Local Elections : 3 Santa Ana Council Incumbents Put Their Records on the Line

With the election only days away, issues raised by the Santa Ana City Council candidates include the apparent loss of a proposed sports arena, a proposal to reshape election law, allegations of a “shadow government” and cats.

Residents will cast votes to fill three of the seven City Council seats next Tuesday. Eight candidates, including all three incumbents, are running. In Santa Ana, council members are elected in a citywide vote, though each must live in a specific ward.

In Ward 2, Councilman Robert W. Luxembourger faces a challenge from Zeke Hernandez and Ronald May. In Ward 4, Vice Mayor P. Lee Johnson squares off against Alberta Christy and Miguel Pulido. In Ward 6, Councilman Dan Young is being challenged by George LaGiness.

Cat Decision Sparked Anger

At least two candidates, LaGiness and Hernandez, were angered by the City Council’s recent decision to limit the number of cats per household in Santa Ana. The ordinance originally set a limit of three, but that drew heated criticism. The council has delayed a decision on an alternative limit until after the election.

The candidates are divided on a pair of propositions, one put on the ballot by a citizens group and the other by the City Council, that would alter the structure of local government. The citizens group effort, Measure H, would set up ward elections and a directly elected mayor. The council proposal, Measure G, calls for a directly elected mayor and a reduction in the number of wards to six, while retainig the citywide vote.

All the candidates said they oppose the Mitchell Brothers Theater on 17th Street, an adult movie house that the city has spent more than $300,000 and 10 years attempting to close through court action. But there was some disagreement about how to continue the effort to close it.

Here are the candidates:

Ward 2

Robert W. Luxembourger, a former mayor and police officer, is attempting to win his third term on the council. He opposes both ballot measures, saying they were put together “in haste and waste.” He would continue pursuing the existing case against Mitchell Brothers but would oppose filing any more lawsuits against the theater.

Luxembourger said he wants to stress his efforts to bring more jobs to the city and provide senior citizen housing. He was stung earlier this month by a lack of support from the Santa Ana Police Officers Benevolent Assn., which chose to support May instead. “Maybe they don’t know what they’re doing if they refuse to support a fellow officer,” he said. “I’ve been supportive of them right down the line.”

Zeke Hernandez, president of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, has one previous council attempt under his belt. Hernandez notes that he is the only candidate who actively worked for Measure H and for its identical predecessor, Measure C, which was narrowly defeated last June.

Hernandez has alleged that the City Council is controlled by special interests, calling them a “shadow government” with repeated campaign contributions from a small number of sources.

Ronald May, a Santa Ana High School teacher, said his endorsement by Santa Ana police officers will be a key to victory over Luxembourger. In a recent announcement of the endorsement, he said officers see Luxembourger as a part-time council member who has never sought advice from the police association on public safety issues.

May said he was against both ballot measures and called them “back-room politics at its worst.” The apparent loss of Westdome, a sports arena proposed by developers who earlier this month announced plans to build in Anaheim instead of Santa Ana, is only the latest example of the City Council blowing opportunities for revenue-producing developments, May said. He cited such major projects as South Coast Plaza and the Performing Arts Center, whose developers he said approached the Santa Ana council before locating in Costa Mesa.

Ward 4

P. Lee Johnson, an attorney and former police officer, is running for his second term. Johnson said he will support hiring another 100 police officers next year.

He said he will continue to support the fight against Mitchell Brothers until he sees public sentiment turn against the effort and said he doesn’t think the city has lost Westdome yet. “I don’t think it’s a reality until they get a (professional basketball) franchise” in Anaheim, he said.

Miguel Pulido, a businessman, is counting on publicity about the city’s efforts to close his family’s First Street muffler shop as his ace in the hole. The family fought stubbornly and drew the assistance of Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) before the city finally agreed not to remove the shop to make way for a shopping center.

Pulido said he opposes continuing the Mitchell Brothers litigation and opposes both ballot measures. He has raised more than $50,000 and said he believes the council could benefit from having the voice of a small businessman.

Alberta Christy, a banker who lost to Johnson four years ago, is not taking a position on either ballot measure, although she said she favors the concept of a directly elected mayor.

Christy cited the need to reduce gang violence and said she attempted to meet with gang leaders but was turned down “at the last minute.” She has claimed that Johnson’s vote to approve a $400,000 low-interest loan to developer Jay Meehan was a conflict of interest because Meehan had contributed to Johnson’s campaign. She complained to the district attorney’s office, but no action has been taken.

Ward 6

Dan Young, a real estate developer, is seeking his second term on the council. At a recent candidates’ forum, he borrowed a phrase from Ronald Reagan’s campaign against Jimmy Carter, saying: “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”

Young’s ward has had the quietest race by far. He cited the city’s aggressive business development and said he supports Measure G but opposes H.

George LaGiness, a house painter and former councilman of Melvindale, Mich., has spent only $700 on his campaign. He said the small amount only goes to show that he isn’t controlled by special interests like his opponent.

He supports H and opposes G and thinks the council should “hang their heads in shame” for letting Westdome get away. He also cited his opposition to high-density construction and the Mitchell Brothers case, saying he believes that social pressure is a better way to combat the theater.