So now San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos has decided county supervisors have too much power.
It’ll be interesting to see if county supervisors in California’s other 57 counties agree. Not likely.
In an obvious campaign maneuver Ramos made the rounds with local newspaper editorial boards this week touting his so-called “white paper” on reforming county government.
Most county insiders, even many in his own department are literally rolling on the floor laughing.
Mike Ramos and a white paper?
Wikipedia defines a white paper as an authoritative report or guide that often addresses issues and how to solve them. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions. They are often used in politics and business, and technical subjects.
Those people that know Ramos say if it’s not served at a bar or wears a skirt, Ramos isn’t interested.
Let’s examine Ramos’ proposal’s one by one.
1.) Non-Intervention provision: Prohibit Board of Supervisors from issuing direct orders to county employees or interfering with their work or litigation. Only the county administrative officer could direct employees.
Translated: County supervisors can’t interfere with county counsel. Ramos would like the Board of Supervisors to have no authority over employees or litigation. What happens when county supervisors direct the county administrator to take action?
One has to ask the question: Then why have a board?
2.) Independent County Administrative Officer: Prevent county supervisors from removing the county administrative officer without cause. Removal for cause would require votes from four of the five supervisors. County Administrative Officer’s would receive four-year terms.
Translated: Fired County Administrative Officer and Ramos ally Mark Uffer should never have been removed. County supervisors should have no authority to hire and fire the county’s top administrator unless there is cause. What happens if the administrator is incompetent like Uffer?
So once again we ask: Then why have a board?
3.) No-gift policy: Forbid any gifts to county employees or officials.
Translated: While not a bad idea. Ramos himself would have a difficult time following this one. Don’t be fooled by Ramos’ own Form 700 gift disclosure. (San Manuel….. Mr. DA??) Ramos’ office has a no gift policy which he violates. Please visit the San Bernardino County Form 700 Filing Portal and see for yourself.
4.) Campaign contribution limits: Place a limit on the amount of money that could be contributed to political campaigns to prevent any one source from bankrolling a campaign.
Translated: This would handicap people who could hurt Ramos. Contribution limits haven’t affected elections in Orange County. However, independent expenditure committee’s operating without limitations would be alive and well under this theory. Any change would have to be legislated by the state. Also a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in this area further makes the idea worthless. Constitutional rights to free speech override this idea as well. But of course understanding legal issues is needed here.
5.) Instant reporting of campaign contributions: Require instant, online reporting of any contribution over a certain dollar amount.
Translated: A total waste of time. Not all counties even have systems to report semi-annual campaign finance statements online. This idea is hilarious coming from someone like Ramos, who refuses to disclose his own campaign finance records via the Registrar of Voters online public disclosure system.
6.) Regulation of political action committees: Require Political Action Committee (PAC) officers to be clearly identified and that no money be spent without votes and meetings during which minutes are kept. PACs would be prohibited from contributing to other PACs. All money to and from PACs would be immediately reported online.
Translated: This area is completely governed by California law enacted by the legislature. A legislature consisting of 120 elected politicians. Ramos knows this will never happen, but it sounds good for the campaign trail. Ramos’ own campaign finance reports show he is accepting campaign money from PAC’s that have blended money from other PAC’s. Of course when Ramos accepts the same type of funds it’s all right. Ramos has even accepted money from PAC’s that have derived money from the very same people he has targeted.
Clearly Ramos is orchestrating a power grab against the Board of Supervisors. If allowed to, he would just assume eliminate the Board of Supervisors.
One thing’s for certain. Ramos must be sweating out the June primary closing date. His actions depict him as a very dangerous power hungry politician.
Maybe it’s time for county supervisors to enact an anti-fraternization ordinance. One where any county elected officer who is proven to have engaged in having sex with a subordinate is immediately removed by county supervisors by four-fifths vote.
We all could logically conclude Ramos would not like that.
No gift policy! The DA’s Office has had a no gift policy for over 10 years. Stout enacted it while he was DA. The only one that doesn’t follow it is Ramos. Maybe he should have his jack booted investigators do an internal affairs investigation of his violations of the department policy. Or are they too busy picking on his political opponents and low level former mistresses. He could have his girl friend Ruth Stringer hire an outside law firm to investigate and make sure they have “appropriate” instructions so they ignore everything but what they are told by County Counsel. As for the cowards on the fifth floor, isn’t enough enough.
This is just another stunt for re-election. See it for what it is.
I will vote for DA Insider if he/she chooses to run for the DA office.
If this isn’t re-election campaign propoganda, Ramos has something on the Chinese.
All the “white paper” is good for is for Devilreaux to use to wipe Mikey’s ass “clean”.
Ramos has to attack now cuz if he doesn’t that will only mean he is part of the corruption. We all know what’s going on and we’re eagerly watching with our popcorn and glasses on!
This positon paper was a blunder.
Ramos can’t even follow what he’s proposing.
Amazing.
Is someone going to challenge this moron.
I hear he failed the State Bar exam the first time and went to an unaccredited law school.
What a loser.
Ramos,
The way you disrespect your wife and family is enough to vote you out.
Now you actually think you have the right to run the entire county.
Shame on you.
While some of these proposals may be workable individually, collectively they cause problems. Keep in mind that any limitation on the authority of the Board of Supervisors needs to be tested as a limitation on the authority of the people who elect the Supervisors. This proposal seems to transfer power from the people to the beauracracy.
The sherrif and the district attorney have professional, technical functions. Their roles could be filled be an appointment from the Board of Superviors. To prevent a crushing political machine from being formed, in California the positions are directly elected by the people in parallell authority to the Board of Supervisors. Ramos risks encroaching on this separation of powers by seeking to limit the power of the Supervisors (people).
If the hands of Ramos were proven to be truely clean, then his input in this manner might be truely appreciated. If his hands are sullied by selective prosecutions to favor his own political machine, or if he is using his power to cover his own personal transgressions, then his input is highly circumspect.
I think it will be very easy to prove Ramos has “unclean hands” in this case.