Who is Julio Perez?  He is the virtually unknown Democrat and labor consultant running to replace Jose Solorio in the 69th Assembly District.

His endorsers are a Who’s Who of failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Al Amezcua’s backers and other lame Democrats.  However Perez could affect this race by handing the primary election to Tom Daly, a truly terrible Democrat who is as bad as most Republicans when it comes to immigrants and the working poor.  If Perez takes enough Latino votes from leading candidate Michele Martinez, who is a Santa Ana Council Member, the vote split could put Daly on top.

I don’t think Perez has ever had a real job, in the private sector.  Here is what I found on his Facebook page:

  • Julio began his career, as a policy analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE).
  • Prior to his current position as senior policy analyst for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Julio served as political director for the Orange County Labor Federation.

Yep, no real jobs.  Just a bunch of labor posts.

Julio says that he “understands that a well-qualified workforce can help drive business growth in our communities.”  Seriously?  When was the last time that unions drove business growth?  LOL!  They usually kill jobs and hurt businesses.  Remember that stupid grocery strike a few years back?  I reckon Julio was all over that.  How many union supermarkets were permanently closed as a direct result of that strike?

Vern Nelson, over at the Orange Juice blog, asked Perez a few softball questions recently.  When asked about pension reform, Julio said:

Orange County employees have led the effort to reform pensions and have saved taxpayers millions.  Bringing all sides to the table and hammering out reforms that protect both taxpayers and employees is the way to go.

What a joke!  OC Labor leaders are responsible for the early cop and firemen retirements that are bankrupting all California cities.  Nick Berardino, in particular, screwed us all.  Nice try Julio.

Vern asked Julio about crime and Julio hemmed and hawed but he did not take any strong positions.  Typical.  He said “I want to learn more about the best ways to prevent crime, reducing recidivism and ensure we do not waste taxpayer money on any project.”  This guy is running for the Assembly – shouldn’t he already have the answers ready to go?

Julio did this again when asked about healthcare.  The guy has NO ANSWERS at all.  Just like Amezcua last year in his lame campaign for Mayor of Santa Ana.  How did that work out for Amezcua?

Perez told the O.C. Register that “the major themes of his campaign will be creating jobs and investing in education.”  What does a union hack know about creating jobs?  What a joke!  And the problem with education isn’t a lack of investment but rather a lack of choice – and accountability.

Julio also says that he will find “creative ways to increase government revenue” such as raising taxes on the top 1 percent of earners.  That isn’t creative.  That is class warfare and it will discourage the wealthy from investing in companies and creating jobs.  Increasing taxes is a sure way to KILL jobs!

Perez recently told the Liberal OC that he is going to bring business and labor together.  How can that be?  Perez is clearly going to be yet another labor hack in Sacramento – exactly the sort of politicians who have bankrupted our state! If you don’t believe it, check out the website of the organization he first worked at, LAANE.  Truly scary stuff – their solution is to unionize every business sector.  Are you ready for higher prices across the board?  No bueno!  There is a reason NOT ONE business organization has endorsed this guy!

Perez told another blog that his job ideas include  including high speed rail and green technologies.  Are you kidding?  High speed rail is a complete boondoggle and green jobs – is he going to give our millions to failed companies like Solyndra?

California has the highest unemployment in the country.  Our state economy is a mess.  The current Assemblyman in the 69th District, Jose Solorio, recently got punked by Governor Jerry Brown when he tried to pass a bill that would have forced building service contractors to hire the employees of other contractors who lost their bids to perform their services.  If you think that bill was a great idea, then Julio is your man to replace Solorio.

If you actually want an Assembly Member who has real, practical business experience and who is progressive without being a far-left goon, then your only choice is Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez.  And if you want a Democrat who may as well be a Republican, then Daly is your man.

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

  • Anytime Michele M. enters a race another Hispanic "leader" is thrown in the mix to split the vote.What is the deal w/this PATTERN? Why does she bother? is she just trying to gain experience and get name recognition for some "bigger better post" in a few years? Just seems like she is some pawn and I do not understand what she is getting out of the "arrangement" ...

  • My comment to Geoff Willis about this story was: thanks for posting the story! I will call the other councilmember who I think may provide a third vote to put repeal on the agenda and lobby him. Mm-kay?

