Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/ben-vazquez/)
With his own victory, and those by other police union-backed candidates in Santa Ana City Council races, Mayor Miguel Pulido appears to have regained much of the power he lost in the 2012 “Santa Ana Spring” election.
Some who attended an election forum Tuesday argued that money from the city’s police budget should be redirected toward expanding opportunities for youth. Others said there are already too few cops on the street.
Mayor Miguel Pulido and community activist Benjamin Vazquez clashed Wednesday night during a debate that showcased their sharply different visions for the city.
The gathering featured some of Santa Ana’s most influential politicos and served as a window into how various factions in the city are battling for control of its most important institutions.