I got a call earlier today from a fellow who is very tight with various elements at the Santa Ana City Hall, regarding the search for our next City Attorney. He gave me the name of the Latina he said was going to get the job, and I ran with it – only to get a call later from another City Hall insider saying that the candidate in question was not yet on board, and I needed to pull my post.
So I did. However, I am being told that we are down to two candidates – a Latina who works at a public entity in a very large city, and a Filipino candidate from Los Angeles.
So far neither candidate has four votes.
Three of the Council Members are supporting the Filipino candidate, from what I am being told, including Mayor Miguel Pulido, while three of the Council Members are supporting the Latina candidate. One of the Council Members has yet to make up his mind.
The Latina candidate is the better choice in terms of her experience and education. But apparently some at City Hall are afraid to hire yet another top Latino candidate, which is ridiculous of course.
I will update this post as soon as I know more. I will say this – the Latina candidate is by far the better of the two. She has worked with Maldef and worked to stop Prop. 227, and she comes from a great law school. I hope the three Council Members who are not supporting her will reconsider.
I am told that there is a sentiment amongst these Council Members that we have hired too many Latinos as top administrators at City Hall. To that I say, B.S. We are hiring great candidates and we need to do that again with our next City Attorney.
“The City of Santa Ana is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all persons to file applications with us and we do not discriminate on the basis of RACE, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, mental or physical disability.” (emphasis added)
That’s from the official City of Santa Ana job application form. It is illegal for the city to take race into account when hiring. If what you say is true, the city is playing with fire on this one.
And YOU should be ashamed of yourself for mentioning it too.
But then, it’s also possible that your informant is the one playing race politics and it really isn’t an issue with the Council.
Who is the more qualified??
The Latina candidate is the General Counsel for a large school district. The other candidate is just an assistant in his department. Her background in civil-rights is also a plus.
Isn’t the city council supposed to vote in lockstep? And can we stop saying this city council is cleaning up past city councils. This bunch has been together for awhile. How do explain polio’s not fixing things for 20 plus years? weak.
I heard the Latina turned down the opportunity.
I would not be surprised. Some candidates dislike it when there is contention with regard to their candidacy. Note that the new SAUSD Superintendent withdrew from consideration for the Pasadena USD job when that search became contentious.
If true though it would be a shame. I cannot help but feel that this was orchestrated by some members of the City Council who sadly chose the weaker candidate in advance.
Why not just pick a new attorney from the 2 on the council and have a election to fill the vacate seat?
Hired too many latinos as top administrators? Are you F’n kidding me?
Why shouldn’t the top adminstration numbers at Santa Ana City Hall equal the top percentage of the Ciy’s population?
WTF! Who’s the pendejo who’s concerned with selecting latino adminstrators? LET ME BE THE ONE TO ENLIGHTEN YOU, MENSO. YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL OR DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF US NO MATTER WHAT SHADE OF BROWN YOU ARE.
Why is it,that Compton, Inglewood, Carson, etc don’t concern themselves with race.
Grow some B***s and support your people.
The two attorneys on SA City Council do not practice Municipal Law.