Category Archives: Mark Kirk

iePolitics: In response to BillyJackAttack

Posted on by Administrator
4

Since I haven’t been writing much, I thought I would respond to his/her comment as a post since I know others are thinking the same thing.  So here goes.

Well Billy, I think my first response is that whether we are discussing Colonies, the BOS, Greg Devereaux, the DA/AG/FBI, or any other person/entity in a long list of county concerns, there is very little black and white.   Since you used Jim as an example, I will too.  Has Jim done some things wrong? It is my belief the answer is yes.  Do I also believe he has been singled out and maliciously prosecuted?  That answer is yes too.  Almost $3 in bail is outrageous.  The trumped-up charges are also outrageous.  I will continue to say that probably forever.  At the same time, I do believe he has committed criminal wrongdoing.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not taking one side over the other; I simply believe in justice.  Justice would have been served perhaps with a FPPC fine or, in the case of the extortion if that proves to be true, a felony or two with probation and maybe some jail time if warranted–just like someone who is not Ramos’ political enemy.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Has the FBI backed away from the Colonies investigation?

Posted on by Administrator
6

We are hearing from multiple sources that may be the case.  We know for sure several people were called to testify before a federal grand jury. We know for sure one of them was Robert Kirk, Mark Kirk’s father.  We have heard that some were called off.  We are also hearing that the investigation is going nowhere.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: This is the part where I lose all respect

Posted on by Administrator
16

From a Press Enterprise article:

Burum spent $45,273.66 at the store — $12,675 for Erwin’s watch and $18,100 for a Breguet Heritage Grande watch for O’Reilly, according to receipts prosecutors provided as evidence. In his testimony, Burum confirmed the amounts, paid for with his black American Express card.

The only time he paid cash was for three female Asian masseuses that he called up to their condo, Burum said.

“Generally speaking, when I get out of town, I know you know, frankly, how to get a hold of, you know –” he testified.

“Entertainment,” Cope suggested.

“Entertainment,” Burum agreed.

Burum said he couldn’t recall exactly what the women were paid but estimated it was $100 to $200 each. They stayed about an hour or 90 minutes, he said. O’Reilly and Erwin both went into their bedrooms with a masseuse while Burum stayed on the couch with his masseuse, he said.

Later in the testimony, Burum denied receiving any sexual favors from his masseuse. Prosecutors have alleged that the women were prostitutes. Both Erwin and O’Reilly have denied using the services of prostitutes.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: So what does this do to the statute of limitations issues?

Posted on by Administrator
22

I’m wondering if we have any experts our there that can tell us that now that the feds are involved, do the statute issues go away?  This is one of at least ten conspiracy theories I have heard today.  In other words, there are those that believe that District Attorney Mike Ramos asked for the FBI to get involved because he wants to get the Colonies Four badly and the feds have the potential of charging them with many more crimes than will be allowed in state court because of the statute issues.  There are definitely some behind-the-scenes things going on that indicate that Mikey likes this and isn’t worried at all about the feds being here.

iePolitics: Well Jim, I tried to tell you so!

Posted on by Administrator
5

Jim Erwin has been a bit upset with me, so much so that he removed iePolitics from his blogroll.  He didn’t want to hear the truth but would rather believe his own propaganda.  Well Jim, I told you so.

It has been obvious for a while now that recent developments in the Colonies case did not set well with law enforcement.  They do not like their butts handed to them on a silver platter, which was done to a small degree by Judge Brian McCarville a few weeks ago.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Search warrants served at multiple locations

Posted on by Administrator
4

So far confirmed are the offices of Jeff Burum and Patrick O’Reilly and the home of Mark Kirk.

We have confirmed that there are up to seven law enforcement vehicles at the home of Mark Kirk.  It appears that his vehicle and garage have already been searched.  Agents have been at the location for a couple of hours.

Bill Postmus was NOT involved in today’s search.  We have not been able to confirm at this point if Jim Erwin has been served with a warrant today or not.

