County Supervisor Paul Biane has broken his silence. Now his statements bear some analysis.
A leisure trip to West Virginia that occurred in September 2008 was reimbursed out of Biane’s campaign funds. Did the reimbursement occur in September 2008 or when the amended disclosure form was filed in March 2009, just 8 days before the arrest of Jim Erwin, former Chief of Staff to Supervisor Neil Derry?
Erwin was charged with ten counts of perjury and filing false documents related to a trip and gift he received in January 2007.
Erwin resigned from his job and was made to post $220,000 bail.
The bet is on March 2009.
The costs were also under reimbursed.
No attempt to disclose occurred until Biane became aware that District Attorney investigators had found out about his travel and non-disclosure.
It would appear Biane had no intent to ever disclose anything until the gig was up.
Biane saying one of his reasons for going on the trip was to speak to Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux about the County Administrative Officer (CAO) position is laughable to say the least. Biane was fully supportive of recently fired CAO Mark Uffer. As a matter of fact one could describe Biane as being blindly loyal to Uffer. Uffer gave Biane funding for every trinket and toy he ever wanted. Biane voted against Uffer’s termination late last year and now wants everyone to believe he was out recruiting newly hired CAO Devereaux on a golf trip back east.
The proverbial crap is really getting deep here.
Biane is desperately attempting to try and create a nexus between a purely leisure trip and official governmental or political activities, which would justify payment from campaign funds.
He knew the rules. He blew it. Instead of being criminally charged for perjury and filing false documents, Biane looks forward to a most likely stiff fine thanks to District Attorney Mike Ramos, who has his own problems.
Biane’s tone in his statements transmits the message “the DA isn’t going to touch this matter again”.
More questions need to be asked.
One thing is for sure, the lap dog press won’t ask any embarassing questions. Another victory for corruption. What is in the Ramos report that the good ole boys don’t want you to see? It’s time to flush this stinky toilet and vote all of the terds out of office.
Since when does one’s campaign funds pay for a phishing expedition with an official from a sibling local agency? He supposedly wanted to bring Devereaux to the County and then, more recently, voted against Uffer’s termination? What gives here Mr. Double-talk Biane?? One question, now that a public conspiracy continues to grow and grow, WERE ARE THE AG AND THE FBI when we need them?
Good job Mr./Mrs. Blogger! Keep it up !!!!
The evidence is becoming quite overwhelming that Biane is not only a crook, but a terrible liar.
A boozer who thinks he is smart, but really stupid because all this is being discovered day by day.
In fact I don’t see ANY department heads that are too smart, because people are ratting you out at every opportunity.
I am sure Mr.Hansberger is sitting at home smoking one of his Cuban cigars, laughing up a storm.
baine…on so many levels the george W.of red county…long live the baine!…………sheeeesh!
Little Stevie Wonder. I can’t say that I know, but normally the AG is sitting back answering only the direct referrals he is forced to take. You will not know where the FBI is until the indictments come out. Even after the convictions, you will only know the minimum about where they were–the part that they could not avoid sharing with the public in court.
P.S.
Part of your right to petition your government is to make a referral to either the AG or the FBI.
Feel free to call their public integrity guys up on the phone and just talk.
I find the double standard worrisome. Biane’s ethics have never been above reproach, and he gets a pass again? Is it because the BOS feels it is up to the voters to rid us of this egotistical snob? That and he must have some good dirt on them. We definitely need to see a strong candidate oust him at the end of this term.