tomorrow’s hearing regarding Santa Ana Park and Rec Commissioner Max Madrid’s lawsuit to compel the Santa Ana City Clerk to issue nomination papers to Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.

In the brief, which is dated July 17, 2012, Harris concludes that “a term served on a town council that was served prior to the effective date of a local initative term-limit ordinance may not be counted against that term limit by that ordinance.”

If the Judge makes a ruling based on Harris’ legal brief then Alvarez should be able to run yet again for Santa Ana’s Ward 5.

There is a separate issue that has been raised by local liberal bloggers who have it in for Alvarez, despite the fact that she too is a Democrat.  The argument is that Madrid does not have sufficient standing to bring this lawsuit to the court.  That seems ridiculous to me, as he is a resident and taxpayer.  However we will have to wait for the Judge to rule on that tomorrow, to be sure.

Should the Judge rule against Madrid tomorrow there are already two announced challengers for Ward 5, including SAUSD Trustee Roman Reyna, a Democrat, who has not yet pulled nomination papers; and Republican newcomer Karina Onofre, a local property manager.

If Alvarez cannot run for the City Council her options would include running for Mayor of Santa Ana, running for the Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Education, running for the SAUSD School Board, or simply leaving politics for awhile.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

    • Except for me!

      I say that Alvarez will prevail tomorrow, Roman Reyna will not run and Karina Onofre will win against Alvarez.

      And that is the truth, mateo!

  • I will not be silenced! I am a taxpayer as well and my voice needs to be heard.

    Why does a person with a position in the state make decisions for a city that has nothing to do with that person? Makes no sense. I think we the people should start taking matters into our own hand and demanding that Alvarez be left off the ballot. This is getting out of hand over some cry-baby stupid stuff. We need to clean house with the SA city council.

  • Will be interesting to see how long it takes the current council to be kind to Ms Alvarez again (after trashing her the last few weeks) once they realize they will be serving 8 more years with her! Don't forget how they treated you Claudia! Watch them line up to kiss her ring tomorrow after the ruling. Lot's of: "We knew you were within your rights to run again Claudia" "We were helping you behind the scenes Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez" "That City Clerk was so WRONG and we knew it!"

    See you in 8 years Roman! Should give you time to pick up another mail order college degree!

    • "Watch them line up to kiss her ring tomorrow after the ruling"........ Hmmmmmmm

      Assuming that Queen Alvarez is approaching the menopause age fast, to vote for infertile Queen would be a sin.

      Watch them line up to kiss Onofre's ring tomorrow after the ruling.

  • Calm down Dan.

    The LOC does not have exclusivity on Santa Ana politics.

    I will say, I like the Chris' coverage, but find it hard to swallow, given his conflict and the fact he lives in Long Beach. kinda bs, wouldn't you agree?

  • The judge demanded that the suits be rewritten last week. It seems that that both pro and con were too vague to be ruled on.

    So I don’t think a ruling will occur today.

  • looked it up, all the answers and admendments came in the last 2 days and none are viewable (NV)

    29 SUMMONS ISSUED AND FILED FILED BY MADRID, MAX; ALVAREZ, CLAUDIA C ON 07/24/2012
    07/24/2012 NV

    28 AMENDED PETITION (FOR WRIT OF MANDATE) FILED BY MADRID, MAX; ALVAREZ, CLAUDIA C ON 07/24/2012
    07/24/2012 NV

    25 STATEMENT - OTHER (BRIEF) FILED BY MADRID, MAX ON 07/23/2012
    07/23/2012 NV

    24 REPLY TO OPPOSITION FILED BY MADRID, MAX ON 07/23/2012
    07/23/2012 NV

    23 SUPPLEMENTAL (BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDATE) FILED BY MARIA HUIZAR, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ON 07/23/2012
    07/23/2012 NV

  • Madrid vs. Maria Huizar

    In light of Petitioner’s representation that he will file an amended petition which will include Councilwoman Alvarez as a party to the action, the court declines to issue a tentative ruling.

    last case for the day?

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