UPDATE:  The Sun is reporting that warrants were served at the home of Jim Erwin as well.  There is a nice slideshow of his home (or should I say of the agents raiding his home) on the Sun’s website.

Next Update:  We are hearing that nine warrants were served today.  So far confirmed are:  Jeff Burum’s home, Jim Erwin’s home, Mark Kirk’s home, Patrick O’Reilly’s business, National Core, and Diversified Pacific.  That leaves three additional locations.

iePolitics: A few more things about the Colonies scandal – update

Posted on by Administrator
1

I added the op-ed piece below by Paul Mahoney because it points out several things the newspapers seem to be overlooking on purpose.  It, along with several other recent articles, reminded me of some things I had totally forgotten about.

I have defended Judge Christopher Warner many times on this blog.  As I have written before, I was his first secretary when he was appointed to the bench.  Although it is certainly possible to be corrupted in a system that is so inherently corrupt, I find that hard to believe in this instance.  I guess that is why I found the Sun stories attacking Judge Warner and Justice Panelli so offensive.  I simply do not believe that either of them did what the District Attorney’s office, Attorney General, and Dennis Wagner are accusing them of doing.

That brings me to Dennis Wagner.  And I shall preface the rest of this post by saying that what I am about to describe is based on conversations with Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk at the time.  Both have lied to me in the past and may have been lying during this episode but this is what they led me to believe.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: A few things about the Colonies scandal

Posted on by Administrator
11

Mark Kirk

I was caught a little off guard last night when I was told that an iePolitics.com post was part of the documents in the Grand Jury proceedings to indict Jeff Burum, Paul Biane, Mark Kirk, and Jim Erwin.  Supposedly, it was used by one of the defense attorneys as part of an argument that an indictment should not occur.  That makes zero sense to me.  Does anyone know anything about this?

Continue reading →

iePolitics: “An empty vessel” – WOW!

Posted on by Administrator
14

I wonder if Supervisor Gary Ovitt even noticed or comprehended what was said about him in the Grand Jury proceedings.  “Empty vessel” is a rather accurate description of two of our five county supervisors.  Ovitt should be embarrassed by what was said about him, but I doubt he is cognizant enough to feel that shame.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Colonies rumors and more

Posted on by Administrator
12

There are two opposing rumors of sorts out there.   First, in this week’s issue of the Sentinel, Mark claims that Supervisor Josie Gonzales filed a Grand Jury complaint in 2006 over the Colonies issues, thus making the powers-that-be aware of some of the overt acts two years before the District Attorney’s office claims they actually knew.  This was supposedly part of her Grand Jury testimony last week.  That seems to be very problematic if true.

And, in the opposite direction is word that by the county waiving attorney/client privilege, the District Attorney has been able to obtain enough information to prosecute Supervisor Gary Ovitt for his part in the Colonies scandal.  Apparently, they have emails and other documents that now prove a quid pro quo arrangement between Burum and the three supervisors.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Kirk quits

Posted on by Administrator
8

Sorry to those who asked, I don’t have much of the scoop on this.  I can say I feel he was given special treatment due to the fact he got Greg Devereaux his job with San Bernardino County.  The others who were charged, such as Rex Gutierrez and Greg Eyler, were fired immediately.

My feelings are that had he not quit before the end of the fiscal year, he would have been fired.  I’ve also heard he is having some financial difficulties and suspect he may need to cash out a few assets.

All I can say Mark is you got a taste of what to you dished out to so many others.  Karma is a bitch and God will get ya too!

 

iePolitics: So what happens if Kirk cuts a deal?

Posted on by Administrator
4

Think about it.  Kirk is not someone with a lot of backbone.  I know he is scared to death right now.  Of the Colonies Four, he is the most likely to cut a deal.  And that makes for interesting talk around the water cooler on the Fifth Floor.

