I always laugh at those who can’t wait to tell me that the blog is “insignificant.” Early Saturday morning I received a text message from First District Chief of Staff David Zook saying he was told I mentioned he was not returning my messages. Then at 12:45 a.m. this morning I receive an email from County Spin Doctor (just kidding David!) David Wert advising me that he was working “late” to be sure he got in his 40 hours this week and was trying to get an answer for me. For those who think no one cares what we write on the blog, I always find these types of communication interesting.
They all dis our blogs, but they sure do read them!
It seems our illustrious San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and his Chief of Staff David Zook do not care that they have a three-time felon running the show in one of the communities in their district. Here is the latest announcement:
MAC REPORT
We will be scheduling a MAC meeting
For sometime in March. I hope to have
discussion/answers regarding the following
items:
- Plan for our next assigned Sheriff Deputy
-Updates on the Havasu Water Company
from our citizens committee
-17 Mile Road Cleanup
-New roof for the senior center
Time and date of the meeting will be posted
as soon as possible.
Gary
(more…)
I debated about posting this to the blog or sending private messages to the two individuals this intended for, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chiefs of Staff David Zook and Matt Brown. David will not return my text messages and I have been hearing what both have to say behind my back so I decided to be out front with this post.
I’ve known David very casually for a while as we both worked for the same department at one time. I know David is a very dedicated family man and he seems to have a strong faith in God. I have never met Matt in person but have spoken to him over the phone a few times and have exchanged some text messages and emails with him. From what I have heard about Matt, he too is a dedicated family man and has a strong faith. I also worked for his mother-in-law, Sandy Harmsen, for a couple of years. So for various reasons I have always tried to cut both David and Matt some slack on the blog. However, that slack has ended.
My “career” as a blogger began as a result of corruption within the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department and San Bernardino Public Employees Association. The “career” has lasted for almost four years now because, as we all know, corruption is rampant and widespread in San Bernardino County, touching every department in one way or another. (more…)
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.
Former San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office Intergovernmental Affairs Director Rex Gutierrez appeared in court today for preliminary hearing on charges of embezzlement and grand theft relating to time card fraud. His case was bound over for trial starting in about 60 days.
Among the witnesses was San Bernardino County Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto, who testified that Gutierrez’s work hours were determined by his immediate supervisor, former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman. Aleman has already plead guilty to four felonies in connection with the scandal, including presenting a false claim, in exchange for his testimony against the remaining defendants.
Lamberto’s assertion appears to be in direct conflict with state law, which does not restrict a salaried employee’s work schedule except for sick leave and vacation time. The county’s position has been that Exempt employees, such as Gutierrez, defendant Greg Eyler, and all the staff members for the Board of Supervisors (BOS), County Counsel, and the County Administrative Office are in fact salaried employees who are not required to work a set number of hours. This sudden switch in policy described at today’s hearing by Lamberto will likely result in not only a much more intensive grilling of Lamberto at trial, but also subpoenas being issued to the five Chiefs of Staff to the Board of Supervisors as well as those in the County Administrative Office and County Counsel to explain the disparate treatment of employees covered under the same Memorandum of Understanding and the same California Labor Codes. (more…)
| Member |
Seat Status |
Seat |
Position |
Nomination Type |
| Wright, Marguerite |
Filled |
Regular |
|
District 1 |
| Bigwood, Frank |
Filled |
Regular |
|
District 1 |
| Aleksich, Michael |
Filled |
Regular |
|
District 1 |
| Chamberlain, Gary |
Filled |
Regular |
|
District 1 |
| Gardner, Terry L. |
Filled |
Regular |
|
District 1 |
I sent a text to chief of staff David Zook asking about this situation and received no answer. Seems Mr.Chamberlain also has an arrest for domestic violence but no conviction. I’m told he drives around with a fake machine gun attached to his vehicle. Sounds like a good representative to me.
Case FCH06693 Defendant 1048067 CHAMBERLAIN, GARY NEAL
| Arrest Charges |
| Count |
Charge |
Severity |
Description |
Violation Date |
Plea |
Status |
| 1 |
PC 12280(B) |
F |
POSSESS ANY ASSAULT WEAPON |
07/20/2004 |
|
|
| Filed Charges |
| Count |
Charge |
Severity |
Description |
Violation Date |
Plea |
Status |
| 1 |
PC 12280(B) |
F |
POSSESS ANY ASSAULT WEAPON |
07/20/2004 |
|
HTA |
| 2 |
PC 12021(C)(1) |
F |
CONVICTED PERSON POSSESS/ETC FIREARM |
07/20/2004 |
|
HTA |
| Infor Charges |
| Count |
Charge |
Severity |
Description |
Violation Date |
Plea |
Status |
| 1 |
PC 12280(B) |
F |
POSSESS ANY ASSAULT WEAPON |
07/20/2004 |
NOLO |
CONVICTED |
| 2 |
PC 12021(C)(1) |
F |
CONVICTED PERSON POSSESS/ETC FIREARM |
07/20/2004 |
NOLO |
CONVICTED |
That’s the night that they hung an innocent man
Don’t trust your soul with no back woods southern lawyer
Cause the judge in the town’s got blood stains on his hands
Not long after Thanksgiving I was at a friend’s house and we were discussing my situation at the time. This friend is a very strong Christian and he and his wife have helped me in many ways with their only request being that I not identify them. We were talking about the fact that most of those who have helped me out were non-Christians and how the so-called “Christians” had really let me down. The conversation naturally gravitated to Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk, two of my most high-profile friends. I commented about how Jim, someone who I don’t believe has ever had a personal relationship with Christ, has been a Godsend to me and helped me over and over when I’ve needed it most. Mark, who I know to be a strong Christian, has let me down every time, never keeping his word to me.
Last Friday when I heard the news of the findings in the Hostile Work Environment investigation against District Attorney Mike Ramos, my heart sank. I immediately called Cheryl Ristow and the pain in her voice was heartbreaking. I could relate because, I too, had been let down by our leaders who have in their power the ability to do the right thing with integrity and instead choose to make decisions in their own best interests and not care about how many others they hurt. We are all nothing but collateral damage to them, unimportant and unworthy of their concern or help. (more…)
iePolitics has learned that as a part of the ongoing corruption investigation additional, previously-unreported search warrants were issued at the homes of high-ranking county officials including that of at least one current chief of staff. When serving the search warrants, District Attorney investigators photographed the interior of the homes and those photos are now available to defendants as part of the discovery process.
As new information is obtained, it will be reported here.