Supporters of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters are expected to turn out in large numbers at this Monday’s City Council meeting, on Jan. 7, 2013, at 5:45 pm, at the Council Chambers, at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in Santa Ana.

Walters has come under fire as the current Santa Ana City Council majority has decided to come after him even though he saved our city from a budget fiasco last year and is even now our best hope to resolve the State of California’s demand for the return of some $56 million dollars in redevelopment funds.

The Council Members in the majority, which include Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero, Vince Sarmiento, David Benavides, Michele Martinez and Roman Reyna, have admitted that their attack on Walters is just more revenge against the Mayor, Miguel Pulido, for reasons known only to them.

I am told that Tinajero freaked out when 15 Walters supporters showed up at the closed-door, last minute Council meeting during Christmas week.  Imagine how the Council cabal will react when the Chambers are packed with Walters supporters?

Reportedly the Council majority wants to appoint Gerardo Mouet, the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency Director, to replace Walters as City Manager.  But does Mouet’s education and experience really make him a better option as City Manager than Walters?

Here is Mouet’s bio, as provided by NALEO: Mr. Gerardo Mouet oversees a City Agency that handles parks, trails, recreation centers, senior centers, a stadium, libraries, and a zoo. He began to work for the City of Santa Ana in 1990 and has held a variety of positions including nine years in Personnel Services, where he worked on the City’s Workforce Diversity Program and the Public Business Academy, two years in the City Manager’s Office as Assistant to the City Manager in operations, two years as Assistant Director for Parks, Recreation, and Community Services and in 2004 as Executive Director for this agency. Mr. Mouet grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, and attended UC San Diego and CSU Long Beach for his graduate studies in Public Administration.

And here is Walter’s city bio:

Chief Walters graduated from Santiago High School in Garden Grove, CA. He attended Orange Coast College before his four-year (1966-1970) tour of duty with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was nominated for Airman of the Year in 1967.

While raising a family and working full time as a police officer, he attended night school and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University Fullerton (CSUF), a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from American College of Law. He is also a graduate of the California Command College Class II and the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) Class IV, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Washington D.C.

Wow.  Who knew that Walters had a MPA from USC and a doctorate degree as well?  Mouet has an MPA too, but it is from CSULB. 

Beyond that, Walters led our police department very well for a long time – dropping crime levels to record lows.  He even oversaw the construction of our police headquarters and city jail and found ways to make the jail profitable by leasing cells to other public agencies.

Going after Walters has been a new low for the Council majority – and they are clearly doing it now as they won’t have the guts to do this closer to the 2014 elections, when Tinajero, Martinez and Benavides will be up for re-election.

Stand up for Walters this Monday!  Let your voice be heard.  This Council of bullies needs to be put in their place!

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

    • Gerardo Mouet has no business being City Manager. I have worked with him first hand during contract negotiations and believe Paul Walters is much best educated and experienced to continue doing the job he is currently doing so well! Mr. Walters is a true American who has served his country and city for four decades and has a distinguished education from well known institutions to back his resume. This is America, not Mexico and should be run by someone who understands the government and politics. Mr. Walters through his leadership and relations with local politicians have brought millions of dollars to our city to pay for technology and personnel which we have all reaped the benefits of by drastically reduced crime rates and improved standards of living. As for Gerardo Mouet, he has overseen parks and rec to name just a few things from his resume. Is it really that difficult to see who the better city manager is?

  • "Tinajero freaked out when 15 Walters supporters showed up at the closed-door"......... Hmmmmmm

    Well, thanks to his lap dog Mill you will keep defending Tinajero as you did in the previous post.

    Somehow you can't decide on which side you are.

    Tinajero or Pulido; Democrat or Republican; American or Mexican; Mill pictured with Walters or Tinajero....... classical case of a split personality.

    Make sure that you are properly medicated before you start writing.

      • "I’m on the side of the people of Santa Ana, as I always have been"......... Hmmmmmmm

        So was Adolf Hitler!... It is called national socialism!

        Se you in Monday Meeting!

        • Hitler was an elected official. I'm just a blogger. And I'm hardly a fascist, much less a socialist.

          • "And I’m hardly a fascist, much less a socialist"........ Hmmmmmmmmmm

            Please be advised that the FASCISM and NAZIISM are not synonymous terms.

            The socialist is any one who believes that a certain national society [not a constitutionally defined individual] should govern.

            Do you believe that Latinos are fit to run a government?

          • "Even Czech"...... Hmmmmmmm

            I bet that the next comment of yours will be about my Mexican wife which has nothing to do with the original comment of mine, stating that Tinajero is leader of the Mexican National Socialist coup d'état in Santa Ana.

          • "a happy new year"....... Hmmmmmmm

            Not if she is paying price for being associated, by way of color of her skin, with Mexicans National Socialists like you and Tnajero.

  • "........Mr. Mouet grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, and attended UC San Diego and CSU Long Beach for his
    graduate studies in Public Administration."

    Key to this biography is the fact that nearly every other biography states a degree and date.

    Mouet should be asked and he should be prepared to answer if he graduated and when, provide proof.

    Roman Renya "attends" an online college no one has ever heard of. Look at the caliber of council member that got us.

    If Mouet is in fact the canidate put forth, he should be fully vetted. BEFORE the meeting and publicly questioned.

  • Anyone who grew up in T.J. should be given a degree in survival skills.

    Everyone should come out to support Paul Walters. He's always been there for the residents of Santa Ana and now they need to show up and support him.

  • "Supporters of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters are expected to turn out in large numbers at this Monday’s City Council meeting"........ Hmmmmmm

    I have checked the agenda and there is nothing there to suggest that the council will entertain any issue re Walters.

    Perhaps you can point it out to me where any such comments are expected to heard.

  • Hi, you guys have forgotten a few things. Mr. Walters is the highest or one of the highest paid city managers. Have you asked him how much money in pay cut he took during the city's fiscal cliff (0) but, the rest of the city employees not including police over (18 perecent). Now, you mean to tell me he is such a candid individual. You have to lead by example.

    • Union heads make a lot of money too. How much does the head of the police union make? How much does OCEA boss Nick Bernardino make.

  • It is ironic that Mr. Walters is close to 70years old and still working. Maybe he made a few mistakes like a divorce, marrying someone 20 yrs younger, and paying half of his pension to his former wife. Huh!!!!
    No wonder, but they should like into police contributions by the POA to the council members and the benefits the police service men get in return. No wonder there is Mr. Walters, where did he come from .... Police

  • I think Santa Ana needs to worry about being close to insolvent from all the bad finance decisions they have made in the past. Do not forget Michelle just brought light to the fact of money transferring from different fund to balance the general fund. Also, remember Fullerton and Anaheim have been sued by Howard Jarvis and Fullerton needs to repay its taxpayers at least for the last three years of taking their money. I smell our CIty will run the same course be prepare. This is called thievery and someone approved it and dreamed about too

    • Michele approved all of that. She has been there six years. And how is the city going to pay for all these discoveries?

      Did you know that she expects the city to pay for her health fairs too? Money doesn't grow on trees Michele!

  • SA Walter / 265,000 / per cap 0.81
    Below numbers from same report
    SA Ream / 240,000 / per cap 0.67
    Or / 223,000 / per cap 1.57
    Tus / 245,000 / per cap 3.26
    ANA / 293,000 / per cap 0.84
    CM / 200,000 / per cap 1.75
    GG / n/a
    WEST / 209,000 / per cap 2.22
    FV / 221,000 / per cap 3.81
    Irvine / 260,000 / per cap 1.20
    Brea / 262,000 / per cap 6.55
    SJC / 324,000 / per cap 9.00
    AV / 197,000 / per cap 4.28
    MV / 235,000 / per cap 2.35

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/37259211/City-Manager-Salaries-in-California

    2009 info

    Even tho Anaheim and Santa Ana have the highest pay of those listed, they are also the lowest per capital cost.

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