So the BOS has set a second special meeting for tomorrow to discuss last week’s dismissal of the county’s case in the Colonies settlement. Our BOS members have been so jacked around by county attorneys and the CAO/CEO and they are too stupid to see it. Or are they? After all, it is not their tens of millions of dollars they are wasting for political advantage.
by AdministratorJanuary 9, 2013 By mmunson Our San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors needs to become more responsive to the constituents of our county.The inherent contempt of the constituents makes it more insulting to be represented by them. The way our board members navigate through rules and procedure to say they are following the rules makes me wonder if we are in Cook County, Illinois such as how they added responsibilities to County Operating Officer Greg Devereaux that were questionable according to our county charter. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorMembers of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today elected Janice Rutherford as chairman and Gary Ovitt as vice chairman. They will serve in their respective positions for two years. The entire orchestrated process took only a couple of minutes and there was no discussion. The outcome had clearly been determined prior to the public meeting, a likely violation of the Brown Act. The supervisors did not make any attempt to conceal that they had pre-determined who would be elected to the two positions or who would make the nominations. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorSan Bernardino County Supervisor-elect James Ramos was elected less than three weeks ago, but he has already selected an experienced and talented policy professional to serve as his chief of staff. Longtime Inland Empire resident Phil Paule began his new job this week. As a former board member myself, I know how important this position is. I have no doubt Paule possesses the knowledge and diplomacy required of the individual serving in this important staff role. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorJames Ramos, a Democrat recently elected to represent San Bernardino County’s conservative Third District, is hiring Phil Paule as his chief of staff. The item appears on Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ agenda. Ramos will not be sworn in until Dec. 4. County policy allows a chief of staff and executive secretary be hired before a supervisor is sworn in to make the transition easier. Paule served as district director for Representative Darrell Issa during the past nine years. His starting salary and benefit package will total $175,031 a year, somewhat less than what chiefs of staff are traditionally paid. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorAdministrator’s Note: You have to scroll down on the actual story, but there is a list of the top 25 safety retirement allotments. There are a few new names. It is not hard to figure out why San Bernardino County employee unions are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence the first and third district supervisor races. The top two candidates in each race could not be more ideologically apart. Yesterday’s announcement by Supervisor Neil Derry to introduce a measure to limit pension spiking, among other reforms, sealed the deal. According to a press release issued by Derry’s office on Wednesday, pension costs as a percentage of total county expenditures have risen from three percent in 1999 to nearly ten percent of all expenditures in 2011. The county contribution to the public employee pension fund has increased from $43 million to $232 million. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by AdministratorIf you don’t understand the title of this story, you will have to go to Supervisor Neil Derry’s Facebook page and scroll down a bit. That being said, I am proud to have my new “Re-Elect Neil Derry” sign in my yard. It’s too bad all the beautiful stars in the clear desert sky don’t show up in the background.
by Administrator(San Bernardino) – San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry came out swinging this past week with a political mailer that pulls no punches. Starting this early in the campaign season, weeks before the filing period opens, signals a very expensive race that insiders say will far exceed seven figures between the two major candidates. In Derry’s first mailer, he capitalized on James Ramos alleged checkered past as a casino boss and rumored Mexican Mafia member. Ramos is the chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, whose casino is located in the Third District above the city of Highland and he is Derry’s most significant opponent. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator