Wednesday, October 15, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
Little ole Redlands, California is becoming the hot bed of local politics this cycle.
The simmering, by a handful, over Former San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry vying for one of three seats up for election on the Redlands City Council is taking the spotlight. One has to admit the contest is more interesting than the sleepy 31st Congresssional District race.
Yes, two independent expenditures opposing Derry are in full swing. One by a group calling itself Redlands Residents Against Corruption, Opposing Neil Derry for City Council 2014, has amassed some $30,000 to spend at will. The other committee, the California Homeowners Association PAC, has raised about $35,000.
So far, the Redlands committe has mailed two hit pieces on Derry, the so-called Homeowners PAC has dropped one. Two of the three arrived on the same day, Tuesday. The “Derry’s corrupt” and “Don’t bring San Bernardino’s baggage to our community” are the themes of the day.
Blaming Derry for San Bernardino’s woes would seem to be the most consistent message. I guess the fact Derry left the city council in 2008 is an unimportant detail to omit. For those needing help with the math, that’s six years ago.
Then there’s Derry’s brush with campaign finance laws. The “Derry’s a convicted crook” theme seems to miss the fact his charge was dismissed a year later and expunged. His probation was terminated 24 months early. But then again, it’s only a pesky fine print issue. That’s if people aren’t really paying attention.
But in Redlands, unlike many other local cities, voters pay attention to everything!
The city’s local newspaper, Redlands Daily Facts, has been doing a surprisingly competent job at ferreting out just who all these concerned people really are.
The latest story covered the California Homeowners Association PAC activity. It’s very entertaining reading.
One has to wonder if those involved wanted the curtain up on their gig so soon.
The PAC really isn’t operated by the California Homeowners Association. The real California Homeowners Association, is a non-political, non-profit, located in Upland. The organization provides resources to HOA’s.
On the other hand, the PAC committee is operated by Gilliard Blanning Associates. The campaign advisor to Third District Supervisor James Ramos.
It’s perfectly legal for anyone to open a PAC using a crafty name. But usually one doesn’t use the trade name of another entity.
Anyways, this California Homeowner’s Association PAC may as well be called RAMOSPAC, since the committee received dough from Ramos and his family and other San Manuel Tribal Members.
Why use a PAC operated out of Willis, CA? Why not just give to the Redlands PAC? After all, is it really worth Ramos’ effort to try and hide behind another name, especially in today’s electronic disclosure age.
An outside developer, Reggie King, kicking in $40,000 between both committees is also interesting.
Is King Maker Ramos now out to decide who sits on what city council’s? I’m sure Redlands voters really love the first-term County Supervisor inserting himself in their politics.
The Redlands PAC also provides some interesting fodder for comsumption.
Two small core groups of people have trickled in some cash there.
The first is a few folks from the failed local Centennial Bank, who apparently feel that after plundering the bank and costing some of its wealthy depositors millions of dollars, that they now know what’s best for the city.
Here’s a new political slogan: “Sorry we lost your money, but trust us. We really, really, really do know what’s best for the city.”
The other small contingent donated because of Derry’s involvment in forcing out the ex-county counsel for San Bernardino County.
You can’t make this stuff up!
It’s tough to dispute that Derry built a lot of good will in Redlands during his time on the Board of Supervisors. He was always there and visible. Even with the beating he took at the hands of Ramos in 2012, he still garnered 9,600 votes in the city.
Derry’s a campaigner, the other six on the ballot apparently are not. His campaign material has been in the mailboxes of all voters for five weeks now. Derry and his volunteers have been walking precincts for over a month.
With three seats up for grabs, and seven candidates on the ballot, Derry stands pretty good odds.
One way or another, we’ll know in 20 days what voters, not a handful of grudgeholders, think.
“Anti-Derry PAC’s raising eyebrows”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>> IT’S *RAISING* MOOOOOOORRRREE THAN JUST EYEBROWS!
The San Bernardino County Sun
By Diane Reed
04/20/1997
Redlands man calls his city – his family.
REDLANDS- Tony Martinez has three daughters, two sons, and more grandchildren than he can recall. The 78-years old community activist is the first to admit, that his family doesn’t end there, however.
Martinez considers the entire community of Redlands to be his extended family – and he’s on a mission to unite them.
“It’s my dream that everyone should love each other as God intended,” he says. “I praise the Lord that he’s still got me alive.
I think he’s kept me here to see ONE REDLANDS equally united.”
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“…this California Homeowner’s Association PAC may as well be called RAMOSPAC, since the committee received dough from Ramos and his family and other San Manuel Tribal Members.”
