Ramos
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2012 01:59:30 PM PST
James Ramos rose from an impoverished youth on the San Manuel Indian reservation to one of the most prominent movers and shakers in San Bernardino County, possessing a commitment to education, community service and philanthropy.
Ramos’ tribe, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, has donated millions of dollars to local schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and various nonprofits over the years, the largesse provided courtesy of profits generated by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino.
The tribe’s 45-year-old former chairman, Ramos this past week became the first San Manuel tribal member elected to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
He credits education as the single most important factor in his success and the success of his tribe.
“Education paved the way not only for the tribal government, but for the community as a whole,” said Ramos, who holds an MBA from the University of Redlands, a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from Cal State San Bernardino and an associate of science degree in business management from Victor Valley College in Victorville.
Before the San Manuel tribe opened its bingo hall in 1985 and grew it to one of the most profitable tribal casinos in the nation, members of the tribe, including Ramos, eked out a living any way they could.
For a few years the tribe sold tax-free cigarettes, before the courts ruled the tribe must pay tax on them because the merchandise crossed state lines during transport.
Ramos said he would help unload the trucks that trundled onto the reservation, then dotted with mobile homes and just a few small homes, for $20 a truckload.
When gaming entered the picture and the tribe’s profits began to grow, Ramos decided it was time to learn business to better understand how things worked.
“We had to be able to understand the tribe’s business affairs,” Ramos said.
So he went back to school, earning his associate degree in 1994, his bachelor’s degree in 2002 and his MBA in 2009. Also in 2009, Ramos received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Northern Arizona University.
Ramos began building his political house in 2003, when he ran for a seat on the San Bernardino City Unified School District board. He lost to Judi Penman, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce.
That didn’t deter the aspiring politician. Two years later, in 2005, Ramos ran for a seat on the San Bernardino Community College District board and won.
He has held that seat ever since, but now must resign due to his election to the Board of Supervisors, said district Chancellor Bruce Baron.
“Mr. Ramos has been a fantastic board member,” Baron said Friday. “The district has made a great deal of progress during his tenure.”
Baron said the district is operating with a balanced budget and secured a half a billion dollars worth of bond-funded instructional buildings at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa and San Bernardino Valley College during Ramos’ time on the board.
To read entire story, click here.
According to the article, James Ramos is a “man for all people” who we will “see in the Assembly or Congress!”
He is “one of the most prominent movers and shakers in San Bernardino County,” and was “instrumental in helping get Crafton Hills College fully accredited.”
If there was any question if The Sun was going to be beholden to James Ramos and his casino money, it has been answered in this article.
“who we will “see in the Assembly or Congress!””
over my dead body!!!!!!!
RIP Anon.
LSW, sorry, not yet, however, I do start to feel like, “a watch spring that is winding down.”
BUT then stupid people like James Ramos want to install themselves in positions they DO NOT earn…all because of arrogant self-serving ridiculous political ambitions…
Ramos willingly followed “ORDERS” to run for office… in order to make way for his “BOSSES” to legally infiltrate into our land, communities, neighborhoods, schools, etc., and before you know it …it’s Al Capon and Chicago resurrected here in San Bernardino County!
“There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet
And the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old EAST SIDE
‘Til the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died”
So no, I can not r.i.p. yet.
Ramos got my blood pumping, and just because you can hear a pin drop at the moment does not mean we have bent over for the stupid buffoon and his bosses and thugs to come in and take over…we know what properties, businesses, and planned shenanigans they have going on within our land- sure he DENIES and dismisses it because his lawyers told him he is NOT required to divulge the information….. FINE…. people talk, and we know, we just need a breath and for others to get “off their porch” and help with the led baton.
I don’t give Ramos or any other tribal member the benefit that they are that smart. There are movers and shakers behind the Indians. Just wait and see how he does as Supervisor and who seems to hanging around him.
No, wrong wrong, “Ramos” and this “tribal members” ARE NOT “movers and shakers”…ONLY TAKERS.
Ramos and his members were approached with a long term PLAN by sophisticated organizations and godfathers, and the tribe found the promise of profits, expansion, power and influence VERY alluring…
for all the wrong reasons.
Ramos’ and the member’s ARE NOT THE BRAINS, THEY ONLY WINKED AND SAID “WE’RE GAME!”
Now they are running around playing duck duck goose publicly to soften our hearts, and to keep our eyes on them,…while the real brains and bosses controlling the situation are hard at work.
Ramos was the ignorant stupid tool of others. Not very smart guy. A dumb but rich Mexican and nothing more.
James Ramos does not look Mexican he looks 100% authentic Samoan!
Oh, this must be the the site a person comes to when they have nothing, but bellyaching about Indians and nothing else to offer society. WAAAAA Ramos is in the Mafia, WAAAAAA Ramos bought the election, WAAAAAA Ramos is a taker, WAAAAAA he looks Samoan. You all sound like a bunch of washed up Republicans that have nothing left to look forward to. All you do is sit around and think about the good ol days of Reagan that, by the way, were not all that great. Guess what? The burden isn’t on Ramos, its on you. What do you have to offer that is going to better our society?
Red, as sick as the thought of Ramos makes me, it’s not my belly that’s aching…it’s my achy breaky heart(burn).
But seriously, actually the burden IS on Ramos!
HE wanted to run for office and play with the BIG BOYS- HE made promises!
Now HE has the BURDEN to prove “IF” what all those glossy mailers said about him were true or make believe and empty promises.
Ramos can start by dropping the “spokesman” when he takes office, or speak for himself from now on- HE was elected to speak for us, the Third District, and not his spokesman…and we will call him on it!!
No, As many have asserted, he bought the election. What’s more, demographics have shifted on you. Ramos can do a crapy job and unless Republicans have something better to sell, they will not win back the seat.
Red, are YOU offering yourself as an alternative?
Sounds like your affection for Barney and friends has diminished. What happened, the painful truth surfaced after the fact?
You’ll have to reveal yourself first to see if we approve, shed the Red, let us see whether you are still “Barney purple” trying to pull a fast one on us, or not.
Red, have I lost you? Here’s a joke you might be able to appreciate:
A Lost Democrat and A Lost Republican
A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost.
She lowered altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”
The man consulted his portable GPS and Replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Republican.”
I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.”
The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Democrat.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist. “How did you know?”
“Well,” said the man, “you don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect ME to solve your problem. You’re in EXACTLY the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it’s MY fault.”