Joe Nelson and Liset Marquez, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/05/2010 06:15:47 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – The Board of Supervisors is courting Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux to replace former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer, who was dismissed from his post in November, according to sources close to the search.

While more than 200 applications have been submitted for the county’s top appointed position, board members have their sights set on Devereaux, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday, the board met in closed session to review applications and discuss potential candidates for the position, which pays $274,000 a year.

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06:45 PM PST on Tuesday, January 5, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, elected by his colleagues Tuesday as the board’s new chairman, said declining revenues will remain one of the chief concerns for the county this year.

As chairman, Ashley acts as the county’s top elected official, runs the board’s weekly meetings and has the power to declare emergencies, sign documents and handle other duties on the county’s behalf.

Supervisor Bob Buster took over from Ashley as the board’s vice chairman.

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Brooke Edwards,
Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • Over protest from Mayor Pro Tem Mike Rothschild, the council voted to move forward with an investigation into city finances with the San Bernardino County grand jury at the helm.

Councilman Ryan McEachron first requested a forensic audit to specifically look for evidence of any fraudulent activities after a year in office hearing continued concerns from residents that malfeasance had helped land Victorville in the financial hole it’s currently in.

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James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/05/2010 05:44:18 PM PST

Assemblyman Anthony Adams will not seek a third term, he announced Tuesday, putting an end to a tumultuous 11 months that saw him censured by his party, hectored by talk-radio hosts and targeted by an unsuccessful recall campaign.

Adams, R-Claremont, voted in February for a state budget package that included more than $12 billion in tax increases. That vote, which Adams called an act of courage but that opponents said broke a campaign pledge, sparked a recall drive that could have ousted Adams early this year.

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The city’s benefits responsibilities are expected to double in the next four years, crippling the general fund and forcing drastic cutbacks in city services. Labor unions are fighting the plan.

By David Zahniser And Phil Willon

January 6, 2010

Alarmed over the spiraling cost of retirement benefits, Los Angeles’ top budget officials have begun laying the groundwork for a June 8 city ballot measure that would dramatically scale back the pension benefits given to newly hired city employees.

The plan sets the stage for a showdown between the city’s elected officials and the labor unions that, in many cases, helped put them in office.

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For failing to file a financial disclosure report, Priya Mathur is accused by the California Fair Political Practices Commission of violating an ethics law. She agrees to submit paperwork immediately.

By Marc Lifsher

January 6, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – California’s political watchdog agency announced it has found “probable cause” to accuse a two-term board member at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System of violating the state’s Political Reform Act.

Priya Mathur, the chairwoman of CalPERS’ health benefits committee and vice-chairwoman of the investment committee, allegedly failed to file a statement of economic interests for 2007, the California Fair Political Practices Commission said Tuesday.

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January 05, 2010 6:37 PM

By JENNIFER MUIR
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A former state senator is asking Orange County supervisors to regulate local lobbyists –and themselves – by adopting sweeping reform measures aimed at adding transparency to the political process here.

“It’s been disconcerting that we are one of the few remaining counties that allows our county government to operate in secrecy,” Dunn said. “I’m not going to suggest there’s been anything unsavory happening in the county. For me, this is about trying to wrestle with the utter lack of faith that the average citizen has in government.”

Orange County’s neighbors in Los Angeles and San Diego, along with others across the state and the California Secretary of State, require lobbyists to register and follow other regulations.

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January 5th, 2010, 6:52 pm · posted by Jennifer Muir

Orange County government’s largest workers union is suggesting a strike by its members after learning that the sheriff plans to lay off 57 non-sworn sheriff’s employees in coming weeks.

Nick Berardino, general manger for the Orange County Employees Association, said the department hasn’t figured out the details of the layoffs, such as the classes of employees on the chopping block. Sheriff’s officials will confirm they’ve proposed layoffs, but say they don’t have hard numbers.

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Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Poizner, who donated $15 million to his campaign last month, is the first candidate for governor to release details of his campaign finance data for the end of 2009.

But a source in the campaign of rival Republican Meg Whitman said the former eBay CEO raised $3.5 million in the last period, putting her total at more than $10 million for last year. In addition, Whitman has given $19 million to her campaign.

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By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A

So this is what economic recovery looks like: 12 percent unemployment, more vacant storefronts and a seemingly endless state budget crisis that will prolong the furloughs, layoffs and other wounds.

A prominent economist has declared California’s recession over but acknowledged that most Californians might not even notice.

“It’s going to feel like a recession for a while longer,” said Jeff Michael of the University of the Pacific, which issues its quarterly economic forecast today.

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