Results tagged “Bill Postmus” from Behind the Story
Detectives investigating San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus fanned out across Southern California on Thursday morning seeking evidence of political malfeasance but stumbled across something else - his stash of methamphetamine, authorities said.
One of the county's top political players was promptly arrested at his Rancho Cucamonga town house. But the political scandal is likely still unraveling.
A copy of the search warrant obtained by The Sun indicates investigators are looking deeper into Postmus' involvement in land deals and state and local political networks. The office and home of Jim Erwin, formerly Postmus' assistant and now chief of staff for Supervisor Neil Derry, were also searched.
By the end of the morning, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office served 10 search warrants in six cities, San Bernardino, Highland, Apple Valley, Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga and Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County.
Postmus, 37, has been under investigation following a grand jury report released last June that said he misused the power of his office. He was arrested at 7:10 a.m. Thursday on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Supervisor Gary Ovitt said he was worried that Postmus' arrest would hurt the county's reputation and spoke with disappointment about the arrest.
"If you look at the entire story, Bill Postmus was our rising star in the county and was well thought of by state officials," said Ovitt, who became chairman of the board last month. "To think that today he was arrested for drug usage. It's truly something we're really saddened by. He had so much promise."
Postmus was booked at 10:47 a.m. at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and later posted $11,450 in bail. Postmus left the jail around 3:40 p.m., but he would not answer any questions during his short walk from the lobby to a car that picked him up. Charges have yet to be filed, and it is unclear when Postmus will be arraigned, officials said.
For more than a year, several sources close to the assessor had said he battled a methamphetamine addiction and, at least twice, sought help at drug rehabilitation centers. In a Jan. 6 speech before the Board of Supervisors, Postmus said that he had overcome a drug addiction. He said he would not seek re-election.
The district attorney launched a criminal investigation last year on the heels of a grand jury inquiry, which found that Postmus used his elected office to engage in party politics and hired an underqualified executive level staff that worked for the GOP on county time.
Adam Aleman, a longtime friend of Postmus who formerly was assistant assessor, was arrested June 30 and charged with six felonies related to destroying and altering evidence sought by the grand jury.
At 9 a.m. Thursday, three investigators and a fourth county employee left Postmus' office, carrying a box filled with manila envelopes and a PC hard drive. They loaded the box into a car and swiftly drove off.
Erwin and Postmus had a falling out during the October 2007 wildfires, and Erwin left his position after receiving a large severance package.
Erwin could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Derry said investigators asked him about Erwin's involvement in political action committees and the Colonies Partners, a developer that benefited from a controversial settlement with the county. But none of it had to do with activities in the 3rd District, he said.
"The DA told me personally that this is related solely to the investigation into the Assessor's Office," Derry said. "My thought on this is it's related to any information that Adam Aleman would have given them, in as much as Adam Aleman is facing six felonies, and I have no doubt he would do anything that he could do to save his own skin."
Ovitt sought to dispel any questions clinging to the 3rd District office.
"Regarding today's searches, it would be wrong to assume that anyone or any office subjected to a search is the target of an investigation," he said in a statement issued earlier in the day. "Search warrants are tools used by investigators to ensure they receive all pertinent information in connection with an investigation."
A search warrant for the Assessor's Office shows that investigators were looking to seize any documents related to the company Triland Inc. and a number of political action committees - the Inland Empire Political Action Committee, Committee to Elect Bill Postmus and Conservatives for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee.
Triland is the company listed on deeds for properties in the High Desert that are owned by Postmus and his business partner, developer Dino Defazio.
According to the warrant, a copy of an e-mail sent by Aleman on June 28 referencing "I.E. checks" was also seized.
The e-mail mentioned supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry, former state Senate candidate Tony Strickland and former Assembly candidate Bob Smith. A card to Postmus from former Assembly candidate Nathan Fletcher was also seized, as was a letter from former Republican nominee for state attorney general Charles Poochigian.
"I have no idea why my name was in it," said Mitzelfelt late Thursday, adding that he, like the other names involved in the e-mail, are politicians, which might explain the interaction.
Ted Lehrer, spokesman for the Assessor's Office, issued assurances Thursday that the department was continuing to function as usual.
"Today's development in no way will harm the operations of the office and do not affect the nearly 200 employees who work here," he said.
Assemblyman Anthony Adams, once Postmus' political ally and an early supporter, said he was shocked by the assessor's arrest and hoped Postmus would resign.
"I pray that these allegations are found to be unwarranted," he said, "but my heart goes out to Bill's family and friends as they are going to need to intervene and surround him with the support he needs."
David Wert, county spokesman, said the day's events will have little effect on the removal process initiated by the board in December.
