Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
To the United States Attorney’s Office,
Many of us involved in the various aspects of what has gone seriously wrong in this County would like to thank you for intervening in the mess that has hurt so many individuals and their families.
Once again, thank you.
Today agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service executed search warrants at Upland City Hall and three locations related to Mayor John Pomierski and a business partner.
Sources say Pomierski’s residence, business, and the office of a business partner are also involved in today’s activity.
Rutherford
With a November run-off with San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane on the horizon, Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford can’t be the least bit pleased with this mornings FBI/IRS raids believed to be focused on Upland Mayor John “J.P.” Pomierski.
Pomierski is a staunch supporter and ally of Rutherford in her quest to unseat Biane.
Pomierski is also the only Upland politician to support San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos for reelection.
I can definitely see Rutherford throwing Pomierski under the bus.
Agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service are at this time serving search warrants at Upland City Hall and three locations related to Mayor John Pomierski and a business partner.
Sources say Pomierski’s residence, business, and the office of a business partner are also involved in today’s activity.
By Jack Chang
jchang@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 – 8:02 am
ANAHEIM – From Bill Clinton to Pete Wilson to Jimmy Carter, Jerry Brown has faced some of the country’s toughest politicians in his 40 years of public life and become one of California’s most venerable political figures in the process.
This election year, however, the 72-year-old is taking on what may be his most fearsome rival ever as he vies to return to the governor’s office.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane and Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford are preparing for a lengthy campaign in which an ongoing corruption investigation is likely to continue to dominate the debate.
In his bid for a third term representing the 2nd District, Biane managed only a slim lead against Rutherford in Tuesday’s election, with 34 percent to her 31 percent. With neither candidate able to garner more than 50 percent of the vote, they will face off in November.
08:47 AM PDT on Thursday, June 10, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Two incumbents fared poorly in Tuesday’s election: Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco and San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane.
But this was none of the anti-incumbent fever sweeping politics nationwide.
08:46 AM PDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2010
By DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise
Some Riverside council members and top city administrators used city vehicles with special, untraceable licenses plates that state law reserves for police work, according to interviews and lawsuit documents.
The practice, known as “cold plating,” was one of a gamut of law-enforcement tools afforded some city leaders, former Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach said in November, when he was deposed for a lawsuit over police labor issues.
08:58 AM PDT on Thursday, June 10, 2010
By RICHARD K. DeATLEY
The Press-Enterprise
CLARIFICATION:
Wednesday’s statement from the district attorney’s office about the future plans of District Attorney Rod Pacheco has been replaced by a statement issued Thursday that appears in this version of the story.
Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco acknowledged Wednesday that he appeared to have been defeated by Judge Paul Zellerbach, who now begins a six-month transition before he takes office in January.
Gutierrez
By Mike Cruz
Posted: 06/09/2010 03:58:55 PM PDT
Jury selection got underway this morning in the criminal trial for Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez in connection with alleged malfeasance at the county Assessor’s Office.
Two panels of potential jurors were on tap for the jury selection process before Judge Duke Rouse in San Bernardino Superior Court. Gutierrez, 50, sat next to his lawyer James Reiss at the counsel table as the jurors entered the courtroom.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Created: 06/09/2010 05:18:26 PM PDT
With only 40 votes separating the top two candidates and more than 200,000 ballots left to be counted in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, it could take weeks for a clear winner to emerge in the 59th State Assembly District’s Republican primary.
Election-night vote tallies show Tim Donnelly, a business owner and former minuteman, leading the race with 9,659 votes. Chris Lancaster, an employee for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, a sister paper of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and The Sun, trails with 9,619.
June 09, 2010 5:59 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
Forty votes were all that separated Tim Donnelly and rival Chris Lancaster on Wednesday in the race for the Republican nomination for the 59th California Assembly District.
Roughly 53,500 San Bernardino County ballots and another 149,000 Los Angeles County ballots remained uncounted, officials said.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2010 06:52:06 PM PDT
A cloud of suspected corruption hanging over the heads of San Bernardino County supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt didn’t prevent them from coming out ahead in Tuesday’s primary election.
Biane received 34 percent of the vote and faces a runoff election in November with his challenger, Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2010
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
Two newcomers to the Loma Linda City Council have won seats in an election that promises a turning point in city politics.
Ron Dailey, 60, the executive associate dean of Loma Linda University’s dental school, won in his first attempt at public office.
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2010 06:11:10 PM PDT
COLTON – On Tuesday night, the City Council approved operating budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1, but the extent of employee layoffs and service cuts that will come are still uncertain.
That’s because the council has yet to decide if it will adopt a resolution to place a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot asking residents to extend the utility users tax until 2026.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2010 04:45:03 PM PDT
Ballots counted so far show that just shy of 20 percent of registered San Bernardino County voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, though that percentage will grow as election officials count late-arriving ballots.
Countywide, 158,654 voters cast ballots either by mail or at polling places Tuesday. But county officials have more than 50,000 ballots left to count, most of them from voters whose vote-by-mail ballots were received on election day.
Late pymts leave district cash-strapped
June 09, 2010 5:36 PM
Beau Yarbrough
HESPERIA • California’s $19 billion deficit has meant both the governor and legislature have looked toward cutting programs and delaying payments on those that survive. And local governments are left holding the bag, unable to pay their own obligations in a timely fashion while they wait for checks from Sacramento.
Schools face ax
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 06/09/2010 05:59:06 PM PDT
CHINO – Dread over new budget cuts hangs over the Chino Valley Unified School District as officials face a potential $30 million deficit in the next two years.
Officials warned the district’s projected shortfall of $17 million next year could grow to more than $30 million in 2013 if a deficit spending trend remains unchecked.
Delgado
SBCUSD leader loses to Thomas
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2010 03:37:15 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – He’s not going anywhere.
That’s what Arturo Delgado, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said Wednesday in the wake of a decisive loss to Gary Thomas in the race for the San Bernardino County superintendent of schools.