Mark is good friends with both Jeff Burum and Greg Devereaux.  Jeff Burum and Greg Devereaux.  Greg Devereaux is very close with John Doe No. 2, the so-far unindicted co-conspirator and partner of Jeff Burum, Dan Richards.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Kirk expects “to return to work in a couple of weeks”

Posted on by Administrator
9

According to sources who attended the Friends of the Fair event, Mark Kirk, whose wife is on the fair board, was overheard saying that he expects to return to work in a couple of weeks.  That is in contrast to Adam Aleman, Jim Erwin, and Rex Guiterrez, who were terminated upon their arrests.  Like those three, Kirk is a contract, at-will employee with no civil service protection.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: So why hasn’t Mark Kirk been fired?

Posted on by Administrator
5

Inquiring minds want to know why Mark Kirk has not been terminated from the county.  Upon their arrests, Adam Aleman, Rex Gutierrez, and Jim Erwin all lost their jobs.  Of course, they didn’t help land County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux (Kirk’s boss) a $300,000-a-year job either.  It must be nice to have friends in high places to protect you.  Do I smell a new conspiracy?

iePolitics: Who’s on top? – Part Two

Posted on by Administrator
2

When we wrote “Who’s on top?” back in February, we had no idea just how prophetic we were.  Now almost three months later Mark Kirk and Jim Erwin have been arrested along with Paul Biane and Jeff Burum.  You could call them the Four Musketeers, or the Four Banditos, or even the Colonies Four.  You could, but . . .

It seems that Jeff Burum’s charges really could be dropped but we still believe it will have to be done with a writ.  I guess the legal Beagles at the District Attorney’s and Attorney General’s office screwed up just a bit.  So that brings us down to the Three Musketeers, or  the Three Banditos, or the Colonies Three.  Except . . .

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Now that the three-ring circus is over

Posted on by Administrator
16

I’ve been taken aback by some of the comments about the arrests of Jim Erwin, Mark Kirk, Paul Biane, and Jeff Burum.   At a personal level I was glad to see a couple of them arrested, not because I believe they should have been, but because they need to get off of their high horses and find out what it feels like to be wrongly accused by someone looking to strengthen their own political power.  All four were very powerful men who had a chance to prevent this from happening but chose to look the other way because it wasn’t their lives and livelihoods being affected. Now it is and it doesn’t feel so good to be on the receiving end.  That doesn’t make what happened to them right.

From the legal, the ethical, and the Constitutional level, what happened this week is wrong.  Cassie MacDuff’s comment is one of the egregious statements, outside of those by District Attorney Mike Ramos, that shows those who claim to want law and order want no such thing.  In reference to having to spend two nights in jail and have bail set exorbitantly high, she wrote:

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Hey boys, remember one name . . . Andrew Lamberto

Posted on by Administrator
17

Jim Erwin

Jeff Burum

Mark Kirk

Paul Biane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, how do you boys feel now? Were the accommodations comfy? Food good?  Those stainless steel toilets are really special, aren’t  they?  Some people deserve such extravagance.   Like Rex. Because “He lied.”

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Were they tricked?

Posted on by Administrator
8

Over the past few months, iePolitics has been given lots of info regarding the various scandals that often has seemed to be a setup.  Sometimes we print it; sometimes we don’t.

When I posted my “pool‘ post, it was based on backroom chatter we had been hearing, not the “info” usually sent our way through various channels.  Then on Sunday we heard that the John Does had been notified by the district attorney’s office that they would be allowed to turn themselves in.  We verified that yesterday and posted the indictment update.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Update on indictments

Posted on by Administrator
1

We have confirmed with multiple sources that those who may be indicted by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury in the ongoing corruption scandal have been told they will be allowed to turn themselves in, which is quite a departure in comparison to how Bill Postmus, Jim Erwin, et al., were handled. Of course, this is the right way to do things because not a single one of them is a flight risk. We are wondering if the new AG has had an effect of how things are done or if someone cut a deal.   Of course, there are many rumors that certain members of the bench are under investigation and we know positively that Ramos is being looked at closely. Either way, it is interesting to see the disparity in treatment.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Let’s start a pool . . .

