iePolitics.com

I can’t help but feel a bit hopeful that today signaled a new era in San Bernardino County politics. Maybe I’m being a Pollyanna once again, but between seeing a 5-0 vote and an admission from Bill Postmus, I have to feel the stars are lined up, there’s about to be a full moon, or change really is on the horizon.

Some months ago I heard that Brad was going to challenge Josie for the vice-chairmanship. I had to keep quiet and did so until speaking with a reporter who had also heard the rumor. I gradually started to add the subject to the blog but still treaded lightly until recently after several female employees of the Fifth Floor expressed concern to me over what Brad was doing. From the few that I know, it seems safe to say Brad is not a ladies’ man and they were upset at the prospect. So was I as he has tried to have me fired, and although we have never met, to put it in one of his supporters’ words, I’m “Brad’s Anti-Christ.”
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Brad issued a statement regarding Bill, which I read a little while ago. But now using my Mac I cannot even open it or link to it. So here is the link to Brad’s site for now for those who want to read it. I’ve sent a text to my Mac expert hoping he can give me some help so I can download it or link to it directly.

My Mac expert has responded. Someone let me know if this link works on your non-Mac computer: attachment-3ashx

Brad’s is the only official statement I’ve seen so far. From what I understand Bill let Supervisor Ovitt know yesterday that he intended to make this statement during the public comment section. Too bad someone didn’t forewarn ET as I’m sure he is kicking himself all over for not being in attendance. But for Bill’s sake I’m glad he wasn’t. I know this had to be one of the most difficult public statements he has ever made and I just hope he was being truthful.

Even Brad did the right thing today. Supervisors Gary Ovitt was elected as chairman of the BOS and Supervisor Josie Gonzales was elected as vice-chairman. Both were 5-0 votes. It almost makes me think there is hope for this county!

I’ve got to get off the computer but will write more about this subject tonight. Anyway, I’m glad to see several of our elected leaders chose to do the ethical thing today.

January 2, 2009 - 3:08 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • The county aims to improve services for High Desert residents with a new government center in Hesperia and dozens of public works projects slated for completion in 2009, according to 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.
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I keep hearing various rumors. I would say that Neil Derry’s post on this blog confirms the fact the Mitzelfelt was after the vice-chairmanship. Whether or not it was malicious or simply because at one time Josie didn’t want it, it does not matter. She wants it now and she deserves to have her turn as vice chairman.
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The battle over the vice chairmanship is only the latest incident in what I consider to be unethical practices by the Boys of the Board. It goes back to something I’ve written about several times in relation to Paul Biane and that is a lack of respect for the position each of them was entrusted with by the citizens of San Bernardino County and a lack of respect for one another.
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I finally asked someone who would know and the vote will take place on January 6, 2009. One source tells me it’s a done deal that Mitzelfelt will kick Josie to the curb and get himself elected as vice chairman; another source tells me the fight is still going on with a third supervisor possibly taking the position.
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I am getting so many emails from employees about furloughs and layoffs that I cannot keep up with them. From everything I can tell there will be no furloughs or layoffs this fiscal year, although at least one supervisor, Brad Mitzelfelt, is apparently pushing for layoffs.

Here are the contributions by SBPEA to Brad:

05/22/2007 $5,000.00
06/19/2007 $2,500.00
10/15/2007 $1,500.00
12/20/2007 $2,500.00
04/01/2008 $3,750.00
05/16/2008 $1,177.20
07/31/2008 $750.00
10/17/2008 $2,500.00

As it turns out there is some truth to the rumors that Paula is spreading. Does anyone have any doubt Chicken Man is in bed with county officials to the detriment of county employees?

I am pushing the coordinators that are trying to bring in the new international union to replace SBPEA to announce it soon so that employees can see there is light at the end of the tunnel and make a decision about whether or not they want to keep SBPEA or go for a stronger, professional union.

Hopefully, I will manage to cover all the new information I need to cover in this one post.

First, sprinklers. I was happy to see them being repaired on Tuesday. They were not on tonight. So maybe, just maybe, that problem has been resolved. I’ll know for sure tomorrow night.
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Jessica wrote an article about rebuilding the Republican Party. Things have been a bit funky over there for a while and the site no longer works like it used to. I put a comment on this article over there, but at least I cannot read comments on my Blackberry because of the new format. So I reprinted my comment below:

It is more than just getting back to principles; it’s finding local leaders with ethics, which I’m not sure is possible. How many of the current elected leaders are not accepting questionable campaign contributions, not using illegal drugs, not abusing alcohol, not cheating on their significant others, not lying to constituents and taxpayers, not cutting unethical backroom deals for their own benefit, and/or not using taxpayer money for their own interests? It’s hard to name more than a handful that are not participating in at least one of those activities, if you can name any. Even Neil Derry, who ran on a platform of ethics reform, has a huge lie on his county website if my sources are correct. This is no honor in this party.
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Or so it appears. I received yet another email last night from someone on the Fifth Floor advising that the deal is done. The boys are not going to allow Josie Gonzales to take her rightful place as vice chairman. Rather than following tradition and protocol, the position is expected to be given to Bill Postmus protege and newcomer Brad Mitzelfelt.

