The Press Enterprise’s article on county redistricting should be entitled, “The tale of two counties.” It certainly illustrates one board of supervisors in control and one that is not.
In Riverside County, a committee to address redistricting was created last September. It will be meeting Tuesday to discuss the new census data. The county also has a website up and running, www.rivcoredistricting.org to keep residents informed of the process.
As I’m sitting in Starbuck’s blogging, I have to admit I’m eavesdropping on the conversation next to me. What caught my ear was when one of the participants starting talking about the differences in dealing with San Bernardino County versus Riverside County.
The story below represents the second time in as many weeks that someone in Riverside County is trying to introduce ethics reform to the county’s electeds. First, it was former Norco councilman who want’s to cut the Riverside County Board of Supervisors members pay in half.
Now one of their own is suggesting contribution limits. Contribution limits are well and good but I have to say this seems like a pre-emptive strike. These “limits” remind us of San Bernardino County’s “term limits.” Both are rather generous “limits” in comparison to other jurisdictions. I suspect the supervisor introduced the concept to dissuade others from with coming up with something more punitive.
But the big question is this. When will someone in San Bernardino County introduce measures to limit supervisors’ pay and campaign contributions. It can’t be too far around the corner.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisor proposing limits on campaign giving
10:00 PM PST on Thursday, February 10, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone is proposing campaign contribution limits for the board and countywide officials.
Stone, a Republican, will ask his colleagues Tuesday to support a measure to limit how much any person can donate to county campaigns.
“Although history has shown that money alone cannot buy elections, it has a strong influence, giving well-funded individuals or interest groups an advantage in promoting one candidate over others,” Stone wrote in his proposal released Thursday afternoon.
By PE Politics on February 4, 2011 4:52 PM
Herb Higgins, a former Norco councilman, filed a notice of intent this week to gather signatures for a measure to reduce the pay and benefits of Riverside County supervisors. Higgins unsuccessfully challenged Supervisor John Tavaglione in the June 2010 election.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors finally showed a little backbone and terminated Barbara Dunmore. And their registrar of voters hasn’t embarrassed them nearly as badly as Kari Verjil has embarrassed the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Not only can’t Verjil get ballots counted in a timely manner like her former Riverside counterpart, but she made state-wide news when she disallowed an inordinate number of recall signatures in the Anthony Adams recall attempt. But that is not all.
Sacramento-based sources claim that Senator Robert Dutton (R-31) will throw his hat into the ring to unseat embattled San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor Paul Biane. Three others, Upland Mayor John “JP” Pomierski, KCAA radio host Peter “Scott” Markovich, and publisher of The Alpenphorn News, Dennis Labadie, have all expressed interest in the seat, with the latter two having already declared their candidacies.
Biane was implicated this week as John Doe 5 in a criminal complaint alleging conspiracy and bribery when San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos filed charges against former Assessor and Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor and Third District Chief of Staff Jim Erwin. This, combined with other on-going legal issues, opens the door for a likely successful unseating of Biane. Continue reading
The campaign finance disclosure statements for members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors show healthy sums for all members with the exception of Jeff Stone who is seeking state legislative office.
Here is the annual summary for all five supervisors who collectively raised $ 1,048,448.90 in 2009.
Excellent job in a poor economy.
SUPERVISOR CONTRIBUTIONS EXPENSES CASH ON HAND Bob Buster $ 250,453.25 $ 215,632.20 $ 167,261.80 John Tavaglione* $ 138,555.00 $ 244,672.73 $ 421,458.13 Jeff Stone $ 66,575.00 $ 122,667.62 $ 1,035.02 John Benoit* $ 342,412.44 $ 65,493.13 $ 288,023.95 Marion Ashley* $ 250,453.25 $ 215,632.20 $ 167,261.80 * Candidate for election or re-election in June 2010 Source: Riverside County Registrar of Voters
Unlike their San Bernardino County brethren, the Riverside County bunch seems to be a little more frugal with their cash spending habits.
A brief review of the expenditures revealed no payments to criminal law firms.