Tuesday, April 17, 2018 - 09:30 a.m.
Members of the union representing San Bernardino County prosecutors, public defenders and child support lawyers have filed a petition to remove the group’s leadership from office over the endorsement and financial support given to incumbent District Attorney Mike Ramos.
InlandPolitics has been informed that a petition with sufficient signatures to trigger a recall process of executive board members of the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys’ Association has reportedly been filed with the union’s leadership.
The union’s decision to endorse Ramos and financially support his re-election bid has caused a firestorm within the group, where a vast swath of the rank-and-file reportedly doesn’t support Ramos.
Concerns over veiled threats of retaliation against prosecutors opposing Ramos and other tactics are also reportedly at issue. The type of tactics of concern within the agency reportedly include piling on high caseloads and geographical or job duty reassignment.
The union’s board quietly endorsed Ramos last year and funneled money through a separately-formed political action committee (PAC) to the Ramos campaign.
Records on file with the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters show that a “San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association - Prosecutors PAC” was formed on November 6, 2017.
A disclosure report filed January 29, 2018, shows the union transferred money from the groups PAC to the “Prosecutors PAC”on November 6, 2017 ($5,000) and December 22, 2017 ($10,000). The same disclosure also reports contributions to the Ramos campaign on December 6, 2017 ($1,000) and August 9, 2017 ($3,400), for the legal maximum amount of $4,400.
How a PAC that wasn’t formed until November 6, 2017 gave a contribution to Ramos on August 9, 2017, when it didn’t legally exist, is a big question here.
A late expenditure report filed by the same PAC shows the committee spending another $5,870 to purchase a slate mailer for Ramos on March 12, 2018.
Imagine if the “Business Leaders for Fair and Ethical Government” PAC had made a contribution before it legally existed; Mike Ramos would have set a new land speed record getting to the courthouse to file felony charges.
I predict that the “San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association – Prosecutors” PAC will be held accountable for this conduct at the same time that Josie Gonzalez is charged with perjury for her testimony in The Colonies Trial, i.e. never.
Can’t wait for James mills opinion on this. Most likely uninformed and distgruntled employees who can’t see Ramos is one of the best and done nothing wrong.
Nothing wrong? He promoted his mistress… what’s her qualification besides sex? He chases anything with a skirt. Morale in the office is as low as can be. He isn’t leading the department because he has lost the respect of his employees. It started years ago when he and the former public defender disgraced themselves in a public forum. @2 Are we to ignore the low morale and dubious prosecutions. Hopefully the public will see through his phony “family values”
Campaign.
Nice to see this going on.
Mike and Mary were at Redlands Country Club again last week enjoying each other’s company, yes parking lot and all!
@5 Mary should remember it’s hot, until it’s not.
Nothing like blowing your way to the top. Plenty of them around this county.
Unhappy public defenders and bad apples is what I am told.