"At first blush it doesn't appear that what happened today changes anything," Wert said. "There's been an arrest, but no charges, certainly no conviction. ... Needless to say, the board members are deeply concerned about today's developments and are wondering if the assessor was telling the truth when he appeared before the board Jan. 6 and said he had beaten his drug problem."
Wert said the supervisors could choose to retain an attorney to pursue removing Postmus from office as early as their next meeting on Jan. 27.
"County counsel has been in contact with some attorneys who are interested in that function, but has not made a selection yet to recommend to the board," Wert said.
Supervisor Paul Biane urged Postmus to leave office to deal with "his demons."
"If Bill, as it appears, is still struggling with drug addiction, it's my hope he will take the appropriate steps to truly address his problem," Biane said in a statement. "He should not continue this battle while dealing with the many pressures associated with public office."
Staff writers Rick Sforza and Lori Consalvo contributed to this report.
Bill Postmus swiftly rose through San Bernardino County political ranks, gaining the confidence of seasoned politicos who admired the energy, ambition and fearlessness they associated with his youth.
Upstart college students eager to get a foothold in the county political scene flocked to him, attracted by the promise his career held and the pledges he made to bring them within the fold of his elected office.
Until his 7:10 a.m. arrest Thursday at his home on drug charges by district attorney's investigators serving a search warrant, Postmus was seemingly immune to political scandal and initially billed a reformer. It was widely believed that by 40, he might attain a seat in Congress.
But at 37, less than 10 years after launching his first bid for political office, Postmus' political career crashed hard as reports mounted of a methamphetamine addiction and unethical, even criminal, behavior in the elected position he holds as county assessor.
The disgraced county assessor's political allies are abandoning him. In his personal life, there are few who call him a friend. And business relationships he cultivated on the side have disintegrated. On Dec. 16, the Board of Supervisors launched proceedings to remove Postmus from office.
A yearlong grand jury investigation led to a criminal investigation by the district attorney and the arrest June 30 of Adam Aleman, once Postmus' most trusted confidante and top assistant. Aleman is standing trial on six felonies, from destroying evidence to falsifying documents, in what investigators say was an attempt to mislead the grand jury.
"Put two and two together," said Scott Becker, whose friendship with Postmus reaches back to high school. "Bill was behind him. Adam is a sweet, innocent guy, and he should not be taking the rap."
Many of those interviewed for this story requested anonymity, either because of the ongoing investigation by the district attorney or out of fear that their reputations and careers would be destroyed by any appearance of connection with Postmus. They described a man who is untrustworthy and breaks promises, who attempts to buy his friends by showering them with sports tickets and campaign money, who wins their confidence through the allure of investment deals and high-paying jobs.
One of his closest friends said Postmus' meth addiction stems from the years he has spent hiding his sexual orientation, attempting to resist "carnal pleasures" and cloaking his sexual identity as a gay man from not only voters, but his family, friends and political allies.
Postmus' family moved to the San Bernardino Mountains when he was a child. He graduated from Serrano High School in Phelan, where he had a small circle of friends. He then earned an associate's degree from Victor Valley College, followed by a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands.
After college, Postmus began climbing the political ladder, working as a legislative assistant for Assemblyman Keith Olberg, a Republican then based in Victorville.
In 1999, at age 28, Postmus burst onto the county political scene when he announced his campaign for a seat on the Board of Supervisors. At the time, he also held some low-profile, yet influential, positions as vice chairman of the county Republican Central Committee and vice chairman of the Victorville Planning Commission.
Within county government that election season, a corruption scandal involving bribery was festering, and Assemblywoman Kathleen Honeycutt presented Postmus with a golden plunger, declaring he was the man to clean up the county.
During this time, Postmus was often attending political conventions and rallies, flanked by young men. In the coming years, he would develop a reputation for hiring twenty-something worshippers who blithely followed him, sources said. Among them was Aleman, then a teenager.
In 2000, Postmus was sworn in on the Board of Supervisors as the representative of the immense 1st District, which encompasses much of the High Desert.
Those who worked closely with Postmus while he was supervisor say he was a hard worker, dedicated to the job.
But over the seven years he served on the board, his career was riddled with controversies and scandal - the most prominent being the secret negotiations Postmus engaged in that led to the $100 million Colonies settlement, which government watchdogs criticized for being excessive and illegal. Postmus and Supervisor Paul Biane reached the settlement with The Colonies Partners LP, a major Upland developer in a closed-door deal after banishing county attorneys from the room.
It was during his term as board chairman that Postmus lost the tenuous control he held over an addiction to pain medication. On July 14, 2006, he embarked on his first trip to rehab, multiple sources said. The timing of Postmus' absence, however, was unfortunate.
