Miguel Pulido

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Miguel Pulido

Prior offices

Santa Ana City Council Ward 4

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Mayor of Santa Ana

Successor: Vicente Sarmiento

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

California State University, Fullerton

Personal

Profession

Business consultant

Miguel Pulido was the Mayor of Santa Ana in California. Pulido assumed office in 1994. Pulido left office on December 8, 2020.

Pulido ran for election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to represent District 1 in California. Pulido lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.

Before becoming mayor, Pulido represented Ward 4 on the Santa Ana City Council from 1986 to 1994.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Pulido was born in Mexico City, Mexico, in 1956. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from California State University, Fullerton. His professional experience includes working as a business consultant for several different consulting agencies in and around Orange County and serving as the president of the La Farga Group, a business consulting agency.

Career

Below is a brief summary of Pulido's political career:

• 1994-Present: Mayor of Santa Ana
• 1986-1994: Santa Ana City Council, Ward 4

Issues

2014

Downtown streetcar

Pulido has been a vocal supporter of the development of a streetcar that will run through downtown Santa Ana and other parts of Orange County. The issue was one of the major issues in the 2014 election and became controversial in the city with supporters arguing that the streetcar will help revitalize the downtown area, while opponents argued that it will gentrify downtown by raising the price of housing and commercial spaces. In reference to the streetcar, The Orange County Register quoted Pulido as saying, "We’re basically setting a framework, which I think long term is going to make this county – and I mean this entire county – a better county.” Conversely, Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait has argued that a more economical mass transit option for Orange County would be electric buses. At a board meeting of the Orange County Transportation Authority on August 11, 2014, Tait noted that the streetcar is "wildly expensive compared to other alternatives that I think are better.” At the same meeting, he went on to say that the electric bus option is "wildly cheaper. You don’t have the upfront capital costs [...] You could have a system almost countywide.”

Mayoral term limits

In the November 2006 elections, mayoral term limits became a significant issue in the city of Santa Ana. The Santa Ana city charter does not establish term limits for the mayor or city council members. But in 2006, three council members crafted a charter amendment that limited the mayor to five two-year terms. Pulido staunchly opposed the amendment. According to The OC Register, he argued that some large-scale projects require several terms or more to complete and that "[a] strong mayor is important for the city." Supporters of the amendment responded by citing presidential term limits and noting that taking longer than ten to twelve years to complete a project should be considered an "embarrassment." In a June 2006 meeting, the Santa Ana City Council voted four-to-three against including the amendment proposal on the November ballot.

In 2012, the issue of mayoral term limits returned. This time, four members of the Santa Ana City Council - David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Sal Tinajero and Vicente Sarmiento - held a special coucil meeting on August 1, 2012, in which they unanimously voted in favor of adding a mayoral term limit amendment to the ballot. Though controversial, the special meeting was legal - the mayor or a council majority has the right to call a special meeting. Pulido was not present for the vote, but his supporters personally lobbied the four council members to suspend the meeting. Pulido himself did not address the issue publicly. The amendment, known as "Measure GG," limited the mayor to a total of eight years, and, if passed, would take effect starting in 2013. Past terms would not be counted toward an elected official's tenure. On November 6, 2013, 77.5% of Santa Ana voters approved the amendment.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2020)

General election

General election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1

Incumbent Andrew Do defeated Sergio Contreras in the general election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Andrew Do (Nonpartisan)	51.8	106,252
	Submit photo	Sergio Contreras (Nonpartisan)	48.2	98,693

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 204,945
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1

Incumbent Andrew Do and Sergio Contreras defeated Miguel Pulido and Kim Nguyen-Penaloza in the primary for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Andrew Do (Nonpartisan)	42.3	40,999
✔	Submit photo	Sergio Contreras (Nonpartisan)	22.4	21,721
		Miguel Pulido (Nonpartisan)	20.2	19,616
		Kim Nguyen-Penaloza (Nonpartisan)	15.0	14,570

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 96,906
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Mayoral election in Santa Ana, California (2018)

General election

General election for Mayor of Santa Ana

Incumbent Miguel Pulido defeated Sal Tinajero in the general election for Mayor of Santa Ana on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Miguel Pulido (Nonpartisan)	50.6	28,360
		Sal Tinajero (Nonpartisan)	49.4	27,674

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,034
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Municipal elections in Santa Ana, California (2016)

The city of Santa Ana, California, held elections for mayor and city council on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 12, 2016. Three of the six city council seats were up for election. Incumbent Miguel Pulido defeated Ben Vazquez and Steve Rocco in the Santa Ana mayoral general election.

Mayor of Santa Ana, General Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	50.71%	34,317
Ben Vazquez	36.32%	24,576
Steve Rocco	12.97%	8,774
Total Votes		67,667
Source: Orange County Elections, "Official Results for Election," accessed December 7, 2016

2014

See also: Santa Ana, California municipal elections, 2014

The city of Santa Ana, California held elections for mayor on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was August 8, 2014. Incumbent Miguel Pulido defeated Mark Lopez and Santa Ana city council member Roman Reyna.

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	50.2%	16,608
Roman Reyna	34.6%	11,447
Mark Lopez	15.1%	5,000
Total Votes		33,055
Source: Orange County Elections - 2014 General Election Results

Below is a survey of Pulido's electoral history from 1994-2012. It is based on records prepared by the Santa Ana Clerk of Council Office. The records can be viewed in their entirety here.

