Greater Rialto Democratic Club : News http://www.GreaterRialtoDemocraticClub.org/ Greater Rialto Democratic Club en-gb ©2011 Greater Rialto Democratic Club webmaster@nospam.com (Administrator) webmaster@nospam.com (Administrator) Sun, 20 May 2012 16:47:15 -0400 Sun, 20 May 2012 16:47:15 -0400 http://backend.userland.com/rss e107 (http://e107.org) hourly 1 60 Greater Rialto Democratic Club : News http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/e107_images/button.png http://www.GreaterRialtoDemocraticClub.org/ 88 31 Greater Rialto Democratic Club Democrats vote Congressman Joe Baca at the California Democrats State Convention http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.55.4

Congratulations to our Working Joe Baca for his Democratic win at the California Democrats State Convention.

Maybe our State Senator should work "super-super" hard on voting on state bills.  Her record number of absences is hurting us all and we should expect more from our representatives.

CONVENTION: Baca ekes out CD-35 Dem endorsement

conv.jpg
By Jim Miller
PE Politics
 on February 12, 2012 10:21 AM

As of late Saturday, longtime Rep. Joe Baca and state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod were deadlocked in their fight for the California Democratic Party endorsement in the 35th Congressional District.

But early today, the party's credentials review committee acted on disputed ballots cast by Baca and Negrete McLeod supporters. The result: a 25-to-24 win for Baca in the endorsement caucus for the district that extends from Pomona to Rialto.

As a Democratic incumbent seeking re-election, Baca needed only a majority vote-plus-one to receive the party's endorsement, not the 60 percent required of other candidates. The outcome in CD-35 was the closest of any race involving an incumbent and a non-incumbent challenger.

Party rules allow a candidate to ask the convention to pull a caucus endorsement that did not receive a two-thirds vote. It requires the signatures of 300 convention delegates by 11 p.m. Saturday. That would have been impossible to achieve, Negrete McLeod said Sunday.

"This just means I now have to work super-super hard," Negrete McLeod said of her campaign.


]]>

Congratulations to our Working Joe Baca for his Democratic win at the California Democrats State Convention.

Maybe our State Senator should work "super-super" hard on voting on state bills.  Her record number of absences is hurting us all and we should expect more from our representatives.

CONVENTION: Baca ekes out CD-35 Dem endorsement

conv.jpg
By Jim Miller
PE Politics
 on February 12, 2012 10:21 AM

As of late Saturday, longtime Rep. Joe Baca and state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod were deadlocked in their fight for the California Democratic Party endorsement in the 35th Congressional District.

But early today, the party's credentials review committee acted on disputed ballots cast by Baca and Negrete McLeod supporters. The result: a 25-to-24 win for Baca in the endorsement caucus for the district that extends from Pomona to Rialto.

As a Democratic incumbent seeking re-election, Baca needed only a majority vote-plus-one to receive the party's endorsement, not the 60 percent required of other candidates. The outcome in CD-35 was the closest of any race involving an incumbent and a non-incumbent challenger.

Party rules allow a candidate to ask the convention to pull a caucus endorsement that did not receive a two-thirds vote. It requires the signatures of 300 convention delegates by 11 p.m. Saturday. That would have been impossible to achieve, Negrete McLeod said Sunday.

"This just means I now have to work super-super hard," Negrete McLeod said of her campaign.


]]> State Webmaster Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:13:00 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.55.4 INLAND: Region’s lawmakers abstained on lots of bills in 2011 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.54.3

Wow.  Our local elected state legislators find it difficult to take a stand on issues important to all of us.  Check out the abstention vote tallies to see which legislators lack a backbone.

 

INLAND: Region’s lawmakers abstained on lots of bills in 2011

BY JIM MILLER

SACRAMENTO BUREAU

jmiller@pe.com

Published: 27 November 2011
09:57 PM

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Floor votes

Inland Southern California lawmakers cast the following floor votes in
2011:

Assembly

Legislator

Aye votes

No votes

Did not vote

Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks

880

721

109

Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto

1,641

4

65

Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga

962

659

89

Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert

1,165

424

121

Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley

1,097

488

125

Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore

1,062

490

158

Jeff Miller, R-Corona

1,109

546

81

Senate

Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga

1,026

485

80

Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino

1,430

41

120

Joel Anderson, R-Alpine

967

611

13

Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet

1,055

358

178

Source: Statenet

SACRAMENTO – Instead of voting yes or no, members of Inland Southern
California’s legislative delegation abstained on hundreds of bills that came
before the full Assembly and Senate this year.

Lawmakers sometimes were absent or away from their desks when a vote was
taken. The vast majority of nonvotes, however, reflected lawmakers’ intent, such
as protesting a budget bill, trying to compel changes in legislation, or
mollifying a colleague.

Critics say the abstentions have the same effect as voting no, but without
the public accountability. Voters elected lawmakers to vote, they say, not to
“take a walk” on controversial bills.

Among Inland legislators, state Sen. Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, abstained on the
most bills in 2011 – 178 – based on voting data maintained by State Net, a
legislation tracking service. That is twice as many nonvotes as colleague Bob
Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, who did not vote on 80 bills.

Among the region's Democratic lawmakers, Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter of
Rialto did not vote 65 times and state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod did not vote
120 times.

Emmerson abstained on legislation that dealt with federal stimulus funding
for energy-efficiency projects (passed the Legislature and signed into law),
scrapping the academic performance index for schools (passed the Legislature and
vetoed), and a budget-related bill (passed the Senate and stopped).

The senator said he missed some votes to attend events in his district. On
most of the other bills, Emmerson said, he abstained because he opposed the
measures but had been assured that his concerns would be addressed by the time
the bills received final consideration later.