The county's top leader could not be reached as the Sawtooth and Millard fires raged across Yucca Valley, threatening lives and homes. The massive wildfires scorched at least 85,000 acres of land.
Treatment for chemical dependency at the Sundown M Ranch in Washington State may have steered Postmus back on course for a while. His struggle with addiction remained out of the public eye, thanks to loyal county staffers, sources said.
"I was led to believe that Mr. Postmus had received the help he needed, and because I saw no signs of the problem in Mr. Postmus' behavior, I believed the issue had been resolved," Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said in a statement. Mitzelfelt served as Postmus' chief of staff from 2000 to 2006 when Postmus left the board and Mitzelfelt was appointed to replace him. "According to county policy, the issue was appropriately handled as a medical, and therefore confidential matter."
But midway through 2007, Postmus returned to rehab, this time at the Pine Ridge Treatment Center in Victorville, multiple sources said.
During 2007, Postmus' career started to fizzle. He was deposed as the chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, after draining Republican party funds and running up an exorbitant tab on a party-issued credit card. He launched a campaign to run for county assessor, an obscure elected position that political insiders say Postmus sought in order to regroup for a run at a Congressional seat.
It is unclear how Postmus transitioned from abusing prescription pain killers to methamphetamine, but those close to him have said they are terrified of the hold the drug has over him, and they fear it may cost him his life. One source said from 2005 on, the soaring highs and desperate crashes brought on by methamphetamine use began to take over Postmus' life.
As fragile control over drug addiction slipped from his grasp, Postmus' routine work habits became erratic, sources say.
After winning the post of county assessor, Postmus rarely showed up for work, instead issuing orders to Aleman by means of his Blackberry, sources said.
Still, despite being embroiled in political turmoil and suffering the ravages of a meth addiction, Postmus has managed to hold onto some close friends.
Dino Defazio, Postmus' business partner and friend, put in considerable effort to find a Russian mail-order bride for Postmus, hoping that a wife would give Postmus' political career more legitimacy and dispel swirling rumors that he was gay, sources said. But Postmus refused to go along with the plan, and Defazio gave up, sources said. When Defazio was married this summer, Postmus stood in as his best man, sources said.
Just as in his personal life, some of Postmus' business relationships have run aground.
It might seem like a conflict of interest for the county assessor, a man tasked with setting property taxes, to have development interests in the High Desert. But that hasn't stopped Postmus. A source familiar with the properties Postmus owns in the desert said only an expert would be able to uncover all of the land interests he holds.
Another business partner who participated in land deals in the High Desert with Postmus described him as a "high roller" who engages in "wheeling and dealing" to the detriment of his business partners.
The business partner said he worries that more innocent investors might be lured into land deals and taken advantage of by Postmus.
The grand jury report released in June chronicled misuse of power in the assessor's office - how Postmus spent $1.2 million to hire under-qualified executive level staff who had little role in the day-to-day operations of the office, how he ordered the transfer of campaign money on county time and engaged in partisan politics during work. The report questioned a $64,000 contract given to political consultant Mike Richman and gave a hefty severance package to former assistant assessor Jim Erwin.
The hard-hitting grand jury inquiry spun off a criminal investigation by the district attorney that culminated Thursday in Postmus' arrest.
Sources confirmed that mere days before the district attorney raided the assessor's office in April and seized documents and computers, Postmus attempted to set up a meeting with District Attorney Michael J. Ramos.
A source said the situation reminded him of "classic Bill," that when he perceives a looming confrontation, he reaches out to that person. Ramos says a meeting never took place.
But on the day of the raid, Postmus made a rare appearance in the office. It was 7 in the morning, sources said.
Ramos said he had only one conversation with Postmus, urging him to comply with the grand jury investigation.
Ramos was a political ally with whom Postmus had traded campaign contributions over the years. In 2006, he endorsed Postmus in his bid to become assessor.
But Ramos says their relationship was not close.
"I had a political acquaintance with him as he was the chairman of the board that oversaw my budget," Ramos said. "It was all business."
Still, Ramos' relationship with Postmus has led some to question why the district attorney was slow to charge Postmus.
Meanwhile, two key witnesses in Aleman's prosecution confirmed they have yet to be interviewed.
Although the grand jury investigation was far reaching, there was one detail it failed to uncover - that among Postmus' reportedly unethical employment practices in the assessor's office was the hiring of Jonathan Stucker, a man with whom he had an intimate relationship, multiple sources said. Stucker left county employment July 7, said David Wert, county spokesman, who declined to disclose the circumstances surrounding Stucker's departure. Stucker did not return calls seeking comment.
Postmus has long sought to keep his sexual orientation out of the public eye, driving to West Hollywood, Palm Springs and Laguna Beach in order to party and get high where he would not be recognized as an elected official, multiple sources said.