RAMOS PAC,
RAMOS PAC,
RAMOS PAC,
Hmmm, well… well… well… I detect, again, some desperation coming from them Indian fellows over at the reservation.
Their close proximity to REDLANDS seems to have become quite an issue for them as of lately and they are willing and able to, again, $ MAKE SURE $ no new councilman interferes with their “business”- you see?
Anonymous on June 5th, 2012 7:23 pm
@OoF, you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!
If Ramos is victorious, San Bernardino County’s future will be stale, more violent and dark, and his intrusive gift offerings, on election day, to our poll workers enhance this reality.
How long have we ignored and been deaf to San Manuel’s distant sound of native American war drums beating all around us?
Are these BEATING DRUMS, from Ramos’ San Manuel tribes, A WARNING to San Bernardino County that we
AMERICANS better STAY CLEAR OFF THEIR LAND and NOT INTERFERE with their MEXICAN and RUSSIAN MAFIA
BUSINESS DRUG TRAFFICKING, BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS?
follow the money
Harrison, Foster, Aguilar are ALL complicit
“Blaming Derry for San Bernardino’s woes would seem to be the most consistent message. ”
>>>> An IGNORANT message from IGNORANT hyenas:
Full Definition of IGNORANT
1
a : destitute of knowledge or education ; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified
b : resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence
The city of San Bernardino’s safety was threatened when the Indian reservation’s gambling activities overflowed into the city’s neighborhoods (drugs, drinking, prostitutes, trash, urinating, etc.) and it was NEIL DERRY who confronted the Indians about keeping their DEBAUCHERY, CRIME, and TRASH out of San Bernardino’s neighborhoods!
Anonymous on May 8th, 2012 5:15 pm
Attacking?? NO! Derry has been PROTECTING!!!
Slander??? NO! Derry is simply stating the TRUTH!
What Derry has been doing for many years is fighting heroically and silently for our corner of this blessed land!
James Ramos Tribal Members have been abusing, mocking and spiting at our laws and regulations at city, county and state levels.
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AGAIN… THE “INDIANS” – half Samoan, half Mexican, half whatever- NEED TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO BE AMERICANS OR NOT.
If not, they better behave and be good neighbors, because us Americans
have had enough of being silent and taking their “protected” abuse and
mockery of our laws long enough!
If they want to pick on Derry, they picked on the wrong man.
Derry, with an understanding of the legal system, I know for fact that the only reason why your charges were dismissed was because of the ever popular Plea Bargain offered to most criminals, including you. Getting your record expunged is a matter of course, especially if one plans to continue to remain employed even as a janitor….You may have gotten your felonies dropped, but the fact remains you were arrested for them…you can erase them from public record, but everyone knows your history on this issue….stop pretending your charges were dropped because you were innocent….that’s simply not the case, and you know it.
Not guilty…that’s it..go Neil and clean up Redlands.
@5: Boy you sure are nonplussed by the public’s true reaction to the bogus prosecution of Neil Derry. Is it spite? Or is it because you were Senator Bill (quit my seat) Emerson’s little punk on the Republican Central Committee before he quit to take that big lobbyist job and stopped b****** a certain well known candidate for the House of Representative’s?
Anonymous #5:
I have an understanding of the “legal system” as well, and there is another reason why the Attorney General could have dismissed the Neil Derry felony charges: they knew that the charges would be difficult if not impossible to prove.
Also, Neil Derry was never “arrested;” check your facts.
#5, “… I know for fact that the only reason why your charges were dismissed was because of the ever popular Plea Bargain offered to most criminals, ”
… HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE 2012 MERRY-GO-ROUND, WHERE’S THE OFF LEVER?:
Anonymous on January 5th, 2014 10:27 am
Repairman,
“…this champion of truth and purity, laid down so quickly to those false charges by this corrupt D.A. with out even fighting?”
Donnelly, will answer your question once more:
Anonymous on June 4th, 2012 5:55 pm
“Obviously you can “clear the situation” like Mr. Donnelly did.”
GREAT POINT… DONNELLY’S CASE IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF A DEFENDANT HAVING THE RIGHT ATTORNEY!
Donnelly hired attorney Rod Pacheco who understands the burden is on the PROSECUTION, and puts their feet to the fire, also Pacheco IS NOT AFRAID OF DA RAMOS!
Derry is innocent, his attorney ill advised him to take the plea.
Derry should have hired a ROD PACHECO TYPE, seems Derry’s attorney was puffing his chest all brave and full of hot air, then Mr. Macho got cold feet when it was time to fight, or push came to shove, so he scared
Derry into pleading…not uncommon, which is why you need to hire an attorney who has a track RECORD of taking their cases all the way, not bailing out by pleading their clients at the last minute…I bet Derry could have saved himself some nice chunk of dough by pleading himself, without that weak stomached attorney.
#5, “but everyone knows your history on this issue….stop pretending your charges were dropped because you were innocent….that’s simply not the case, and you know it.”
You are the one “PRETENDING” that the “HISTORY” behind the charges were *JUST*:
adjective:
just; superlative adjective: justest
1. based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
“a just and democratic society”
… and if you, #5, want to bring up the “HISTORY” behind the Neil Derry charges, THEN FLING OPEN THE DOORS and don’t come on here with only HALF THE STORY… why leave out the main PLAYER, District Attorney Mike Ramos, in this Neil Derry character assassination SAGA?:
sa·ga
noun \ˈsä-gə also ˈsa-\
: a long and complicated story with many details
: a long and complicated series of events
: a long story about past heroes from Norway and Iceland
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Anonymous on February 25th, 2012 5:56 pm
@Can’tBeTrue, don’t be a two faced yourself, reveal how District Attorney Mike Ramos FLAT OUT CONFESSED HE LAUNDERED TWICE AS MUCH by writing a check for thousands of dollars to his wife Gretchen Ramos AND NOT REPORTING IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike and Gretchen Ramos were caught red handed, do to a citizens group who is watching their every move. The FPPC fined them both for laundering!
Derry NEVER confessed to laundering, AS MIKE AND GRETCHEN DID, Derry
was TRAPPED by Ramos with LIES and HALF TRUTHS.
In the end, Derry stated truthfully how his treasurer misreported the “name” of the contributor– but the donation was NEVER concealed– as Mike and Gretchen Ramos “concealed the thousands of dollars” Mike laundered to Gretchen’s bank account.
In the end–Ramos is the elected District Attorney who has a history of abusing his power in order to wreck lives, families and careers of honest decent individuals such as Neil Derry.
Neil Derry is not two faced, he is a victim of the demons Ramos has sold his soul to, and made a pack with. We must all stand behind Derry and show NO FEAR of Ramos’ invisible pal.
About the millions James Ramos will raise– big deal– the ONLY winners there are the printers, the post office, and trash collectors who will be very busy with Ramos’ mailers.
Vote for Derry, He promises not to plead guilty this time.
If your the type to trust whatever your attorney says without questioning their thoughts after all that has been reported on the blogs about attorneys, you might be an IDIOT at this point.
ANY attorney who starts moon walking when you point out specific facts that MIGHT cause some serious grief for the other side and says we CANNOT talk about that is a RED FLAG.
When they brag about how AWESOME they are, ask them to produce transcripts of a high profile case they handled IN TRAIL, so you can read for yourself how COOL they are, and not a Tom Cruise who has a 100% plea bargain rating.
Hell at least ask your attorney if they play golf with the other side or the Judge?
Petey Pie:
Vote for Derry; he promises to fight the next Mike Ramos selective and politically motivated prosecution, even if it means diverting his time away from serving his constituents.
In 2012 I saw hit man of James Ramos cutting
Neil Derry signs. I called Redlands PD who Arrested
His hit man. I am disgusted by James Ramos buying
Of politicians and deciding who we could choose
As our elected officials . Shame on you Mr. Ramos for buying and
Rigging our electoral process with your unlimited drugs and gambling money.
Hit Men are hired regularly to tear down signs….
Kind of an overqualified thing, don’t you think?
@14 Moe, I know you and wish more people would grow a set and call in. This childish shot is crap. Hell McMahon and his boys apparently tore down a lot of Schrader signs from what I heard. I guess if he apparently can do it with some fucked up deputies, Ramos feels he can too.
Derry is the best man no doubt about it. Harrison and foster are just good ole boys. Since they have been on the council Redlands has run a defecit every years. They hired the goofball manager very one else fired. Redlands: worst governed and ,a aged city in the east valley. Throw all the bums out! Vote ONLY for Derry!
awkward onlooker on April 5th, 2012 3:19 pm
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The tribe up on the hill get to make their own laws people. That seperates them from the rest of us. They don’t even have to respond to orders of the court. They are their own nation. I’m not saying the news and events recently haven’t called Derry into question but some of know all too well the games the DA plays with peoples lives in this county.
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Gimme a break.
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I would vote for Derry everyday and twice on Sunday over another rich, make my own rules, and I’m better than everyone else because I’m special candidate.
I hope the citizens of San Bernardino who actually vote can recapture
that back bone that once made San Bernardino a nice place to live and
say enough already.
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