“I think sometimes when you do abstain, you have a better ability to work
with groups and make changes,” said Emmerson, who is viewed as one of the more
moderate members of the GOP caucus.

Republican lawmakers abstained on several Democrat-crafted budget measures
this year. Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, said the Democratic
majority made the bills public only a short time before putting them up for a
vote.

“The number of bills that are rammed down our throats in the wee hours, and
the number of bills that are ‘works in progress’ and will be significantly
revised after we vote on them are all causing me to abstain more often as the
process gets worse in the Legislature,” Jeffries said in an email.

Passing most bills requires 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the
Assembly, not just a majority of those present. Abstentions by members of the
Democratic majority often play a role in a bill’s failure.

Of the 120 abstentions by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, four
involved bills that failed on the Senate floor. Those included a measure that
would have imposed greater privacy rules on social-networking websites.

Negrete McLeod said her colleagues know ahead of time when she won't support
their bill.

“An abstention is essentially a no vote. But for me, personally, it's a
courtesy to my colleagues,” she said.

She added, “I know people say you're obfuscating your duties. I say
baloney.”

Several years ago, a group of USC graduate students studied 5,162 bills
introduced during the 2001-02 session. Of those, 6 percent failed in committee
or on the floor. In almost every case, abstentions made the difference.

Frustrated with the abstention-caused defeats of bills it supported, the
Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, now known as Consumer Watchdog,
drafted a ballot initiative that would have docked lawmakers’ pay if they didn’t
vote.

Jamie Court, the president of Consumer Watchdog, said the proposal polled
well but never advanced because of a lack of money.

“I don’t think it’s getting any better, that’s for sure,” Court said of
abstentions. “Walking is the principal way legislation dies.”

Failing to vote can become a campaign issue. In the 2008 presidential race,
critics jumped on Democrat Barack Obama’s voting “present” 129 times as an
Illinois state senator.

In 2006, the Democratic primary for a seat on the Board of Equalization
featured criticism of then-Assemblyman Jerome Horton’s high abstention rate. He
lost to then-Assemblywoman Judy Chu that year but was later appointed to the
board after Chu went to Congress.


]]>

Wow.  Our local elected state legislators find it difficult to take a stand on issues important to all of us.  Check out the abstention vote tallies to see which legislators lack a backbone.

 

INLAND: Region’s lawmakers abstained on lots of bills in 2011

BY JIM MILLER

SACRAMENTO BUREAU

jmiller@pe.com

Published: 27 November 2011
09:57 PM

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Floor votes

Inland Southern California lawmakers cast the following floor votes in
2011:

Assembly

Legislator

Aye votes

No votes

Did not vote

Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks

880

721

109

Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto

1,641

4

65

Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga

962

659

89

Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert

1,165

424

121

Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley

1,097

488

125

Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore

1,062

490

158

Jeff Miller, R-Corona

1,109

546

81

Senate

Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga

1,026

485

80

Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino

1,430

41

120

Joel Anderson, R-Alpine

967

611

13

Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet

1,055

358

178

Source: Statenet

SACRAMENTO – Instead of voting yes or no, members of Inland Southern
California’s legislative delegation abstained on hundreds of bills that came
before the full Assembly and Senate this year.

Lawmakers sometimes were absent or away from their desks when a vote was
taken. The vast majority of nonvotes, however, reflected lawmakers’ intent, such
as protesting a budget bill, trying to compel changes in legislation, or
mollifying a colleague.

Critics say the abstentions have the same effect as voting no, but without
the public accountability. Voters elected lawmakers to vote, they say, not to
“take a walk” on controversial bills.

Among Inland legislators, state Sen. Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, abstained on the
most bills in 2011 – 178 – based on voting data maintained by State Net, a
legislation tracking service. That is twice as many nonvotes as colleague Bob
Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, who did not vote on 80 bills.

Among the region's Democratic lawmakers, Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter of
Rialto did not vote 65 times and state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod did not vote
120 times.

Emmerson abstained on legislation that dealt with federal stimulus funding
for energy-efficiency projects (passed the Legislature and signed into law),
scrapping the academic performance index for schools (passed the Legislature and
vetoed), and a budget-related bill (passed the Senate and stopped).

The senator said he missed some votes to attend events in his district. On
most of the other bills, Emmerson said, he abstained because he opposed the
measures but had been assured that his concerns would be addressed by the time
the bills received final consideration later.

“I think sometimes when you do abstain, you have a better ability to work
with groups and make changes,” said Emmerson, who is viewed as one of the more
moderate members of the GOP caucus.

Republican lawmakers abstained on several Democrat-crafted budget measures
this year. Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, said the Democratic
majority made the bills public only a short time before putting them up for a
vote.

“The number of bills that are rammed down our throats in the wee hours, and
the number of bills that are ‘works in progress’ and will be significantly
revised after we vote on them are all causing me to abstain more often as the
process gets worse in the Legislature,” Jeffries said in an email.

Passing most bills requires 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the
Assembly, not just a majority of those present. Abstentions by members of the
Democratic majority often play a role in a bill’s failure.

Of the 120 abstentions by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, four
involved bills that failed on the Senate floor. Those included a measure that
would have imposed greater privacy rules on social-networking websites.

Negrete McLeod said her colleagues know ahead of time when she won't support
their bill.

“An abstention is essentially a no vote. But for me, personally, it's a
courtesy to my colleagues,” she said.

She added, “I know people say you're obfuscating your duties. I say
baloney.”

Several years ago, a group of USC graduate students studied 5,162 bills
introduced during the 2001-02 session. Of those, 6 percent failed in committee
or on the floor. In almost every case, abstentions made the difference.