Sources also say Postmus has been completely undone by the arrest of Aleman.
"He seems to have shut down from the things that gave him pleasure - politics, sex and drugs," one source said. "His soul mate has been ripped apart from him."
Postmus adored Aleman because he was young, good looking, astute and politically aggressive, the source said.
Postmus had, in a sense, swooped in to rescue Aleman, catapulting him, in the short span of a few years, from manager of an Outback Steakhouse to assistant assessor, the second highest position in the assessor's office.
"Bill would shower Adam with gifts, trips, money," the source said, adding that the two men had traveled together to such destinations as Seattle, China, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Those trips appear to be over. With his political career in tatters and the loss of his most trusted companion, Postmus now seems to be facing an uncertain future, virtually alone.Postmus decline four requests to be interviewed for this story. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. His sister Holly, Defazio and Stucker also declined to be interviewed.
City Editor George Watson contributed reporting.
It's looks like come Tuesday two top administrative staffers in the Assessor's Office could be out of jobs.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on terminating the positions held by Greg Eyler and Ted Lehrer. Some of you may be familiar with Eyler. The Sun published a story about him after the grand jury report was released over the summer. (The story is pasted below.)
Lehrer is Bill Postmus' media communications guy. In fact, he has been much more responsive to requests for comment and department information by The Sun than the assessor himself.
The irony is that Lehrer's job is being eliminated, even though he has been more forthcoming in addressing media inquiries than, let's say, Gary Ovitt's 4th District Office, which infrequently reaches out to the press.
Ovitt, however, has a proposal of his own before the board for Tuesday's meeting. He wants the county to pay his media communications officer, Burt Southard, $60,000 a year to work part time.
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Official's college time draws fire
Author: Lauren McSherry, Staff Writer
Taxpayer Advocate Greg Eyler knows how to spend taxpayer money.
That's according to sources close to a grand jury investigation who say that Eyler, 32, a member of the San Bernardino County assessor's executive staff, was paid not to go to work while he attended college - an education that was partly funded with taxpayer dollars.
Eyler, however, takes issue with the allegation.
"I was never paid for time I was at school," Eyler said. "I tried to take all my classes outside county time. There were times I took off from work to attend classes. I wasn't paid for that time."
"Yes, he was," said one source who had reviewed Eyler's time cards and class schedule, adding that even if Eyler had used vacation and sick time, it was time wrongfully taken from the public he had been hired to serve.
Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman approved spending nearly $1,000 for Eyler to take a course on European history and another on sociology at UC Riverside.
Eyler said the $1,000 was part of his contract.
"I've taken substantial loans out to go to UCR - $1,000 is a drop in the bucket," he said.
The grand jury report released June 30 faulted the county for paying for the college courses because the courses were unrelated to the duties of a taxpayer advocate.
Eyler, whose salary is nearly $65,000, said he recently earned his bachelor's degree in history with a minor in chemistry.
He said he had been considering becoming a history teacher, but more importantly, the degree was required to become a certified tax appraiser. Still, he worked in the post without a degree for more than a year.
Aleman, who was arrested and charged with six felonies, including falsifying documents and destroying evidence, used to approve Eyler's electronic time cards. Aleman resigned Tuesday.
Harlow Cameron, who has stepped in as acting assistant assessor, disagrees with the charge that Eyler used county time to attend school. Cameron said that at one point, Eyler had been given a reduced schedule until he earned his degree.
"He is paid only for the hours that he works," he said. "Presently, he is full time."
Cameron said part of Eyler's job involves meeting with the public outside of the office, accounting for reports that Eyler is rarely seen at work. Cameron said he is informed by Postmus when Eyler is working in the field.
Eyler said the job of taxpayer advocate entails writing speeches for Postmus, contributing to news releases and fielding questions from the public. Some of those tasks appear to overlap with the job held by the assessor's spokesman, Ted Lehrer, who earns a $73,000 salary.
The grand jury criticized the executive staff for spending too much of its time on Postmus' "public image" and projects peripheral to the office's main activities.
The grand jury investigation also found that the executive staff lacked experience and training directly related to property assessment.
Eyler, who was hired in January 2007, said he could not provide a resume showing his qualifications. He previously worked as a field representative for Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane and as the operations director for the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee.
Resumes are not required for unclassified employees, such as Eyler, although the employees are required to fill out a lengthy application, according to David Wert, county spokesman.
The board's decision this week to pursue hiring a prosecutor to gather evidence of misconduct by Assessor Bill Postmus is seen as one of a number of strategies to remove the elected official from office and improve the county's image.
Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, said the decision appears to be an attempt by the Board of Supervisors to mend disintegrating public opinion in San Bernardino County.
He also gave restrained praise to board for initiating proceedings to unseat Postmus, who has been the center of a protracted political scandal and a criminal investigation by the district attorney.
"I suppose the county has been discredited for so long anything that they're doing on something like this is obviously a positive sign," Stern said. "I'm sure they feel it's hurting the reputation of the county, and they hope to turn things around."
Continue reading Hiring of special prosecutor part of larger strategy.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to start proceedings to remove embattled San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus from office.
The board directed county counsel to look into hiring an independent special prosecutor who would gather evidence of misconduct by Postmus, who is an elected official. The evidence would be used for a trial over which the board would preside.
Postmus' spokesman Ted Lehrer issued a response late Tuesday afternoon.
"Assessor Bill Postmus has no comment specifically related to today's action by the Board of Supervisors," Lehrer said. "However, Assessor Postmus would like to clearly state that he remains clearly committed to working on behalf of county taxpayers and that the assessor's office will continue to operate and function by providing excellent service to residents of the county."
As to speculation that Postmus would step down from office, Lehrer said, "At this point, there are no plans to announce a resignation."
Continue reading County process to remove Postmus could be lengthy, expensive.
The spokesman for Assessor Bill Postmus released this response today after the Board of Supervisors voted to start the procedure to remove Postmus from elected office.
"He's not in the office today unfortunately," Ted Lehrer said. "Assessor Bill Postmus has no comment specifically related to today's action by the Board of Supervisors. However, Assesor Postmus would like to clearly state that he remains clearly committed to working on behalf of county taxpayers and that the assessor's office will continue to operate and function by providing excellent service to residents of the county."
As for Postmus stepping down from office, Lehrer said, "At this point, there are no plans to announce a resignation."
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this afternoon to start proceedings to remove embattled San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus from office.
The board directed county counsel to look into hiring an independent attorney and investigative staff to gather evidence of misconduct in office. The evidence would be used for a trial over which the board would preside.
A hearing could be held as early as May, said Ruth Stringer, county counsel.
"It could be a little earlier, it could be a little later," Stringer said. "It all depends on what the investigatory process produces."
During the hearing, the supervisors would have the power to subpoena witnesses and to require the assessor to appear before them. The witnesses would also give sworn testimony.
The overall process of removal could take up to two years and cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million.
San Bernardino County is the only county in California whose charter gives the board of supervisors the power to remove an elected official.
The board directed county counsel to look into hiring an independent attorney and investigative staff to gather evidence of misconduct in office. The evidence would be used for a trial over which the board would preside.
A hearing could be held as early as May, said Ruth Stringer, county counsel.
"It could be a little earlier, it could be a little later," Stringer said. "It all depends on what the investigatory process produces."
During the hearing, the supervisors would have the power to subpoena witnesses and to require the assessor to appear before them. The witnesses would also give sworn testimony.
The overall process of removal could take up to two years and cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million.
San Bernardino County is the only county in California whose charter gives the board of supervisors the power to remove an elected official.
San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus today announced that county government budget reductions have necessitated the reduction of hours in two district offices of the county assessor. Postmus stated that the combination of budget cuts and a hiring freeze resulted in today's announcement.
Assessor Postmus stated that despite a reduction in operating hours, taxpayer service will not be compromised. Postmus further stated that the new schedule was also necessary to save the operations of both County Assessor District Offices.
The two district offices of the County Assessor are located in the communities of Big Bear and Twin Peaks. Currently, both offices are open eight hours daily for all five days of a traditional workweek. County budget reductions and the ensuing reduced hours will require the closing of both offices up to three days a week.
"It is unfortunate to make this announcement, but it is nonetheless is sign of the current economic climate," stated Assessor Postmus. "The reason why these two district offices are seeing a slight decrease in operating hours simply results from vacancies that occurred at these locations while a freeze has simultaneously been in effect. Therefore, the county budget has not authorized me to hire additional staff to replace employees who have retired from service.
"I am confident that taxpayer service will not be compromised in no way, shape or form, as both myself and the staff at these district offices are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to ensure quality service during this economic downturn, which has affected all county departments and agencies. Sadly, this schedule was the only way to avoid the total shuttering of one or both officers that serve residents of the Mountain communities."
"It is my sincere hope that these reductions will be temporary," added Postmus. "For customers that may be inconvenienced by these new hours of services, I invite them to call toll-free or visit our central office in the city of San Bernardino. Furthermore, they can visit the website of the County Assessor 24 hours a day.
"This office stands ready to assist any taxpayer despite this reduction in operating hours," concluded Postmus.
The following are new hours of operations for the two affected district offices.
