Category Archives: Fair Political Practices Commission

iePolitics: More on FPPC forms

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Well I finally heard back from the Town of Apple Valley on my request.  They were going to try to charge me .25 a page for the forms.  I explained to the clerk that the most she can charge for FPPC 700s is .10 a page and that is state law.  She then proceeded to tell me that the town council passed a resolution that the town can charge .25 a page.  I explained to her that the town cannot overrule state law.  She said she would call me back and she did a few minutes later.  I will be picking up the forms on Monday at a cost of .10 a page.

That was almost a $10 difference.  Citizens who don’t know their rights get screwed over by government every chance government has.  Now we shall see if she tries to make me fill out a CPRA request when I get there, which is forbidden by state law.  But I’m sure there is a town resolution . . ..

iePolitics: FPPC and Victor Valley College

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Last week I went in person to Victor Valley College and requested a copy of a FPPC Form 700 on one of their trustees.  Someone in the President’s office asked who I was and why I wanted it.  They refused to give it to me and told me to call the FPPC.

So today I did.  I was advised by the FPPC that any agency who refuses to provide Form 700s is breaking the law and I should file a complaint with the FPPC.  Not only that, it is illegal to ask who is making the request, for identification, or for the reason.  They only thing an agency can do is charge a maximum of .10 a page if hard copies are given to keep.

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iePolitics: FPPC complaints against ALL San Bernardino County superior court judges?

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Does anyone have a suggestion about how to get the FPPC form 700s on all San Bernardino County judges?  This has been going on since the middle of  last year.  I have made three formal written requests and they simply will not let me see them.   The only response I got was from the presiding judge and it was a stupid answer. I’m on the verge of filing a complaint with the FPPC against each and every judge.  Any suggestions?

Colton First: Colton CPOA under investigation

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The Colton Police Officers Association is currently under investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for  a variety violations of the California Political Reform Act, including failure to declare itself a political action committee as required by California state law.

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InlandPolitics: The Sun still protecting DA

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District Attorney Mike Ramos

www.inlandpolitics.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010 – 01:30 p.m.

Last week another round of perjury for San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.

Last week another list of excuses and deflections by his biggest defender.

The editorial board of The Sun seems to be on its heels over the latest screw-up by Ramos, but rushed to his defense none-the-less.

Last week the California Fair Political Practices Commission announced it intended to fine Ramos and his campaign treasurer, San Bernardino-based certified public accountant Marvin Reiter, for nine errors on Ramos’ campaign finance disclosure.

Most of the some $9,000 in omissions were credit card charges related to hotels and bars.

The lastest episode comes on the heels of Ramos being caught for failing to disclose a $10,000 payment he made to his wife from his campaign funds in 2009 for alleged campaign work.

A practice which is now banned under state law.

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iePolitics: The Ramos Fine

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One of my disappointments during the past eleven days of non-blogging has been my inability to write about the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) findings against San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.  Many of you may remember that we filed the complaint against him that resulted in this fine.  See:  Mike Ramos

Although we are happy with the finding of guilt, we do not believe the commission is going far enough.  Ramos is actively prosecuting his  political enemies for similar deeds, charging infractions as felonies.  Yet, as an attorney he should be held to a higher standard.  But instead he is receiving a slap on the hand in comparison to others.

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Daily Press: SB County DA fails to properly disclose credit card charges

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Ramos, campaign treasurer to pay $2,500 fine

November 30, 2010 4:29 PM

SAN BERNARDINO • The state campaign watchdog has imposed a $2,500 fine on District Attorney Michael Ramos and his treasurer for failing to itemize campaign credit card charges on Ramos’ public disclosure form.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission found Ramos and his campaign treasurer, Marvin Reiter, had committed technical violations by failing to disclose required vendor information for nine credit card expenditures on the District Attorney’s Dec. 31, 2009 semi-annual campaign report.

The $8,619 in charges included expenditures at Embassy Suites Hotel, U.S. Airways, JW Marriott Hotel, Oak Quarry Golf Club, Institute for Advancement of Criminal Justice, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Tartan Restaurant of Redlands, Double Tree Hotel and Farm Artisan Foods.

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InlandPolitics Commentary: Ramos fined again

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  • Written by
  • Posted November 30, 2010 at 5:50 am

Monday, November 29, 2010 – 11:00 p.m.
Last Updated: November 30, 2010 – 06:45 a.m.

Well…well….well…….

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos caught again by state regulators.

After getting fined $200 earlier this year by the State of California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for failing to properly disclose $10,000 he paid to his wife from campaign funds, Ramos is about to get smacked again.

This time the proposed fine is $2,500 against both Ramos and his campaign committee treasurer. A significantly stiffer penalty, and one highly irregular for a sitting District Attorney.

But Ramos’ own ethical lapses know no bounds.

It seems San Bernardino County’s illustrious “Do as I say, not as I do” DA intentionally failed to itemize a 2009 campaign-funded credit card charging frenzy on his finance disclosure reports.

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Senor Blogger: Attorney For Group Supporting Paul Biane Admits They Violated Election Law

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Don't vote for Paul Biane

File this under “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

An independent expenditure campaign forms to target Janice Rutherford in her bid for a seat on the board of supervisors.

They use a supposed top-notch election law firm to handle the finances as well reporting requirements. They hire a spokesperson to handle press relations.

What could possibly go wrong?