Frustrated with the abstention-caused defeats of bills it supported, the
Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, now known as Consumer Watchdog,
drafted a ballot initiative that would have docked lawmakers’ pay if they didn’t
vote.

Jamie Court, the president of Consumer Watchdog, said the proposal polled
well but never advanced because of a lack of money.

“I don’t think it’s getting any better, that’s for sure,” Court said of
abstentions. “Walking is the principal way legislation dies.”

Failing to vote can become a campaign issue. In the 2008 presidential race,
critics jumped on Democrat Barack Obama’s voting “present” 129 times as an
Illinois state senator.

In 2006, the Democratic primary for a seat on the Board of Equalization
featured criticism of then-Assemblyman Jerome Horton’s high abstention rate. He
lost to then-Assemblywoman Judy Chu that year but was later appointed to the
board after Chu went to Congress.


]]> Local News Webmaster Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:46:03 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.54.3 Baca announces run for 35th District http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.53.3
Congressman Baca launches re-election...

Baca announces run for 35th District

Posted: 09/12/2011 06:48:42 PM PDT

 
 
Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, on
Monday said he plans to run for the newly created 35th Congressional District
seat.

State Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair, previously announced she will
run for the seat. Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Chino, has formed an exploratory
committee.

Since his election to the House of Representatives in 1999, Baca has
represented the 43rd District, which includes all or parts of Fontana, Rialto,
Ontario, San Bernardino, Colton and Bloomington.

The 35th District, approved by the state Citizens Redistricting Commission
last month, consists of Chino, Montclair, Pomona, Ontario, Bloomington and
portions of Fontana and Rialto.

Baca had earlier considered running in the

new 31st Congressional District, which includes San Bernardino, Redlands, Loma
Linda, Grand Terrace, Rancho Cucamonga and southern Upland.

Baca's hometown is Rialto. His district office is in San Bernardino.

"It was a very hard decision I had to make," Baca said, "because I really
have represented San Bernardino, Colton and, of course, portions of Rialto for
almost 20 years.

"But when I look at it, I'm the incumbent with 61 percent of the 35th
district being in my current district."

McLeod, Torres and Baca share similar platforms. If elected to the new seat,
each aims to create jobs and protect such federal programs as Medicare and
Social Security.

McLeod said she has endorsed Baca in the past. In reaction to Baca's
announcement, McLeod echoed what she said about the possibility of Torres'
running.

"It's a free country," McLeod said. "I will do the best job I can and I will
try to let the constituents know I am running for the seat. I feel I will
represent them well in Congress."

Torres said Baca's announcement doesn't change anything for her.

"We don't want to see a representative go to Washington and forget to come
home," Torres said. "We want a representative to go to Washington and impact the
daily lives of working people, and we need a representative who will come home
and allow community input on the decisions they're making."

Voter registration totals in Baca's current district give Democrats about a
50 percent to 30 percent advantage over Republicans. Democrats also have a
similar lead over Republicans in the new 35th District, and a 4-point lead in
the new 31st.


]]>
Congressman Baca launches re-election...

Baca announces run for 35th District

Posted: 09/12/2011 06:48:42 PM PDT

 
 
Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, on
Monday said he plans to run for the newly created 35th Congressional District
seat.

State Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair, previously announced she will
run for the seat. Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Chino, has formed an exploratory
committee.

Since his election to the House of Representatives in 1999, Baca has
represented the 43rd District, which includes all or parts of Fontana, Rialto,
Ontario, San Bernardino, Colton and Bloomington.

The 35th District, approved by the state Citizens Redistricting Commission
last month, consists of Chino, Montclair, Pomona, Ontario, Bloomington and
portions of Fontana and Rialto.

Baca had earlier considered running in the

new 31st Congressional District, which includes San Bernardino, Redlands, Loma
Linda, Grand Terrace, Rancho Cucamonga and southern Upland.

Baca's hometown is Rialto. His district office is in San Bernardino.

"It was a very hard decision I had to make," Baca said, "because I really
have represented San Bernardino, Colton and, of course, portions of Rialto for
almost 20 years.

"But when I look at it, I'm the incumbent with 61 percent of the 35th
district being in my current district."

McLeod, Torres and Baca share similar platforms. If elected to the new seat,
each aims to create jobs and protect such federal programs as Medicare and
Social Security.

McLeod said she has endorsed Baca in the past. In reaction to Baca's
announcement, McLeod echoed what she said about the possibility of Torres'
running.

"It's a free country," McLeod said. "I will do the best job I can and I will
try to let the constituents know I am running for the seat. I feel I will
represent them well in Congress."

Torres said Baca's announcement doesn't change anything for her.

"We don't want to see a representative go to Washington and forget to come
home," Torres said. "We want a representative to go to Washington and impact the
daily lives of working people, and we need a representative who will come home
and allow community input on the decisions they're making."

Voter registration totals in Baca's current district give Democrats about a
50 percent to 30 percent advantage over Republicans. Democrats also have a
similar lead over Republicans in the new 35th District, and a 4-point lead in
the new 31st.


]]> Local News Webmaster Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:30:23 -0400 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.53.3 Congratulations to our newly elected Democrats! http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.49.2
This was a great election season and we look forward to getting our Democrats to vote in 2012!

Congratulations to Rialto Mayor Pro Tem Joe Baca, Jr.!  With no opponent, he will be reappointed to the Rialto City Council at the December 14, 2010 Rialto City Council Meeting.

Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected Democrats!
Certification Complete

Rialto Democratic Wins
United States Congressman Joe Baca - 65.50%
State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod - 66.92%
State Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter - 69.78%
Community College Board Member James Ramos - 30.83% (Top Vote-getter)
County School Board Member Gil Navarro - 50.07% (A mandate from the voters!)
Rialto School Board Member-Elect Edgar Montes - 21.44% (Elected in the top 2)

Regional Democratic Wins
Fontana School Board Member-Elect Leticia Garcia - 14.07% (Elected in the top 2)
Fontana School Board Member- Elect Sophia Green - 14.30% (Top Vote-getter)
Colton City District 1 Councilman David Toro - 71.61%
Colton City District 2 Councilman Frank Gonzales - 52.02%
Colton School Board Member-Elect Randall Ceniceros - 65.23%

Statewide Democratic Wins
United States Senator Barbara Boxer - 52.2%
Governor-Elect Jerry Brown - 53.8%
Lieutenant Governor-Elect Gavin Newsome - 50.2%
Secretary of State Debra Bowen - 53.2%
State Controller John Chiang - 55.2%
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer - 56.5%
State Attorney General-Elect Kamala Harris - 46.1%
State Insurance Commissioner-Elect Dave Jones - 50.6%


]]>
This was a great election season and we look forward to getting our Democrats to vote in 2012!

Congratulations to Rialto Mayor Pro Tem Joe Baca, Jr.!  With no opponent, he will be reappointed to the Rialto City Council at the December 14, 2010 Rialto City Council Meeting.

Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected Democrats!
Certification Complete

Rialto Democratic Wins
United States Congressman Joe Baca - 65.50%
State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod - 66.92%
State Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter - 69.78%
Community College Board Member James Ramos - 30.83% (Top Vote-getter)
County School Board Member Gil Navarro - 50.07% (A mandate from the voters!)
Rialto School Board Member-Elect Edgar Montes - 21.44% (Elected in the top 2)

Regional Democratic Wins
Fontana School Board Member-Elect Leticia Garcia - 14.07% (Elected in the top 2)
Fontana School Board Member- Elect Sophia Green - 14.30% (Top Vote-getter)
Colton City District 1 Councilman David Toro - 71.61%
Colton City District 2 Councilman Frank Gonzales - 52.02%
Colton School Board Member-Elect Randall Ceniceros - 65.23%

Statewide Democratic Wins
United States Senator Barbara Boxer - 52.2%
Governor-Elect Jerry Brown - 53.8%
Lieutenant Governor-Elect Gavin Newsome - 50.2%
Secretary of State Debra Bowen - 53.2%
State Controller John Chiang - 55.2%
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer - 56.5%
State Attorney General-Elect Kamala Harris - 46.1%
State Insurance Commissioner-Elect Dave Jones - 50.6%


]]> Club News Webmaster Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.49.2 Follow the Dirty Republican Money http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.45.3
Dirty Republican Money has been traced back to the Colonies corruption scandal. Follow the dirty money trail below.

Many of Republican PACs listed below have targetted some of our local Democrats in recent elections. Remember to vote responsibly. Vote Democrat!


20100210_113740_follow.jpg
]]>
Dirty Republican Money has been traced back to the Colonies corruption scandal. Follow the dirty money trail below.

Many of Republican PACs listed below have targetted some of our local Democrats in recent elections. Remember to vote responsibly. Vote Democrat!


20100210_113740_follow.jpg
]]> Local News Webmaster Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.45.3 Postmus, Erwin charged in "biggest corruption scandal" in county history‏ http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.44.3
It's called the biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County history!! Everyone is talking about all thechaos and problems in the Republican ranks.


It's great to be a Democrat!! Register Democrat today!

mug shots.jpg

Postmus, Erwin charged in

"biggest corruption scandal"

in county history


By Joe Nelson
Posted:02/10/2010 10:47:07 AM PST



Prosecutors today charged two former top county officials with conspiracy, bribery and extortion, and identified five other co-conspirators in what was described as the "biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County's history."

Former Assessor William Postmus, 38, of Victorville, and former assistant assessor James Erwin, 47, of Highland, were arrested early this morning and booked into jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and $380,000 bail, respectively.

During a news conference at the District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and state Attorney General Edmund G. Brown described a wide-ranging conspiracy to secure a legal settlement between the county and Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners in November 2006.

Two Rancho Cucamonga developers, a public relations consultant for the developers, members of the Board of Supervisors and one chief of staff to a county supervisor conspired to illegally secure the landmark $102 million settlement, which was not signed off by any of the county's attorneys or their outside counsel. "What is significant here is the most appalling corruption case in decades, certainly in the history of San Bernardino County and maybe California itself," Brown said during the news conference. "Individuals corrupted public office and were able to grab more than $100 million of the taxpayers money through this scheme."

Brown called the case "a shocking example of how money can corrupt the government process and not only bring government in discredit, but cost the taxpayers so much money at a time when people are being laid off and the state, cities and the county are facing a real fiscal crisis."

Erwin is charged with two counts of corrupt influencing, two counts of offering a bribe to a supervisor, two counts of extortion, one count of misappropriation of public funds and one count of forgery. He faces a maximum of 12 years in prison.

Postmus is charged with one count of accepting a bribe, one count of conflict of interest and one count of misappropriation of public funds. He faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.

At the time of his arrest, Postmus was found in possession of methamphetamine, an addiction he has been battling for more than three years. He has a pending drug possession charge in San Bernardino Superior Court.

"Also part of a conspiracy we have five unnamed and uncharged co-conspirators, two of whom began the scheme to obtain tax dollars by corrupt means," Ramos said.

He said conspiracy is two or more people agreeing to commit a crime, which requires at least one overt act to commit the crime.

The criminal complaint listed 45 overt acts, beginning in 2005 with a trip to China and ending with overt act 45, a forgery, by charged defendant Jim Erwin in 2008," Ramos said. "The overt acts will detail the threats, the extortion, the inducements and the bribery."