Posted on by Administrator
4

Ok, this will be a non-monetary pool as I don’t want to be indicted by the champions of justice; the guardians of truth, liberty, and the American Way; the proponents  of integrity and fairness; aka the “Thug Squad,” for running an illegal gambling operation.  But we need a pool of guesses as to:

  1. Who will be indicted?
  2. When will the indictments occur?
  3. How high will the bail be?
  4. How many new charges will there be for Jim Erwin?

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Blood Stains On Their Hands–Originally posted January 19, 2010

Posted on by Administrator
8

That’s the night that they hung an innocent man
Don’t trust your soul with no back woods southern lawyer
Cause the judge in the town’s got blood stains on his hands

 

Not long after Thanksgiving I was at a friend’s house and we were discussing my situation at the time.  This friend is a very strong Christian and he and his wife have helped me in many ways with their only request being that I not identify them.  We were talking about the fact that most of those who have helped me out were non-Christians and how the so-called “Christians” had really let me down.  The conversation naturally gravitated to Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk, two of my most high-profile friends.  I commented about how Jim, someone who I don’t believe has ever had a personal relationship with Christ, has been a Godsend to me and helped me over and over when I’ve needed it most.  Mark, who I know to be a strong Christian, has let me down every time, never keeping his word to me.

Last Friday when I heard the news of the findings in the Hostile Work Environment investigation against District Attorney Mike Ramos, my heart sank.  I immediately called Cheryl Ristow and the pain in her voice was heartbreaking.  I could relate because, I too, had been let down by our leaders who have in their power the ability to do the right thing with integrity and instead choose to make decisions in their own best interests and not care about how many others they hurt.  We are all nothing but collateral damage to them, unimportant and unworthy of their concern or help. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Subpoenas and Johnson letters

Posted on by Administrator
1

Both the Sun and Press Enterprise are running stories tonight to tell you what we already did.  Four supervisors are being subpoenaed—Brad Mitzelfelt, Neil Derry, Gary Ovitt, and Josie Gonzales—to testify before a special grand jury convened since former Assessor Bill Postmus signed a plea deal to cooperate in the ongoing corruption investigations.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: I’m only human

Posted on by Administrator
11

19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Over the years, I have quoted the above passage many times.  I think a good many of our core readers find iePolitics because they have been wronged in some way.

Today, I have had one of those teary-eyed days.  I learned yesterday that it appeared the district attorney was acting fast and a criminal grand jury was being empanelled to indict most or all of the corruption figures.  Although not confirmed, I heard today that all five John Does have been served.  I am also hearing that the current charges may be dropped against Jim Erwin so to avoid a preliminary hearing and that he will be indicted as well.  We shall see.

My first question to my source was, “So that means Mark Kirk was served?”  I cannot help but think back to January 1, 2010, the last time I spoke with Mark.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: More on Colonies–Is there any integrity left?

Posted on by Administrator
17

When I started to write the last entry on the Colonies corruption scandal, I had in my mind where I wanted to go with the post.   Unfortunately, that’s not where I ended up.  I thought I would try again.

The idea for this post had been floating around in the back of my mind for a week or so when somehow Bill and I got started talking about dying and the afterlife.  Bill made a comment to me “At least I know where I’m going when I die so I’m not afraid of death.”

Continue reading →

iePolitics: What I think of the Colonies scandal a year later

Posted on by Administrator
15

In a comment one of the bloggers asked me something along those lines.  This is a post I have been trying to write for a week or so.   If you dare to read it, expect it to be long and rambling as I have a lot to say about the scandal, the defendants and the John Does.  I’m not even sure where to start.

Much of what I think about the Colonies scandal is no different that what I thought a year ago after the arrests were made and the John Does were “named.”  But some has.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: LaJolla Institute

Posted on by Administrator
78

Traci and Patricia visited the address listed on the contracts approved in 2009 and again on August 24, 2010. Here are those contracts: 09-860[1] and here is the last tax return: 2009taxreturn.

