Updated: Just checked. Still no mention of David Benavides’ wife or family on his campaign website. What is up with that?
I still remember when Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides first ran for the City Council, in 2006. Go back and look at his Smart Voter page and you will see that he proudly described himself as a “Husband of a Santa Ana school teacher, dad of a 4yr old daughter & 6mo old son.”
But take a look at Benavides’ mayoral campaign website and you will find no mention whatsoever of his family. And his campaign Facebook page also makes no mention that he is married and that he has kids. His Council Facebook page likewise omits any mention of his family, as does his personal page. Click on his “profile pictures” and you get several face shots of Benavides – and no family pictures. Even his official City Council bio omits any mention of his wife and children.
What gives?
This is a fairly shocking turn of events. The two things I always admired about Benavides was that he once worked in youth ministry and that he was a family man. Now I have to wonder what is going on.
A city insider told me that Benavides conducted a poll before announcing his campaign for Mayor. One of the questions posed to voters was would they support a mayoral candidate who had cheated on his wife. Why would he include that question in his poll?
Remember that Benavides and his wife bought their home in Santa Ana by participating in a home loan program for teachers, called the “Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program,” which offered a reduced mortgage rate and $7,500 in down payment assistance to teachers who worked at low-performing schools, according to this press release. The Benavides couple were in fact one of the first families to participate in this program. Does Benavides have to give this money back if he and his wife are living separately now, as rumors allege?
Perhaps most unsettling is Benavides’ longtime friendship with his fellow Council Member Carlos Bustamante – who was arrested this year for numerous felony charges of sexual harassment and public theft. Benavides is one of the only Council Members who has NOT called on Bustamante to resign.
Benavides reached out to me before he announced his campaign but I have since made it clear that I am supporting Pulido. He does need to step up now and clarify what is going on. Santa Ana is dominated by working families. The voters deserve to know the truth.
This all brings to mind a slew of emails I received a few years ago from a fellow who claimed he had phone records proving that Benavides had an affair with his wife. Apparently they worked together. Benavides and I met afterwards and he swore there was no affair and that it was a misunderstanding. But now his wife and family are missing from all of his websites – and you have to wonder what in the world is going on.
By contrast, Mayor Miguel Pulido’s official Council bio page proudly mentions his family. So does his Facebook page. Say what you will about Pulido but even his staunchest critics attest to the fact that he is a great father.
But that is not all. While looking at Benavides’ personal Facebook page tonight I noticed he no longer is working at US Bank. Apparently he is now a partner at a company called Civico Real Estate Group. Now this is a problem as this company is based in Santa Ana and is involved in the sale of real estate. Benavides now has a huge conflict of interest both as a Council Member and as a candidate for Mayor.
Why would Benavides quit his job at US Bank? Is he going through a mid-life crisis? Why run for Mayor under these circumstances? It just makes no sense. Yet this guy is the face of the supposed Santa Ana spring?
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Dr. lomeli-
Perhaps I was over eagar to make my point and unfairly targeted you.
let's dicuss something germain to all of us:
The upcoming 2013 Ecudorian General Election, Now you may be unfamiliar with the canidates and the issues, but it is as relevant as a Long Beach resident, An Orange resident and certainly an Irvine resident contributing to the civic business in Santa Ana.
Maybe we can get the OC Registers Andrew Galvin involved before he loses his job, he can prove who lives there based on the laundry detergant!
So Dr. Lomeli: You go first, who do you like and why?
This is as germain as Santa Ana to you guys.
My Pick: Guillermo Lasso, but thats just cause he has a cool name.
maybe you with your DDS degree can tell all of the Ecudorans who THEY should have as a leader!
Carpetbagger,
My point has been about a strategy of " throw enough lies and some will stick " by the incumbent mayor's campaign against challengers they fear .
I do not name call nor spread rumors. I am not a Liberal.
I do have a bussiness in Santa Ana for over 20 years. Small businesses contribute over 75% of taxes that support the services you enjoy as a resident of the city. Most of the city's small business owners and basically all of the big business owners live out side the city but are large stakeholders due to their financial investment in the city.