He identified two general partners of Rancho Cucamonga-based Colonies Partners, one media consultant for Colonies, one chief of staff for a county supervisor and a county supervisor as the co-conspirators, all identified as "John Does."

None of the five co-conspirators have been charged because prosecutors do not feel they have gathered enough evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt in court, Ramos said.

The investigation, however, is far from over, Ramos said.

"I want to make this very very clear today, this is an ongoing investigation and things can change as to those uncharged co-conspirators," Ramos said.

In November 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved, after nearly four years of legal battle, the landmark $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners. Supervisors Bill Postmus, then the board chairman, Gary Ovitt and Paul Biane voted in favor of the settlement. The lawsuit stemmed from a dispute over costs for flood control improvements at the Colonies Crossroads residential and commercial development adjacent the 210 Freeway in Upland.

Within six months of the settlement, Colonies contributed $400,000 to political action committees tied to the three supervisors who voted in favor of the settlement and one operated by Erwin, who served as an intermediary on behalf of Colonies during the settlement negotiations.

Mark Kirk, Ovitt's chief of staff, ran one of the political action committees and took a $20,000 consultant fee once the contribution was received. Erwin also received a luxurious trip to New York City, a Rolex Daytona watch and the services of a prostitute from Burum for his role in the settlement negotiations, according to court records and officials law enforcement documents

]]>
It's called the biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County history!! Everyone is talking about all thechaos and problems in the Republican ranks.


It's great to be a Democrat!! Register Democrat today!

mug shots.jpg

Postmus, Erwin charged in

"biggest corruption scandal"

in county history


By Joe Nelson
Posted:02/10/2010 10:47:07 AM PST



Prosecutors today charged two former top county officials with conspiracy, bribery and extortion, and identified five other co-conspirators in what was described as the "biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County's history."

Former Assessor William Postmus, 38, of Victorville, and former assistant assessor James Erwin, 47, of Highland, were arrested early this morning and booked into jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and $380,000 bail, respectively.

During a news conference at the District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and state Attorney General Edmund G. Brown described a wide-ranging conspiracy to secure a legal settlement between the county and Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners in November 2006.

Two Rancho Cucamonga developers, a public relations consultant for the developers, members of the Board of Supervisors and one chief of staff to a county supervisor conspired to illegally secure the landmark $102 million settlement, which was not signed off by any of the county's attorneys or their outside counsel. "What is significant here is the most appalling corruption case in decades, certainly in the history of San Bernardino County and maybe California itself," Brown said during the news conference. "Individuals corrupted public office and were able to grab more than $100 million of the taxpayers money through this scheme."

Brown called the case "a shocking example of how money can corrupt the government process and not only bring government in discredit, but cost the taxpayers so much money at a time when people are being laid off and the state, cities and the county are facing a real fiscal crisis."

Erwin is charged with two counts of corrupt influencing, two counts of offering a bribe to a supervisor, two counts of extortion, one count of misappropriation of public funds and one count of forgery. He faces a maximum of 12 years in prison.

Postmus is charged with one count of accepting a bribe, one count of conflict of interest and one count of misappropriation of public funds. He faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.

At the time of his arrest, Postmus was found in possession of methamphetamine, an addiction he has been battling for more than three years. He has a pending drug possession charge in San Bernardino Superior Court.

"Also part of a conspiracy we have five unnamed and uncharged co-conspirators, two of whom began the scheme to obtain tax dollars by corrupt means," Ramos said.

He said conspiracy is two or more people agreeing to commit a crime, which requires at least one overt act to commit the crime.

The criminal complaint listed 45 overt acts, beginning in 2005 with a trip to China and ending with overt act 45, a forgery, by charged defendant Jim Erwin in 2008," Ramos said. "The overt acts will detail the threats, the extortion, the inducements and the bribery."

He identified two general partners of Rancho Cucamonga-based Colonies Partners, one media consultant for Colonies, one chief of staff for a county supervisor and a county supervisor as the co-conspirators, all identified as "John Does."

None of the five co-conspirators have been charged because prosecutors do not feel they have gathered enough evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt in court, Ramos said.

The investigation, however, is far from over, Ramos said.

"I want to make this very very clear today, this is an ongoing investigation and things can change as to those uncharged co-conspirators," Ramos said.

In November 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved, after nearly four years of legal battle, the landmark $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners. Supervisors Bill Postmus, then the board chairman, Gary Ovitt and Paul Biane voted in favor of the settlement. The lawsuit stemmed from a dispute over costs for flood control improvements at the Colonies Crossroads residential and commercial development adjacent the 210 Freeway in Upland.

Within six months of the settlement, Colonies contributed $400,000 to political action committees tied to the three supervisors who voted in favor of the settlement and one operated by Erwin, who served as an intermediary on behalf of Colonies during the settlement negotiations.

Mark Kirk, Ovitt's chief of staff, ran one of the political action committees and took a $20,000 consultant fee once the contribution was received. Erwin also received a luxurious trip to New York City, a Rolex Daytona watch and the services of a prostitute from Burum for his role in the settlement negotiations, according to court records and officials law enforcement documents

]]> Local News Webmaster Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.44.3 Lines to shift for I.E. politics: Area could gain clout in Congress http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.26.3 New Year...Great things to look forward to....shifts in lines may mean more Democratic congressional seats in the Inland Empire...

Lines to shift for I.E. politics: Area could gain clout in Congress
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
San Bernardino Sun, 12/20/2009, Front Page
It's not clear who will redraw California's congressional districts in 2011, but it's a near certainty that the Inland Empire will have more seats in Congress once the new lines are in place, experts say.

Thanks to the state's partisan redistricting process, a new Inland Empire seat would likely be Democrat-controlled and would come at the expense of the Bay Area, which has grown much more slowly than San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

"It's probably going to be a regional shift of seats from north to south," said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.