Many outsiders have noticed what those who have worked up there have known for a while and that is how women are treated. The Boys of the Board have reduced all women and most of the minorities up there to nothing but tokens if they have the audacity to oppose the unethical practices of the boys.

There have been lots of suggestions that a certain board member is a misogynist and this power grab by him lends credence to that claim by women that must work around him.

The Boys should be ashamed of themselves and the reputation they give to the Republican party by once again showing their elitist and exclusionary practices towards women and minorities. But power and control and the money that goes them are the controlling factors. To heck with ethics and propriety.

Lauren McSherry and Andrew Edwards, Staff Writers
Posted: 12/01/2008 10:06:01 PM PST

Neil Derry was not often in the county’s political spotlight during his seven years on the San Bernardino City Council, but he stepped into a larger role by ousting longtime Supervisor Dennis Hansberger in the June 3 election.
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Tomorrow’s the big day. Neil Derry will be sworn in. Gary Ovitt will become chairman. None of my best sources will tell me if Vice Chairman is going to Brad or Josie. We’ll see if the wealthy white boys win out or not.
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Things will be changing on Monday in San Bernardino County. Supervisor-elect Neil Derry will be sworn in as Third District Supervisor. Gary Ovitt will become Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. I’ve heard various rumors about who will be Vice Chairman and I don’t know what has been decided, although I’m sure by now the backroom deal has been made.
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Lauren McSherry, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/17/2008 12:52:24 AM PST

Political action committees are formed to raise and spend money on candidates.

They often are created to advance a political agenda or further the interests of businesses or industries.

The PAC in this week’s spotlight is the Committee to Elect Brad Mitzelfelt.

Mitzelfelt represents the 1st District on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The district includes Hesperia, Adelanto, Victorville, Barstow, Needles and Twentynine Palms.
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Here’s the link if you want to read the whole Mitzelfelt Memo. I picked out one entry only.

Join the Largest Earthquake Drill in U.S. History
To help motivate every resident to get ready for an inevitable major earthquake, a coalition of business, community and government leaders have organized The Great Southern California ShakeOut – a series of events from November 12 through 16 that will comprise the largest earthquake disaster drill in U.S. history.

As a member of the California Seismic Safety Commission, Supervisor Mitzelfelt serves as co-chairman of the San Bernardino County ShakeOut Campaign and has been working to encourage community involvement in the drill.
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One of my posts below discusses some of my feelings about the local Republican party. Of course Mark Kirk is one of its leaders. And he is one of the few for whom I have respect. One of the many reasons I have respect for Mark is the fact that he ran a clean campaign.

Mike’s reference to a “smear” is laughable. I heard Brad’s radio spot and there was nothing wrong with it. The real “smear” came from the Mike Leonard and Paul Bosacki side via Al Vogler. They ran a very dirty campaign. All one has to do is check out the many lies on Bosacki’s webpage to get just an inkling of how dishonest he is. Campaigns do seem to be easier to win for those with no integrity.

By Joe Smilor on November 9, 2008 9:00 AM
How much money does it take to win a City Council race?

Not as much as some might think.

Mark Kirk - a Republican political operative in San Bernardino County and Supervisor Gary Ovitt’s chief of staff - lost the Hesperia council race Tuesday by nearly 2,000 votes, despite a huge infusion of cash.

“Anytime you have a campaign, no matter how much money you spend, no matter how much work you do, at the end of the day, it’s the voters’ decision,” Kirk said.
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08:30 PM PST on Sunday, November 2, 2008

By DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise

PDF:20081103_wilderness

A San Bernardino County supervisor is proposing that the Marine Corps leave a popular off-roading mecca intact and instead expand its Twentynine Palms training center into two wilderness areas.

The military is considering enlarging the 932-square-mile base to the west, taking in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area, and to the east, right up to the edges of the Sheephole Valley and Cadiz Dunes wilderness areas.

But the federally protected wilderness could become new live-ammunition training grounds in an alternative plan suggested by San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.

Story continues below

Kathy Wing/Special to The Press-Enterprise

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