Rene Gomez, a graduate of Santa Ana High School who studied at CSU Long Beach, is running for Ward 2 of the Santa Ana City Council. He joins a field of candidates that includes the incumbent, Michele Martinez, and another challenger, Mirna Velasquez.
The local Republican Party tried to recruit Velasquez but she opted to continue as a Decline to State voter. Martinez is a liberal Democrat. Gomez is a Republican and he stands to get support from the OC Lincoln Club and the OC GOP.
Gomez lists his birthplace as Tijuana, Mexico. He appears to be friendly with Mike Gonzalez, the head of Los 32, an organization that supports Mexican Americans. Gonzalez is also running for the Santa Ana City Council, in Ward 6. Gomez supports immigration reform and immigrant rights.
Gomez served in the U.S. Army and was posted in Germany, with the 10th Engineers, a part of the 3rd Infantry Division. There are a good number of U.S. Veterans in Santa Ana, and Gomez could get support from these voters if he is able to reach out to them.
Gomez is supported by SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias, who was the top vote-getter for the SAUSD School Board, as a Republican, when she won in 2012.
Gomez appears to be an avid salsa dancer, according to his Facebook page. Being in good shape should serve him well when he is out walking precincts!
Gomez doesn’t have a campaign website yet but you can call him at 714-910-9003. His email address is renegomezforsacouncil@yahoo.com. Friend him at Facebook here.
I know Rene Gomez. He’s an outstanding person and will be great for Santa Ana. Although I met Rene in salsa classes, I am also a teacher at SAHS. “Once a Saint, Always a Saint!”
Congrats on the upcoming 125th birthday of Santa Ana High School!
He should open a salsa dancing studio in one of the many vacant galleries in the gentrified artists village as long as he doesn’t hire his friend Mike’s security guards . Bad news!
LOL! He’d at least be popular with the ladies.
Yes, he might not have to use date rape drugs to bed them.
I don’t think he’s that sort of guy. You must be thinking of Bustamante.
I wasn’t referring to this Rene guy. I was referring to certain security guards.
Oh. Well thanks for clarifying that.
Rene will have to edge out more than just Michele and Mirna if he wants to win. I’m running in this ward as well and voters have been really responsive to needing a new voice in Santa Ana.
Good point. Thanks for the reminder Gilad!