The county did two no-bid contracts with this “non profit” totalling $240,000 in less than two years. The non-profit just happens to be run by campaign donors and a close personal friend of Gary Ovitt, Mark Kirk and Greg Devereaux.   But all of it is above board, right?

iePolitics: The LaJolla Institute, etc.

Posted on by Administrator
19

This is the email I sent to all of the members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and Greg Devereaux on January 14, 2010. Needless to say, not one of them responded. I didn’t expect any of them to do so.

I have several questions regarding your unanimous approval of a non-competitive consulting contract with La Jolla Institute in the amount of $150,000 on September 15, 2009 and an additional $90,000 on August 24, 2010.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Civil suit depo list

Posted on by Administrator
6

iePolitics just received the list for the first round of county officials to be depo’d in the Postmus civil case.  The list is being sent to County Counsel this week.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Gonzales is only a pawn in the anti-ethics campaign

Posted on by Administrator
3

Mark Kirk

This week’s public battle between Supervisors Neil Derry and Josie Gonzales has a lot of people rolling their eyes.   Many don’t realize that even if Gonzales is indicted, she will remain chairman of the board as the County Charter has no provision to remove her.  We have to admit all of this is pretty funny.  But the  humor in the public tit for tat belies the serious consequences the behind-the-scenes conflict could have for county residents.

Although Gonzales is the cover girl for the current round of fighting, she is merely a puppet for two very devious puppeteers attempting to maintain a stronghold on the Fifth Floor in an effort to hide and cover up.  Derry’s “sunshine” would expose their evil, and often times, illegal deeds.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Predictions for 2011

Posted on by Administrator
15

First off, it’s a little late in the day, but HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone.  Let’s start  with the easy predictions first.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

If the Federal Bureau of Investigation has control of the investigation and is conducting it thoroughly, we have every reason to believe that Mark Uffer, Josie Gonzales, Paul Biane, Dr. Dev GnanaDev, and Jessica Brown will be indicted.  There could be numerous other elected and appointed officials involved as well but those are the names we hear were on the search warrants.

This prediction is based on my own observations while I worked at ARMC as well as talking with those that were required to provide officials with service.  My former desk partner had worked in the emergency room and was responsible for processing in many “VIPs.”

Continue reading →

iePolitics: So who is going to be arrested next?

Posted on by Administrator
10

Editor:  You have to read down to the very end of this article to see that Ramos claims there may be more arrests in 2011.

Corruption probes cast wide net

Investigators pursue cases across county
Posted: 12/30/2010 05:47:55 PM PST
Updated: 12/30/2010 06:49:15 PM PST

The past year has been fraught with scandal in San Bernardino County as state and local prosecutors charged two former county officials in a sweeping corruption complaint related to a $102million land dispute and convicted a third former county official on charges of fraud, theft and conspiracy.Also in 2010, federal investigators raided the county’s Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton and Upland City Hall in what appear to be unrelated investigations.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: How the Ristow case will resolve

Posted on by Administrator
4

We are going to start our New Year’s predictions early because we are hearing a bit of chatter.  And the chatter is that Mike Ramos is on the offensive.

The key to the Ristow case is the up-to-now confidential affidavits signed by five women who were involved with Ramos.  Making those affidavits public will take Ramos down and he knows it.

So far none of the predictions about his demise have come true.  The BOS has only seen a report that basically puts all the blame on Ristow.  Mark Kirk , Andrew Lamberto, and Ruth Stringer made sure the truth did not come out.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: From the pulpit to the fifth floor

Posted on by Administrator
9

Larry Enriquez

We were recently told that no one would believe that San Bernardino County Chairman of the Board Gary Ovitt is corrupt.  We would disagree.

Once Ovitt’s first chief of staff, Mark Kirk, was transferred to the County Administrative Office after being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Colonies scandal, Ovitt named his best friend and pastor, Larry Enriquez, as his new chief of staff.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Potential Opponents

Posted on by Administrator
2

We have taken a bit of criticism for suggesting possible opponents for Supervisors Mitzelfelt, Derry and Gonzales.  Those who pride themselves in their astute political analysis have been quick to point out where we are wrong.  What few are considering is the effect redistricting will have on the 2012 elections.