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SB Sentinel: Court Filing Contradicts Cortes’ Form 700s

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Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bea Cortes

Friday, October 15, 2010

Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bea Cortes consistently failed to disclose a significant portion of the income she received on the financial interest disclosure forms she was required to fill out throughout her tenure as an elected official, court documents Cortes herself filed in conjunction with her divorce show.

iePolitics: FPPC investigation into Ramos “ongoing”

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Some may remember the FPPC complaint I filed against San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos about six months ago.  I had not received status on the complaint since a few weeks after I filed it.  I finally called up there to see if perhaps the letter had been lost in the mail.  I was told they will not give me status on an on-going investigation and will advise me when they have completed it.  So you will know when I know.

iePolitics: FPPC complaint filed against Al Vogler

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As noted in the comment in the post below, one of Vogler’s latest targets, David Holman, has in fact filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission.   Campaign signs are required to have a disclosure statement on them.  Vogler’s Political Action Committee (PAC), the Hesperia Free Press,  which paid for the signs, was not identified on the signs.  For that matter, there was no identification whatsoever as to what PAC was behind paying for and placing the signs.

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iePolitics: ARMC: Our BOS wants more stupid?

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So is our illustrious San Bernardino Board of Supervisors up to stupid again?  We hope not.  But we won’t know for sure until Tuesday’s meeting.  BOS agenda item No. 16 has left us scratching our heads.  This board item approves new,2-year contracts with all of the various medical providers for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), with the exception of the Anesthesia contract, which is extended six months.

ARMC has been under investigation almost continuously since the final quarter of 2009 for a variety of reasons including malpractice, patient abuse, billing issues, and violations of state regulations.  All three levels of government, federal, state and county, have been involved in these investigations and they have not been completed.  The situation at ARMC remains so dire that it could lose its Medi-Cal and Medicare funding which in turn could lead to the hospital being shut down.

Special Agents from the California Department of  Justice are currently investigating possible criminal misconduct at ARMC.  It is rumored that it has to do with, among other things, the medical care received by Supervisors Biane and Gonzales and former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer and his family and friends.  That makes sense because otherwise it would be the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office investigating.  However that agency has very close personal ties with all involved and that is why it appears the investigation has been turned over from the District Attorney to the Attorney General.

There has been a battle going on at ARMC for months now.  Those doctors who are tired of the mismanagement and despotic rule by ARMC Medical Director Dr. Dev GnanaDev have started speaking out.  And at least one has paid a price for doing so, that being the doctor in charge of Anesthesia, which is why his group’s contract is being extended rather than receiving a new 2-year contract like all others at the facility.  Dr. GnanaDev wants to replace him with one of his own but there is too much heat to do so right now.

The new series of contracts has one change and that is there is a separate contract for Dr. GnanaDev as medical director and one for Dr. GnanaDev for patient care.  However, the conflicts of interest still exist: Continue reading →

Fred Karger: Californian’s Against Hate

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Editor’s Note:  This is a mailing list I ended up on I suspect due to the post I wrote about Chris Lancaster.  For the record, in addition to ET, Al Vogler, and Barb Stanton, Assembly District 59 candidates Chris Lancaster, Ken Hunter and Tim Donnelly all participated in one aspect or another of the very bigoted campaign against Anthony Riley and/or Corey Calaycay.  I’ve got the emails to prove it in case they try to deny it.  Anyway, I really don’t hate Mormons.  I have always had a lot of respect for them.  But I had a huge issue with both Chris Lancaster, who is a Mormon, and Tim Donnelly, who I don’t believe is Mormon, preaching God and then participating in such hateful work.


June 11, 2010                                                                                    619-592-2008

Statement by Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, re Guilty Finding by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) Case #08-735

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today the FPPC, in an unprecedented ruling against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found the Salt Lake City based Church guilty on 13 counts of late campaign reporting.  The Mormon Church was fined $5538 in an agreement worked out ending the 19 month long investigation.  The Church was the primary backer of California’s Proposition 8, which ended gay marriage in California two years ago.   The Mormon Church initially admitted to spending only $2078 to pass Prop 8.  When I filed my sworn complaint on November 13, 2008, they instantly attacked me. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Dr. Dev GnanaDev Exhibits Contempt And Arrogance

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Several weeks ago iePolitics was tipped off to the fact that Dr. Dev GnanaDev, medical director for San Bernardino County’s only county-run hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), owns a number of pieces of real property in San Bernardino County and elsewhere.  Because of some of the accusations surrounding at least one piece of  said property, which we will detail at a later date, an attempt was made to verify that Dr. GnanaDev properly reported his real estate investments on his Form 700.

iePolitics obtained a copy of Dr. GnanaDev’s contract with the county of San Bernardino and verified that pursuant to his contract, he is in fact required to file an FPPC Form 700.   However, when iePolitics attempted to review Dr. GnanaDev’s Form 700 on the San Bernardino County Clerk of the Board’s website, it could not be found. Continue reading →

iePolitics: A New FPPC Complaint Against Mike Ramos

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Although I am not going to give details until we know the complaint has been received by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), a new complaint has been sent to the FPPC for investigation.  I have been told that due to the nature of the complaint, the FPPC will contact the Ramos campaign for clarification.  We cannot imagine Mikey being able to provide adequate justification for his actions to convince the FPPC not to fine him.

Some time tomorrow afternoon, iePolitics will release the details of the complaint.

iePolitics: FPPC Complaints Filed

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FPPC complaints have been filed against San Bernardino County Supervisors Josie Gonzales and Paul Biane as well as former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer.  The complaints all allege that these three individuals, along with countless other politicians and department managers, have been the recipients of free medical services at the county’s hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), and have failed to report the gifts on their Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700).

VIPs, as they are known at the county-run hospital, routinely have medical treatment arranged for them free of charge at the ARMC at taxpayer expense.  Often, in order to hide the free treatment, no computer records or medical charts are created.  VIPs, if being treated in the emergency room, are moved ahead of even critically ill patients. Continue reading →