BIG BEAR: 8:00 AM-12:00 noon, 1:00 PM-5:00PM, Monday and Wednesday
TWIN PEAKS: 8:00 AM-12:00 noon, 1:00 PM-5:00PM, Tuesday and Thursday
Over at the Inland Empire Courts blog, Staff Writer Mike Cruz is reporting:
Lawyers in the political corruption case against former assistant assessor Adam Aleman received additional evidence during an appearance this morning in Superior Court.
Aleman, who wore jeans and a blue golf shirt, stood next his lawyer Grover Porter during proceedings before Judge John Martin in San Bernardino Superior Court.
"We're under the impression that there's supposed to be some additional discovery here in court," Porter told Martin, during the proceedings. A court clerk gave Martin manila envelopes, which appeared to be full of documents, and who then gave one each to the lawyers.
San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus announced today that he has selected Dennis Draeger, 58, to serve as assistant assessor.
Draeger will fill the vacancy left by Assistant Assessor for Operations Harlow Cameron, who has retired after 35 years of service.
Cameron, a veteran county employee of more than 30 years, delayed his retirement to take the helm of the Assessor's Office in recent months following the arrest of former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman and the medical leave of elected Assessor Bill Postmus, who, according to media reports, suffers from a meth addiction.
Draeger is expected to start work Nov. 24.
San Bernardino County voters showed resounding support in Tuesday's election for a ballot measure that championed cleaning up government corruption.
More than 80 percent of voters supported a ballot measure to "establish a higher standard of ethics for staff members of County elected officers."
The measure was put forward by Paul Biane, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, in July when the county was rocked by investigation findings that possibly illegal, partisan political activities has been conducted by employees in Assessor Bill Postmus' office.
The wording of Measure S may have seemed compelling to voters, but government watchdog Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies criticized the measure for being little more than a smokescreen.
"I call this a feel-good measure because this doesn't do much," Stern said. "Obviously, they have had major problems in the county, and they need to do much better."
One provision of the measure is to increase the threshold from three to four votes for the Board of Supervisors to fire staff members.
Another provision requires ethics training for staff members of elected officials. A third provision requires minimum qualification standards to be established for some staff members.
The measure does not address forming an ethics commission, an idea endorsed by the grand jury in its report, government experts and incoming Supervisor Neil Derry.
"Clearly they could have had a much stronger law," Stern said. "At least they are creating awareness of ethics. Now, they have to follow through and change the tenor of the county."
The following is the text of a letter of censure issued today by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors:
Mr. Postmus,
The Grand Jury, the public, the mainstream news media, and the Board of Supervisors
have raised serious concerns about the manner in which you have managed the
Assessor's Office, carried out your duties as an elected official, and conducted yourself
personally. However, what has emerged as an overall point of concern is your repeated
refusal to adequately address these issues and provide any degree of assurance that
you are fit to serve the public and execute the vitally important duties of your elected
office.
The Board's primary obligation to the public is to ensure the effective operation of all
County departments, including yours. Additionally, the County's voter-approved Charter
creates a clear responsibility for the Board to ensure that elected department heads
such as you abide by professional and ethical standards, County policy, and the law. In
your case, the public has made it clear that it expects the Board to fulfill these roles.
The 2007-2008 Grand Jury Final Report issued on June 30 raised serious questions
about your management of the office, citing irresponsible hiring practices and the
unauthorized use of County resources for political campaign activities, which - as you
know from the ethics training you received as a Board member - would constitute a
serious crime. These concerns were validated by the immediate filing of a criminal
complaint against your top assistant and chief political operative, Adam Aleman, on
felony charges alleging the preparation of false evidence, the destruction of public
records, and the provision of false evidence to the Grand Jury. Furthermore, the District
Attorney is conducting a criminal investigation into your conduct.
On July 15, the Board of Supervisors unanimously requested that you appear before the
Board on August 19 in public session to address these issues. However, on July 23,
you embarked upon what turned into a nearly 12-week paid absence, which you
attributed to an undisclosed medical condition. As a result, you did not appear as
requested.
The Board of Supervisors understands that some of the issues raised by the Grand Jury
were addressed in the mandated written response generated by your office. Other
issues were remedied by your office through Board-approved reclassifications and the
elimination of certain positions. However, the Board remains deeply concerned by the
prospect that you allowed alleged criminal activity for which Mr. Aleman has been
criminally charged, as well as the transgressions referenced by the Grand Jury, some of
which could prove to be illegal. You have a clear obligation to inform the public about
your role in these affairs.
Additionally, during your absence, multiple mainstream news organizations published
allegations that you have abused prescription and perhaps illegal drugs. You have
curiously chosen to remain silent on these accusations. We fail to see how addressing
news reports about your alleged illegal drug use would interfere with the ongoing District
Attorney's investigation, which you have cited as reason for your continued silence.
