Latino Republican Could Shake Up Santa Ana Council

Over and over again, Carlos Bustamante had urged his twin brother, a psychologist living in an upscale hillside neighborhood in Orange, to return to his hometown of Santa Ana.

“Too many Latinos who become successful think they need to leave Santa Ana,” said the 39-year-old Bustamante.

By any measure, he is one of those successful Latinos. Bustamante will be seated as the newest member of the Santa Ana City Council tonight after having won election Nov. 2.

Bustamante attributes his victory to chatting with voters during neighborhood walks, explaining his interest in attracting businesses to the city and his commitment to his birthplace.

In a city dominated by Democrats, some insiders anticipate that Bustamante will be the first Latino Republican to launch a political career from Santa Ana City Hall.

Just by being elected, he already has upset the establishment.

Bustamante, the fifth Latino on the seven-member council, won election easily and with the support of three City Council members -- Claudia Alvarez, Lisa Bist and Mike Garcia. But he did not have the endorsement of Mayor Miguel A. Pulido, who for years has shepherded a council that rarely showed public dissension.

His election over the mayor’s opposition represents a significant shift in the traditionally close-knit world of Santa Ana municipal politics.

“Everything has been dominated by Pulido for so long, we haven’t had a schism like this for a very long time. I’m excited,” said Art Pedroza, a Republican community activist. “I think Bustamante is very civic-oriented and could be very good for the city.”

Pedroza believes Bustamante will open up the closed-door culture of the City Council, further promote business and trigger new vote configurations on a council that mostly votes 7 to 0.

For example, it was widely believed that with Pulido’s support, Alberta D. Christy would become mayor pro tem. But with Bustamante’s election, Bist has lined up the votes to take that job, according to several City Council members.

Pulido did not return calls for comment.

Just what else is at stake in the apparent power shift is unclear, said political consultant Howard Kieffer. The most pressing issue in Santa Ana is the fate of a 37-story office tower that faces an April referendum. Bustamante said he wants the tower, as do most of the other council members.

Councilman Garcia said the idea of a new council majority ganging up on the mayor and his two council allies was unrealistic.

“People are coming up to us and saying, ‘You guys are a voting bloc.’ I would not say that at all,” Garcia said. “I don’t know what impact [Bustamante’s election] will have.”

In the election, Pulido endorsed Planning Commissioner Alexander “Sandy” Nalle over Bustamante, saying the council already had enough Latinos.

Nonetheless, Bustamante won about 60% of the vote while spending less than Nalle during the campaign.

Bustamante’s involvement in the public sector began after graduating with a business degree from Cal State Fullerton, when he was hired as an investigator for the marshal’s office in Los Angeles County and the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. He was hired in 2000 by Orange County as a human resources manager and now coordinates computer service contracts.

He was introduced to politics in 1996, when he worked on Brett Franklin’s successful campaign for City Council. He helped Franklin again in 2000.

Bustamante said he was interested in politics in his teens perhaps because his parents were not politically savvy or involved. “I became more interested in the city and its future when I became a homeowner,” said Bustamante, who bought his first home in 1990.

In 1997, Franklin appointed Bustamante to serve on the Cable Television Advisory Board. In 1999, Franklin appointed him to the city’s Redevelopment & Housing Commission. In 2002, Pulido appointed him to the board of governors of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art.

Bustamante said he wanted the volunteer positions because “I really care about the city. I wanted to give my opinions about what we should do to restore the former greatness of the city.”

His candidacy was supported by Hispanic 100, an organization that supports pro-business Latino candidates. Founder Manuel Ramirez, who attended Mater Dei High School with Bustamante, said he “is the face of the Republican Party of the future. We are very excited about him moving to higher public office.”

Manny Padilla, head of Latino outreach in Orange County for the Republican Party state Central Committee, said Bustamante filled a void because the party lacked Latino leaders. Bustamante could “have a bright future in the party. He’d be an excellent candidate in the future if he wants to expand his horizons.”

Bustamante said that he was flattered by such comments but that he was focused solely on Santa Ana. He wants businesses and families to move into Santa Ana and counts among his successes persuading his brother, Alfonso, to move back to Santa Ana from Orange.

Bustamante is bugging his sister to move back from Orange. He tells co-workers who live in Irvine that they ought to consider living in one of Santa Ana’s distinctive neighborhoods as an alternative to the staid suburbs.

“I don’t want my kids to be ashamed that they live in Santa Ana,” Bustamante said. “I stayed here because it’s a great place to raise a family. I want everyone to know it.”