When new congressional districts were last drawn in 2001, all of California's 53 districts had roughly the same population. But a report from Claremont McKenna's Rose Institute of State and Local Politics shows that most of the Inland Empire's congressional districts are overpopulated while the Bay Area's are underpopulated.

Six Inland Empire districts - including the San Bernardino County districts held by Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino; Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands; and Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita - are among the most overpopulated in California.
The district held by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and the four districts surrounding it are among the state's most underpopulated.

In 2011, following the 2010 census, the state's congressional districts will be redrawn. Unlike the state's Assembly and Senate districts, which will be redrawn by an independent citizens commission, the congressional districts are set to be redrawn by the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

That means, Johnson said, Democrats will try to maintain or possibly increase the edge held by Democrats in the state's congressional delegation. Out of 53 seats in the state, 34 are held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans.

"There's a pretty good chance the Democrats will collapse a Democratic seat in the Bay area," said Doug Johnson, a scholar with Claremont McKenna College's Rose Institute of State and Local Government. "Then the top priority would be to draw a new Democratic seat somewhere else. That could be in the Inland Empire."

They'll do that by taking Democratic voters out of Republican-held districts and creating a new district, likely with a Latino majority.

The federal Voting Rights Act demands that, when redistricting, states try to draw districts that unite ethnic communities. With both San Bernardino County and the entire Inland Empire seeing huge growth among Latinos in the past decade, Pitney said the area is likely to see a new district that includes a Latino majority. Johnson expects to see a Democratic district created out of pieces of the Inland Empire's current districts. "They'll pull Democrats out of the Mary Bono Mack seat (R-Palm Springs), out of the David Dreier seat (R-San Dimas) and the Lewis seat and create a new seat that's Democratic," he said.

That would give Democrats a new seat and preserve their grip on the state's congressional delegation, but Pitney said Republicans might go along because drawing a new Democratic district - especially if it's a Latino majority district - would make today's Republican districts even more solidly Republican.

"Republican incumbents would be happy to see another Democratic district drawn in the area if it makes them more secure," Pitney said. "It really wouldn't change the partisan balance, but it would make existing Republican districts more Republican."

This all assumes the Legislature remains in charge of redistricting. Last year, California voters approved a ballot measure that put the state Legislature's redistricting process in the hands of a citizens commission. A similar measure, if approved in 2010, would do the same for congressional redistricting.

If that happens, Johnson said the focus likely wouldn't be on maintaining current party majorities or adjusting existing lines, but drawing completely new districts aimed at uniting communities with similar interests. New congressional districts might not seem that important, Johnson said, but district boundaries can have a huge impact on how lawmakers look at an area.

Communities that form the bulk of a representative's district are likely to get more attention - and more federally-funded projects - than a community or section of a community that amounts to only a small fraction of a district, he said.

"A good local example is the San Gabriel Valley," Johnson said. "The whole reason why the Gold Line (light rail line) has stalled in Pasadena and has not been built out to Pomona is that the whole San Gabriel Valley has been sliced and diced."

Five members of Congress represent various parts of the San Gabriel Valley, Johnson said, but many of those districts include more populated areas closer to Los Angeles.

"They're repped by people whose bases are in East L.A. or in Norwalk," he said.

To some extent, that's true in parts of San Bernardino County. San Bernardino, Fontana, Victorville and other cities are split between two districts. That's not likely to change if the Legislature handles the 2011 redistricting, Johnson said.

Assuming the Legislature is in charge, he said San Bernardino County and its new Democratic majority might be subdivided to help spread Democrats into other districts.

"What might benefit Democrats statewide might not benefit Democrats in San Bernardino County," Johnson said. "Instead of seeing another compact San Bernardino County district, you could see Buck McKeon extending more into San Bernardino County, or it could be a Central Valley person coming down. There's a lot of fingers that could come in from other areas."

]]> New Year...Great things to look forward to....shifts in lines may mean more Democratic congressional seats in the Inland Empire...

Lines to shift for I.E. politics: Area could gain clout in Congress
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
San Bernardino Sun, 12/20/2009, Front Page
It's not clear who will redraw California's congressional districts in 2011, but it's a near certainty that the Inland Empire will have more seats in Congress once the new lines are in place, experts say.

Thanks to the state's partisan redistricting process, a new Inland Empire seat would likely be Democrat-controlled and would come at the expense of the Bay Area, which has grown much more slowly than San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

"It's probably going to be a regional shift of seats from north to south," said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.

When new congressional districts were last drawn in 2001, all of California's 53 districts had roughly the same population. But a report from Claremont McKenna's Rose Institute of State and Local Politics shows that most of the Inland Empire's congressional districts are overpopulated while the Bay Area's are underpopulated.

Six Inland Empire districts - including the San Bernardino County districts held by Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino; Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands; and Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita - are among the most overpopulated in California.
The district held by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and the four districts surrounding it are among the state's most underpopulated.

In 2011, following the 2010 census, the state's congressional districts will be redrawn. Unlike the state's Assembly and Senate districts, which will be redrawn by an independent citizens commission, the congressional districts are set to be redrawn by the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

That means, Johnson said, Democrats will try to maintain or possibly increase the edge held by Democrats in the state's congressional delegation. Out of 53 seats in the state, 34 are held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans.

"There's a pretty good chance the Democrats will collapse a Democratic seat in the Bay area," said Doug Johnson, a scholar with Claremont McKenna College's Rose Institute of State and Local Government. "Then the top priority would be to draw a new Democratic seat somewhere else. That could be in the Inland Empire."

They'll do that by taking Democratic voters out of Republican-held districts and creating a new district, likely with a Latino majority.