Most recently, upon your return to your duties last month, you once again rejected a
request, this time from the Board Chairman, to appear before the Board in open session
to discuss these lingering and persistent questions about the operations of your office.
Your steadfast refusal to address the Board and the public regarding these most serious
concerns, as well as the tone and content of your written responses, shows contempt
and disregard for the people who elected you and this Board and has left the Board of
Supervisors with no option but to formally and unanimously condemn your failure to
respond to these serious allegations.
The County's codes of ethics set forth expectations of professional conduct so that we
as public servants may continually earn the public's respect and confidence. Your
actions inarguably undermine this effort. Instead of acting in a responsible and ethical
manner, you have attempted to sidestep legitimate concerns by casting blame on
others.
This Board cannot and will not sit idly by while you continue to evade the clear duty you
have to the public and the Board of Supervisors to candidly and publicly address the
very disturbing questions surrounding you. These issues cut to the heart of your fitness
and ability to serve as an elected official and manage a County department.
Your refusal to respond to these issues further erodes the public's confidence in your
ability to serve ethically, professionally, and capably as their Assessor. As a Board, we
insist that you appear before us and attempt to convince the public and the Board why it
is that you remain fit to hold office and deserve to continue to enjoy the taxpayer-funded
compensation to which your position entitles you.
Your failure to do so will leave the Board with no other choice than to pursue any and all
options at our disposal to resolve this matter.
The following is the text of a letter of censure issued today by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors:
Mr. Postmus,
The Grand Jury, the public, the mainstream news media, and the Board of Supervisors
have raised serious concerns about the manner in which you have managed the
Assessor's Office, carried out your duties as an elected official, and conducted yourself
personally. However, what has emerged as an overall point of concern is your repeated
refusal to adequately address these issues and provide any degree of assurance that
you are fit to serve the public and execute the vitally important duties of your elected
office.
The Board's primary obligation to the public is to ensure the effective operation of all
County departments, including yours. Additionally, the County's voter-approved Charter
creates a clear responsibility for the Board to ensure that elected department heads
such as you abide by professional and ethical standards, County policy, and the law. In
your case, the public has made it clear that it expects the Board to fulfill these roles.
The 2007-2008 Grand Jury Final Report issued on June 30 raised serious questions
about your management of the office, citing irresponsible hiring practices and the
unauthorized use of County resources for political campaign activities, which - as you
know from the ethics training you received as a Board member - would constitute a
serious crime. These concerns were validated by the immediate filing of a criminal
complaint against your top assistant and chief political operative, Adam Aleman, on
felony charges alleging the preparation of false evidence, the destruction of public
records, and the provision of false evidence to the Grand Jury. Furthermore, the District
Attorney is conducting a criminal investigation into your conduct.
On July 15, the Board of Supervisors unanimously requested that you appear before the
Board on August 19 in public session to address these issues. However, on July 23,
you embarked upon what turned into a nearly 12-week paid absence, which you
attributed to an undisclosed medical condition. As a result, you did not appear as
requested.
The Board of Supervisors understands that some of the issues raised by the Grand Jury
were addressed in the mandated written response generated by your office. Other
issues were remedied by your office through Board-approved reclassifications and the
elimination of certain positions. However, the Board remains deeply concerned by the
prospect that you allowed alleged criminal activity for which Mr. Aleman has been
criminally charged, as well as the transgressions referenced by the Grand Jury, some of
which could prove to be illegal. You have a clear obligation to inform the public about
your role in these affairs.
Additionally, during your absence, multiple mainstream news organizations published
allegations that you have abused prescription and perhaps illegal drugs. You have
curiously chosen to remain silent on these accusations. We fail to see how addressing
news reports about your alleged illegal drug use would interfere with the ongoing District
Attorney's investigation, which you have cited as reason for your continued silence.
Most recently, upon your return to your duties last month, you once again rejected a
request, this time from the Board Chairman, to appear before the Board in open session
to discuss these lingering and persistent questions about the operations of your office.
Your steadfast refusal to address the Board and the public regarding these most serious
concerns, as well as the tone and content of your written responses, shows contempt
and disregard for the people who elected you and this Board and has left the Board of
Supervisors with no option but to formally and unanimously condemn your failure to
respond to these serious allegations.
The County's codes of ethics set forth expectations of professional conduct so that we
as public servants may continually earn the public's respect and confidence. Your
actions inarguably undermine this effort. Instead of acting in a responsible and ethical
manner, you have attempted to sidestep legitimate concerns by casting blame on
others.
