Thursday, April 21, 2011 – 07:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 21, 2011 – 09:05 a.m.
On a 3-2 vote the governing board of the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority (VVEDA) fired its general counsel Wednesday night.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, Hesperia City Councilman Russ Blewett and Apple Valley Town Councilman Curt Emick voted to oust attorney Andre de Bortnowsky.
Allegations that de Bortnowsky has an inherent conflict of interest due to his role as city attorney for Victorville, was the primary factor driving his dismissal.
Newly-elected Victorville city council member Angela Valles is another.
Valles has been ripping the curtain off of every dirty little secret her colleagues have been hiding from taxpayers.
Much of what Valles has caused to be disclosed has surrounded her city’s impending financial collapse.
Observer’s say that by her actions, Valles has rightfully brought embarrassment to her colleagues, in addition to costing long-time political player Buck Johns, CEO of Inland Energy millions of dollars.
VVEDA board member and Victorville Mayor Ryan McEachron voted against de Bortnowsky’s removal and expressed his anger over the decision.
In recent months McEachron has converted from a platform of change to being nothing more than a bag man for High Desert old guard political interests.
A move that appears to possibly be due to fear of others.
Sources say lately McEachron has been trying to do everything in his power to silence Valles by limiting her access to city officials and information.
But Valles doesn’t seem deterred. She was at Wednesday night’s meeting making her opinion known from the public audience.
Another surprise was that while Mitzelfelt’s comments were described as neutral, his vote came down on the side of dismissing de Bortnowsky.
VVEDA will initiate a request for proposal process to select a new legal counsel.
de Bortnowsky is a partner in the Calabasas-based law firm of Green de Bortnowsky et al.
You are right on about Ryan McEachron he has drank the kool Aid and needs to be recalled too. Ryan is destroying Victorville faster than Caldwell and Buck Johns.
Has anyone asked Ryan why he dissented and is so opposed to separating the legal duties from the two agencies- could it be because he took campaign contributions from Andre? the same Andre who contributed to Uncle Bucks efforts in maliging Ryan’s name when he ran for city council. Further, why would Ryan not want to seek an RFP for competing legal representation to see who could offer the best and least expensive legal services- And the only rhetoric that we get back, is “well, we are bound by contracts” – Well would it not make sense to have an independent party evaluate these contracts to see if they are voidable- so while Angela’s critics blame her tone, and stand on the platform of “solutions” what solutions have the proposed? Selling city water! What a joke- why would any city want to sell their water, especially when they just sold water to Uncle Buck for $250 per acre foot- ryan has just spit in the face of everyone who elected him to be a leader and stand against the Good ‘ol boys-
Dan you are correct. Ryan has no solutions because he listens to the wrong people and cannot think for himself. Ryan has proven his ignorance many times to the public on financial matters. Ryan has become arrogant and egotistical like Caldwell. Ryan is not a leader he is a spoiled child that can’t play nice and needs all the attention on him. Ryan needs to resign or the people need to recall him. I would like to see Ryan added to the recall list. We need to clean house.
http://www.recallvictorville.com/Home.php