The federal Voting Rights Act demands that, when redistricting, states try to draw districts that unite ethnic communities. With both San Bernardino County and the entire Inland Empire seeing huge growth among Latinos in the past decade, Pitney said the area is likely to see a new district that includes a Latino majority. Johnson expects to see a Democratic district created out of pieces of the Inland Empire's current districts. "They'll pull Democrats out of the Mary Bono Mack seat (R-Palm Springs), out of the David Dreier seat (R-San Dimas) and the Lewis seat and create a new seat that's Democratic," he said.

That would give Democrats a new seat and preserve their grip on the state's congressional delegation, but Pitney said Republicans might go along because drawing a new Democratic district - especially if it's a Latino majority district - would make today's Republican districts even more solidly Republican.

"Republican incumbents would be happy to see another Democratic district drawn in the area if it makes them more secure," Pitney said. "It really wouldn't change the partisan balance, but it would make existing Republican districts more Republican."

This all assumes the Legislature remains in charge of redistricting. Last year, California voters approved a ballot measure that put the state Legislature's redistricting process in the hands of a citizens commission. A similar measure, if approved in 2010, would do the same for congressional redistricting.

If that happens, Johnson said the focus likely wouldn't be on maintaining current party majorities or adjusting existing lines, but drawing completely new districts aimed at uniting communities with similar interests. New congressional districts might not seem that important, Johnson said, but district boundaries can have a huge impact on how lawmakers look at an area.

Communities that form the bulk of a representative's district are likely to get more attention - and more federally-funded projects - than a community or section of a community that amounts to only a small fraction of a district, he said.

"A good local example is the San Gabriel Valley," Johnson said. "The whole reason why the Gold Line (light rail line) has stalled in Pasadena and has not been built out to Pomona is that the whole San Gabriel Valley has been sliced and diced."

Five members of Congress represent various parts of the San Gabriel Valley, Johnson said, but many of those districts include more populated areas closer to Los Angeles.

"They're repped by people whose bases are in East L.A. or in Norwalk," he said.

To some extent, that's true in parts of San Bernardino County. San Bernardino, Fontana, Victorville and other cities are split between two districts. That's not likely to change if the Legislature handles the 2011 redistricting, Johnson said.

Assuming the Legislature is in charge, he said San Bernardino County and its new Democratic majority might be subdivided to help spread Democrats into other districts.

"What might benefit Democrats statewide might not benefit Democrats in San Bernardino County," Johnson said. "Instead of seeing another compact San Bernardino County district, you could see Buck McKeon extending more into San Bernardino County, or it could be a Central Valley person coming down. There's a lot of fingers that could come in from other areas."

]]> Local News Webmaster Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:51:11 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.26.3 Rep. Baca says woes are fault of Republicans http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.22.3 Rep. Baca says woes are fault of Republicans By Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun Posted:10/09/2008 08:03:18 PM PDT

Rep. Joe Baca said Wednesday voters should re-elect him to the 43rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives because the Rialto Democrat has the personal and political experience needed in these difficult days.

An Army veteran of the Vietnam War era, Baca was clear in his opposition to President Bush's policy in Iraq.

"We need to say it's time to withdraw; it's time to bring back our troops," Baca said. "Right now, we got into a war we never should've got into." Baca voted for the second version of the economic bailout that was passed by Congress last week and signed by President Bush.

The blame for the financial crisis rests on Republicans who failed to regulate the lending industry while they controlled Congress and the White House, he said.

"They knew the tornado was coming," Baca said. "We had to turn around and do something, and we (Democrats) hated it." Baca, who serves on the House Finance Committee, said Republicans blocked meaningful mortgage legislation for 12 years after gaining control of the House.

"It's not my fault or the chair of the committee's fault," Baca said of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

He said a bill he introduced last year mirrors Republican presidential candidate John McCain's proposal for the federal government to buy back bad mortgages.

As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Department operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, Baca voted to increase funding by $1.26billion for the emergency food-assistance program, a title passed in the 2008 Farm Bill.

He supports extending unemployment insurance and increasing food-stamp benefits to poor families.

"With food stamps in my own personal life, I know what it was like and so was able to convince people we needed to ensure that we provided for the 38 million people going hungry in the United States," Baca said.

He said he would continue to work to make health care more accessible and affordable in the district, one of the poorest in the state.

Baca said things get done in Washington, D.C., because of seniority, which is lacked by his Republican challenger, Councilman John Roberts from Fontana.

"That's how you get the committee assignments; that's how you climb the ladder and deal with issues that are important to a lot of us," Baca said.

"Anybody who gets elected goes to the end of the line."
JOE BACA

On the economy: Baca said the blame rests with predatory lenders and a Republican House that for 12 years refused to regulate the lending industry.

On Iraq: Baca said it's a war we should never have entered into. He wants a timetable for troop withdrawal.

]]> Rep. Baca says woes are fault of Republicans By Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun Posted:10/09/2008 08:03:18 PM PDT

Rep. Joe Baca said Wednesday voters should re-elect him to the 43rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives because the Rialto Democrat has the personal and political experience needed in these difficult days.

An Army veteran of the Vietnam War era, Baca was clear in his opposition to President Bush's policy in Iraq.

"We need to say it's time to withdraw; it's time to bring back our troops," Baca said. "Right now, we got into a war we never should've got into." Baca voted for the second version of the economic bailout that was passed by Congress last week and signed by President Bush.

The blame for the financial crisis rests on Republicans who failed to regulate the lending industry while they controlled Congress and the White House, he said.

"They knew the tornado was coming," Baca said. "We had to turn around and do something, and we (Democrats) hated it." Baca, who serves on the House Finance Committee, said Republicans blocked meaningful mortgage legislation for 12 years after gaining control of the House.