Politicians are politicians, meaning their political careers are foremost in their minds.  Many could never earn what they earn if they had to work a real job.  Getting re-elected so they can maintain their power and lifestyle is all that is important.  Continue reading →

iePolitics: Is Mark Kirk the last John Doe Standing?

Posted on by Administrator
6

Mark Kirk

All of the corruption figures and John Does are now off of the Fifth Floor and elsewhere in the county—except for John Doe No. 4, that is.  Bill Postmus,  defendant; Jim Erwin, defendant; Greg Eyler, defendant; Rex Gutierrez,  prisoner; and Paul Biane, John Doe No. 5 are all gone. Somehow Mark Kirk has avoided arrest and prosecution so far.  But we hear the investigation is far from over.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Devereaux puts Kirk in charge of county redistricting

Posted on by Administrator
3

Seems getting the CAO his job reaps many benefits.  One of them is being put in charge of county redistricting.  In other words, Mark Kirk was given the task of determining the new supervisorial districts.  Gee, we can only imagine how fair that will be.

Fortunately, Supervisor Neil Derry got wind of it.  We hear he took care of the issue.  We only hope so.  Time will tell.

iePolitics: While Gutierrez serves time in prison, Kirk enjoys the good life even after committing the same “crimes”

Posted on by Administrator
7

Mark Kirk

We have learned recently of all of Mark Kirk’s riches.  Two Cadallacs, a plane, a large home, land, European vacations, cleaning lady, timeshare and a stay-at-home wife.  Certainly he lives the “good life” on a Chief of Staff salary. So how does he afford it?

Well for one, he does political consulting . . . political consulting on county time.  Emails have surfaced clearly showing that Kirk has run campaigns while he was supposed to be working for Chairman of the Board Gary Ovitt.

Continue reading →

Capitol Weekly: Enviros target Fish & Game commissioner

Posted on by Administrator
Reply

Editor’s Note:  This is John Doe No. 2

State Fish and Game Commissioner Dan Richards is also a developer with a history of clashing with environmental groups.

Now those groups are trying to play hardball to get him removed, alleging undisclosed conflicts of interests — and an intimate involvement in the saga of disgraced San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus. The environmentalists’ initial attack was dismissed in the courts, but they say others are coming.

Richards, meanwhile, has denied all wrongdoing.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: While most suffer, Mark Kirk enjoys the good life

Posted on by Administrator
5

Mark Kirk

So how does one afford a 2.5k square foot home, land in Arizona for a future home, a plane and hangar spot, two Cadillacs, cleaning lady, multiple overseas vacations, time share for multiple weeks per year, and his wife just quite work to raise their baby all on a $130,000 a year county salary?

Continue reading →

iePolitics: End of Kirkville

Posted on by Administrator
Reply

Robert Kirk

The reign of the Kirk family has come to an end.  Kirkville is no more.

One of the more controversial families in Hesperia, the Kirk’s have attempted to dominate Hesperia and County of San Bernardino politics with little success.  Today, the last of the Kirks, patriarch Robert, vacated his position on the Hesperia School Board, leaving as his legacy possibly millions of dollars in pending lawsuits.

Mark Kirk, son of Robert and Vicki, first came on the scene as an aid to George and Sharon Runner.  He then became the chief of staff for Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt, where he is better known as John Doe No. 4 as an unnamed co-conspirator in the $102 million Colonies scandal.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Exclusive: The Eyler/Postmus witness list – Updated #3

Posted on by Administrator
1

Editor’s Note:  For a blog that “no one reads,” stories that are printed on it sure do have the tendency to create havoc.  We knew there would be several additional names to this list, but then presents drop from the sky.  And those presents were read by the defense.


iePolitics has obtained a partial list of witnesses expected to be called as a part of the upcoming corruption trial in People v. Postmus, et al.  Attorneys for the defendants have given the judge an expected length of seven to eight weeks for the trial.  Here are the names we have been given so far:

Continue reading →