So your statement of GO HOME to business owners that have an interest in the politics relative to our investments is ignorant at best.
Without these stakeholders you would have no funding for the services you enjoy.
Dr. Lomeli,
Let me be clear. I am not writing anything on behalf of anyone. I write what I find compelling. For you to keep insinuating that I am at the back and call of Pulido's campaign is a lie and I am going to ask you to stop doing that.
You may take issue with my opinion but please do not question my integrity.
If nothing else your blog is a vehicle for your readers to spew this strategy. You not directly involved is irrelevant to my point as your readers can and are involved directly with this strategy.
I can continue with my point with your exclusion.
You may not always like what Mr. Pedroza writes...BUT...LOTS of people are reading him and he no one should ever question his movtives. Art walks the walk...not just talk the talk...as do so many in our ciudad.
I also think that the Mr. Lomeli has a right to voice his opinion even if he has a horse property in Orange Park Acres. He still has rights.
Dr. Lomeli,
You just got EXPOSED.
We value your business and what little it does.
But, you are way off base dipping into civic elections.
Through 70+ comments NO ONE has discounted the notion that David Benavides CHEATED on his wife, she divorced him and he is children are now without a Father.
DAVID IS READING THIS, IT HAS BEEN SENT TO HIM, yet he refuses to address this?
What should I do? How shall I respond? Will it go away?
Well, Davie, stand up and be responsible for once. Address the allegations HEAD ON. Tell the TRUTH!
David appears to be both a LIAR and a COWARD. just what we DON'T need in Santa Ana.
His supporters will run like rats from a sinking ship when this breaks.
Carpetbagger says
"both a LIAR and a COWARD" and "70+ comments NO ONE has discounted the notion"
What kind of lying name is CARPERGAGGER?
Seems to me that the Doctor has discounted the BS comments.
"70+ comments NO ONE has discounted the notion"
"both a LIAR and a COWARD" says Carpetbagger.
Anyone who hides behind a phony name to spread BS rumors, is not worthy of an answer.
It is not hard to tell who are the liars are, they are the ones screaming for answers to pointless and unanswerable questions.
Cook.
I have always respected you, but you are wrong here.
Look at what exposure got the victimes of Bustamonte.
Today, more people are talking about Daly.
Just because the OC Register and LA Times are in the pockets of the canidates doesn't mean we can't speak out.
The only ones speaking are the crazy anonymous folks, Where is David on this. He clearly is reading this.
To pull a weak card and blame anonymous posters, doesn't work anymore. This is the INTERNET, not the Newspaper. Let Benavides defend HIMSELF.
This is not exclusive to NSA, The LOC calls the mayor "Claudia's BITCH", The OJB uses imflamatory language to incite riots in Anaheim.
CHEATING ON YOUR WIFE AND ABANDONING YOUR KIDS WHILE WORKING AS THE LEADER OF KIDSWERKS IS NOT POINTLESS:
It's the point Robin. That's the point.
Carpet bragger,
The only one exposed here is you. You are ignorant at best on business contributions to city services and the business political relationships with city governments. Make your argument to the various chambers of commerce in the city.................I believe you got past the benefit of the doubt that your problem is ignorance. It is something more serious I believe.
Through 70+ comments NO ONE has discounted the notion that David Benavides CHEATED on his wife, she divorced him and he is children are now without a Father.
no·tion (nshn) KEY
NOUN:
A belief or opinion.
A mental image or representation; an idea or conception.
A fanciful impulse; a whim. See Synonyms at idea.
notions Small lightweight items for household use, such as needles, buttons, and thread.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English nocioun, concept, from Latin nti, ntin-, from ntus, known, past participle of nscere, to get to know; see gn- in Indo-European roots
Why would anyone waste time explaining away a "notion".
Children from a divorce have fathers. A divorce does not eliminate a father........incredible logic you have........." throw enough lies and some will stick"
You are intertaining. By this time no one takes you serious.