This Board cannot and will not sit idly by while you continue to evade the clear duty you
have to the public and the Board of Supervisors to candidly and publicly address the
very disturbing questions surrounding you. These issues cut to the heart of your fitness
and ability to serve as an elected official and manage a County department.
Your refusal to respond to these issues further erodes the public's confidence in your
ability to serve ethically, professionally, and capably as their Assessor. As a Board, we
insist that you appear before us and attempt to convince the public and the Board why it
is that you remain fit to hold office and deserve to continue to enjoy the taxpayer-funded
compensation to which your position entitles you.
Your failure to do so will leave the Board with no other choice than to pursue any and all
options at our disposal to resolve this matter.
After four months of public outcry over an elected official's reported drug abuse and mismanagement of office, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors issued a letter today reprimanding Assessor Bill Postmus.
Here are some key comments from today's meeting
"We need to be held to a high standard, all of us. ... I agree with the censure as difficult as it is. I also agree that it is important to give direction to county counsel to look into hiring an investigator."
- Supervisor Gary Ovitt
"It does encompass this situation where we have someone who is struggling to function in their capaciy, possibley to the detriment of the public."
- Supervisor Dennis Hansberger
"This goes to the tone and content of the responses from the assessor, and I don't think they've been appropriate. ... I think this whole board is concerned and should be and has a duty to be."
- Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt
"There are disturbing questions that deserve very clear succinct answers - answers that this public, this taxpaying public in San Bernardino County, deserve to hear. ... If anybody thinks this is easy for any one of us, you are mistaken."
- Supervisor Josie Gonzales
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors toned down this morning the language of a letter reprimanding Assessor Bill Postmus for the management of his elected office.
The board voted unanimously to issue the letter after accepting some minor editing changes from Supervisors Dennis Hansberger and Brad Mitzelfelt.
Mitzelfelt expressed concerns about mentioning allegations of Postmus' methamphetamine use in the letter because he said the issue had been raised only in two newspapers which both used anonymous sources in their reporting. One of those newspapers is The Sun, which also reported that Postmus has made two trips to rehabilitation centers to deal with an addiction to prescription pain medication and meth.
The board voted unanimously to issue the letter after accepting some minor editing changes from Supervisors Dennis Hansberger and Brad Mitzelfelt.
Mitzelfelt expressed concerns about mentioning allegations of Postmus' methamphetamine use in the letter because he said the issue had been raised only in two newspapers which both used anonymous sources in their reporting. One of those newspapers is The Sun, which also reported that Postmus has made two trips to rehabilitation centers to deal with an addiction to prescription pain medication and meth.
If you're a bit confused about the wording of Measure S on your sample ballot, it's okay.
The measure, which concerns a proposed charter amendment and ethics in San Bernardino County, needs majority approval in order to pass. The Sun's editorial board opposes the measure.
The description of the measure on the Registrar of Voters Web site is a bit vague: "Shall the Charter of the County of San Bernardino be amended to establish a higher standard of ethics for staff members of County elected officers?"
The amendment was proposed in the wake of scandal emanating from county Assessor Bill Postmus' office. Postmus is currently being investigated by the district attorney.
If you'd like more information on Measure S, so that you can make up your mind for yourself, click here: http://www.sbcounty.gov/sbco/cob/AG070808/ITM67/default.asp.
This is a link to a county report outlining the principles of the proposed charter amendment.
Tomorrow the Board of Supervisors is set to vote on a letter reprimanding Assessor Bill Postmus.
The meeting at the county government center in San Bernardino starts at 10 a.m.
The agenda item regarding the letter is titled:
Assistant Assessor Harlow Cameron announced today he will be retiring at the end of November.
Cameron, a veteran county employee of more than 30 years, delayed his retirement to take the helm of the Assessor's Office in recent months following the arrest of former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman and the medical leave of elected Assessor Bill Postmus, who, according to media reports, suffers from a meth addiction.
In what is considered an unprecedented act for a department head, Postmus was absent this morning from the Board of Supervisors meeting honoring Cameron.
Cameron, a veteran county employee of more than 30 years, delayed his retirement to take the helm of the Assessor's Office in recent months following the arrest of former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman and the medical leave of elected Assessor Bill Postmus, who, according to media reports, suffers from a meth addiction.
In what is considered an unprecedented act for a department head, Postmus was absent this morning from the Board of Supervisors meeting honoring Cameron.
From David Wert, San Bernardino County spokesman:
"There is no action the county can take to make Bill come to work as the Assessor. As an elected official he reports to the public."
UPDATE: Reached by telephone, Bill Postmus' spokesman said the reason for Bill Postmus' 10-week medical leave will not be disclosed at this time. Ted Lehrer added that Postmus might choose to disclose the reason for leave when he returns to work.
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