"It's not my fault or the chair of the committee's fault," Baca said of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

He said a bill he introduced last year mirrors Republican presidential candidate John McCain's proposal for the federal government to buy back bad mortgages.

As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Department operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, Baca voted to increase funding by $1.26billion for the emergency food-assistance program, a title passed in the 2008 Farm Bill.

He supports extending unemployment insurance and increasing food-stamp benefits to poor families.

"With food stamps in my own personal life, I know what it was like and so was able to convince people we needed to ensure that we provided for the 38 million people going hungry in the United States," Baca said.

He said he would continue to work to make health care more accessible and affordable in the district, one of the poorest in the state.

Baca said things get done in Washington, D.C., because of seniority, which is lacked by his Republican challenger, Councilman John Roberts from Fontana.

"That's how you get the committee assignments; that's how you climb the ladder and deal with issues that are important to a lot of us," Baca said.

"Anybody who gets elected goes to the end of the line."
JOE BACA

On the economy: Baca said the blame rests with predatory lenders and a Republican House that for 12 years refused to regulate the lending industry.

On Iraq: Baca said it's a war we should never have entered into. He wants a timetable for troop withdrawal.

]]> Local News Webmaster Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:15:53 -0400 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.22.3 1st Latino since '81 joins county board - San Bernardino Sun http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.10.3
Our Democratic colleagueGil Navarro appeared today in the San Bernardino Sun:

1st Latino since '81 joins county board
Charlotte Hus, Staff Writer

San Bernardino County Sun

Article Launched:12/05/2006 12:00:00 AM PST

Education advocate Gil Navarro on Monday became the first Latino to be seated on the San Bernardino County Board of Education since 1981.

More than 50 percent of the county's students are Latino, up from 40 percent 10 years ago, according to the California Department of Education.

Navarro was sworn in at a board meeting Monday along with former board president David Stine and Mark Sumpter, former superintendent of Helendale schools, who were elected last month along with Navarro.

Navarro believes having a Latino on the school board is important for the county's Latino students because seeing someone of their own ethnicity in an elected position could be an inspiration.

Nine years ago, he says, he played a key role in encouraging longtime friend Elsa Valdez to run for the San Bernardino City Unified School Board. Valdez, who still serves in that office, stood with Navarro as he took his oath.

If nothing else, Navarro has been persistent.

He won his seat after losing about 10 elections in San Bernardino and Riverside counties over the years. Among his losses are four unsuccessful attempts to make it onto the city school boards in Riverside and San Bernardino.

On winning, he says he felt "a sense of relief. I've always felt that people doubted me and the work I was doing."

Navarro says one of his top priorities in office will be ensuring government transparency and helping the public get the information it wants.

He added his immediate task is to begin learning more about board policies and procedures.

Herb Fischer, the county superintendent of schools, said Navarro's presence as a Latino is welcomed because it brings a new perspective to the board.

"Boards of education should reflect their communities, and as our community changes, we have the opportunity for more and more individuals to take leadership positions through the board of education," Fischer said.

Also at Monday's meeting: NTD Strichler Architects presented a proposed design for a new county high school. The high school, in Apple Valley, would serve children who have special needs and find it difficult to learn in normal school environments.

The board heard a financial report projecting that deficit spending will not be a problem for county schools this year.

The board approved a list of educational videos to include in eSOURCE, a service that provides digital video streaming to school districts. Navarro voted against the list, citing the lack of videos pertaining to Latino history.

]]>
Our Democratic colleagueGil Navarro appeared today in the San Bernardino Sun:

1st Latino since '81 joins county board
Charlotte Hus, Staff Writer

San Bernardino County Sun

Article Launched:12/05/2006 12:00:00 AM PST

Education advocate Gil Navarro on Monday became the first Latino to be seated on the San Bernardino County Board of Education since 1981.

More than 50 percent of the county's students are Latino, up from 40 percent 10 years ago, according to the California Department of Education.

Navarro was sworn in at a board meeting Monday along with former board president David Stine and Mark Sumpter, former superintendent of Helendale schools, who were elected last month along with Navarro.

Navarro believes having a Latino on the school board is important for the county's Latino students because seeing someone of their own ethnicity in an elected position could be an inspiration.

Nine years ago, he says, he played a key role in encouraging longtime friend Elsa Valdez to run for the San Bernardino City Unified School Board. Valdez, who still serves in that office, stood with Navarro as he took his oath.

If nothing else, Navarro has been persistent.

He won his seat after losing about 10 elections in San Bernardino and Riverside counties over the years. Among his losses are four unsuccessful attempts to make it onto the city school boards in Riverside and San Bernardino.

On winning, he says he felt "a sense of relief. I've always felt that people doubted me and the work I was doing."

Navarro says one of his top priorities in office will be ensuring government transparency and helping the public get the information it wants.

He added his immediate task is to begin learning more about board policies and procedures.

Herb Fischer, the county superintendent of schools, said Navarro's presence as a Latino is welcomed because it brings a new perspective to the board.

"Boards of education should reflect their communities, and as our community changes, we have the opportunity for more and more individuals to take leadership positions through the board of education," Fischer said.

Also at Monday's meeting: NTD Strichler Architects presented a proposed design for a new county high school. The high school, in Apple Valley, would serve children who have special needs and find it difficult to learn in normal school environments.

The board heard a financial report projecting that deficit spending will not be a problem for county schools this year.

The board approved a list of educational videos to include in eSOURCE, a service that provides digital video streaming to school districts. Navarro voted against the list, citing the lack of videos pertaining to Latino history.

]]> Local News Webmaster Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:46:49 -0500 http://www.greaterrialtodemocrats.org/news.php?item.10.3