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	48.2%	27,092
David Benavides	26.7%	14,995
George M. Collins	11.2%	6,289
Lupe Moreno	5.6%	3,147
Roy Alvardo	5.5%	3,082
Miguel Angel Briseno	2.9%	1,626
Total Votes		54,605
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2010
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	49.5%	21,588
Alfredo Amezuca	26.8%	11,689
Charles Hart	9.7%	4,216
George M. Collins	8.8%	3,820
Roy Alvardo	5.4%	2,339
Total Votes		43,652
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2008
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	55%	30,352
Michele Martinez	29.3%	16,199
George M. Collins	13.8%	7,610
Stanley Fiala	1.9%	1,069
Total Votes		55,230
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2006
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	68.8%	23,170
Thomas Gordon	24.5%	8,262
Stanley Fiala	6.7%	2,259
Total Votes		33,691
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2004
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	80.6%	38,634
Stanley Fiala	19.4%	9,327
Total Votes		47,961
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

In 2002, Pulido ran unopposed.

Mayor of Santa Ana, 2000
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	71.3%	34,102
Vital D'Caprio	16.8%	8,025
Steve Rocco	12%	5,733
Total Votes		47,860
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 1998
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	70.2%	24,032
Ted Moreno	29.8%	10,214
Total Votes		34,246
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 1996
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido Incumbent	65.8%	26,688
Leah Dupont	34.2%	13,871
Total Votes		40,559
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Mayor of Santa Ana, 1994
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Miguel Pulido	29.5%	10,288
Ann Avery Andres	25.3%	8,830
Sal Mendoza	15.7%	5,496
Randall Young	10.6%	3,701
James Richards	6.1%	2,129
Joseph L. Wagstaff	5.7%	1,983
John M. Raya	5.4%	1,880
Arthur A. Castro	1.7%	595
Total Votes		30,444
Source: City of Santa Ana Election History

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Miguel Pulido did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

2016

Pulido received the endorsement of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association in October 2016.

2012

In 2012, Pulido's endorsements included the following:

• U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
• State Assemblyman Jose Solorio
• Santa Ana School Board President Rob Richardson
• Santa Ana School Board Member Jose Hernandez
• Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez
• Former Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Bist
• Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Larry Labrado
• Democratic Party of Orange County Chair Frank Barbaro
  
• Democratic Foundation of Orange County Chair Dan Jacobson
• Orange County Professional Firefighters
• Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council
• Teamsters, Local 952
• Laborers’ Union, Local 652
• Orange County Taxpayers Association PAC
• Orange County Business Council
• Orange County Business Council CEO Lucy Dunn

Noteworthy events

Events and activity following the death of George Floyd

See also: Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020

Pulido was mayor of Santa Ana during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in Santa Ana, California, began on Saturday, May 30, following days of protests in the larger Los Angeles area. On May 31, Mayor Miguel Pulido (D) instituted a curfew. The national guard was not deployed.

To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right.

On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a White officer, arrived at the scene and pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck as Floyd laid face-down on the street in handcuffs. Both the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and an independent autopsy conducted by Floyd's family ruled Floyd's death as a homicide stemming from the incident. The medical examiner's report, prepared by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, said that it was "not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process." On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death. Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. The first events took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 26. An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death.

Real-estate transaction

In January 2014, the city of Santa Ana launched an investigation centered on a real-estate transaction that occurred in 2010 between Pulido and Rupen James Akoubian, the president of Napa Orange County Auto Parts. In February 2014, the Los Angeles Times uncovered that the Fair Political Practices Commission (henceforth the FPPC) of the state of California was also investigating the transaction.

According to the Los Angeles Times and the Voice of OC, Pulido purchased a home from Akoubian in 2010 in Westminster, California, for about $230,000 below the fair market value. In the transaction, Akoubian acquired a downtown parking lot that had previously been owned by Pulido's family. The transaction was never disclosed by either party. In 2012, Pulido sold the Westminster home and netted a profit of approximately $197,000. In between these two events, Pulido and the Santa Ana City Council voted to award Napa Orange County Auto Parts a city contract that made the auto company the sole provider for Santa Ana's 753 city vehicles. The contract allowed for annual renewals for up to three consecutive years and was estimated to be worth $1.35 million.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the FPPC "[was] looking into possible conflicts of interest, failure to report real property and violations of the state's limit on gifts." Pulido refrained from commenting on the issue in public.

In June 2014, the Santa Ana City Council voted to allow the contract with Napa Orange County Auto Parts to expire in July 2014. The council then voted 6-0 to award the contract to Warren Distributing, an automotive parts company based in Santa Ana.

In November 2014, a legal investigation commissioned by the city of Santa Ana and conducted by the Riverside District Attorney's Office argued that Pulido had violated the State of California Political Reform Act by attempting to cover up the real estate transaction with Akoubian. The Riverside DA office, however, left the decision to prosecute Pulido in the hands of the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Based on California state law, Rackauckas had until January 2, 2015, to charge Pulido with willfully violating the Political Reform Act or any other charges. The deadline passed without action. As reported in the Voice of OC, if Pulido had been charged and convicted, he could have been permanently prohibited from holding public office in California.

In regards to the Office of the Orange County District Attorney's decision not to bring charges against Pulido, Santa Ana City Council member David Benavides said, "Does it really come down to who you know for what you can get away with? It gives any taxpayer reason to lose confidence in the system... the DA himself is choosing to remain silent, and that’s disappointing." Instead, a $13,000 fine handed down by state regulators was his only punishment.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Dan Young	Mayor of Santa Ana 1994–2020	Succeeded by [[ Vicente Sarmiento]]