    (I have to admit that I don't follow the weekly ins and outs of Brea politics that closely, because it is already paradise here and I'm generally content so long as they don't ruin it. And thanks, everyone, for the sales tax revenue! It helps fund lots of wonderfully socialist civic entertainment!)

    Art, the notion of caring about legislative races only if one lives in the district is ridiculous. I helped elect a Democrat in a special election in NY-20 2-1/2 years ago, because that person would be voting in the U.S. Congress that governs me. I felt no responsibility to move there before doing so. I want Issa to lose in his new South OC district, even without my moving to San Clemente. Don't you?

    • Lame. Willis lives in Mission Viejo. Sounds like you OJ bloggers need a map of the county. Here is a novel idea, why not write about the communities you live in? You have zero credibility opining on Santa Ana politics.

  • "I have to admit that I don’t follow the weekly ins and outs of Brea politics"...... Hmmmm

    How about Encino?...... Huh?

  • Should the 69th be all about “just getting along?”

    Do you really want someone who we do what they be told by the powers that be? Or someone who will call them out on the carpet and represent the majority population of the area?

    • Exactly. Michele will represent the greatest portion of the district, which is Santa Ana, and as a Latina born here in the U.S. she will be able to stand up for all of us.

      I am looking forward to seeing the Assembly office moved to downtown Santa Ana once she wins!

  • "Michele will represent the greatest portion of the district, which is Santa Ana, and as a Latina born here in the U.S. she will be able to stand up for all of us."...... Hmmmmm

    So far she demonstrated that she is totally ignorant re Cal. Civil Code section 47(b) and is presiding over 20-30M budget deficit annually since she was elected which is well synonymous with Latina (since you raised the race Zorro) so she is qualified to represent us.

    Definitely out of the three candidates Daily, Perez and here, she is lesser evil.

    I personally do not have any expectation to improve SA coming from that office anyway.

    More evil more unrest, more occupations and eventually good blood bath.

  • I should add that if Michele would be smart (as I am) she would prepare legal brief on Cal. Civil Code section 47(b), put it on the agenda and show that she is legally more mature than Esq. Alvarez, Sermiento and Straka.

    She could publish the brief in the OC Register and show that she is above the both plebeians Daily and definitely unionized drone Perez.

    She could distinguish herself but will she?

  • I decided I am giving Diamond and Perez, the benefit of my reconsideration. I was put off by his lack of popularity outside labor circles, I was totally turned off by his canned "education, jobs.....bullsh*t intro line" that was a big ALERT.

    But, i'll reserve judgement. While upward mobile for sure, we know where Martinez has been and her struggle and her aspirations aside, she might slug out a good one.

    I am told by my neighbor, that while I close on the fix is in thing, it's more about the party losing the seat than getting the right dem elected. I gather they would take name calling Alverez over a Viet republican.

  • Honestly, Faila, I think that I've paid more attention to Encino -- pondering why you think it's an insult, let alone one applied to me -- in the past week than in the rest of my life combined. So do you follow the ins and outs of Camarillo?

    Art, Willis explains why he follows Brea politics in a comment. You should have taken a moment to read it.

    "You have zero credibility opining on Santa Ana politics." Honestly, if you don't want to find out how much I know, and can find out, you probably shouldn't say that.

    • Yes, I know, you're smarter than all of us who actually live here in Santa Ana. I figured correctly that you felt that way.

  • It doesn't really have to do with smarts. It has more to do with being disinterested. I will admit to being smarter than Faila, but that's not a huge accomplishment.

    • As I recall, the Democrats offered zero Latino candidates for statewide office last year. Your candidate for Governor was a really old white guy. And Santa Ana residents were leading the County in foreclosures. Can you really blame our voters for being disinterested?

      I personally voted for Brown. There was no way I was going to vote for the Mexican-bashing Whitman. It paid off in my eyes since Brown signed both parts of the CA Dream Act.

      Contrast that with Obama, who doubled the deportation rate. I am glad I voted for the Libertarian presidential candidate.

      At any rate, we don't need your paternalistic attitude here in Santa Ana.

      By the way, why didn't you speak up when your pals at the LOC Photoshopped Martinez as Snooki? Or did you find that funny?

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