Second district race heats up
Tuesday marked the first day for candidates to turn in nomination papers for the June 15 election. Supervisor Paul Biane spent the evening at Victoria Gardens raising money and gathering signatures. Biane is running against a backdrop of allegations by the District Attorney's office. The supervisor is an uncharged co-conspirator in an investigation into the county's settlement with Colonies Partners.
The second district supervisor and former Rancho Cucamonga councilman is endorsed by Sen. Bob Dutton, Assemblyman Bill Emmerson and Mayor Don Kurth.
Biane said he's working on getting the endorsements of the Upland and Fontana mayors.
"Based on the recent allegations by the DA, there are some folks that are nervous," Biane said. "They want to support the right candidate. And hopefully, they'll get there."
Biane said there are many incomplete projects he would like to work on in his third term including the 15 Freeway and 215 Freeway interchange and the 10 Freeway and Cherry Avenue interchange. He said he wants to support the second floor project of the Biane Library and add more acreage to the North Etiwanda Preserve.
"These are projects that need to be carried to the finish line," he said.
Biane said this will be his last time running for the Board of Supervisors although this possible third term will not be an end to his political career.
This time, Biane will not likely run unopposed.Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford is considering a run.
When asked if Biane can serve as a supervisor effectively despite the District Attorney investigation, Rutherford said, "It's difficult to be focused on priorities with all these distractions."
Two Crestline residents said they will make a bid for the second
district seat -- Dennis Labadie, publisher of the Alpenhorn News, and
Peter "Scott" Markovich, board member of the Rim of the World Unified
School District.Markovich, pictured left, called the Colonies settlement a "prime example of everything that's wrong with government."
"It's a situation where the people of San Bernardino paid for that development. It's our tax dollars. We have to sustain it, we have a lawsuit over it, and now with the indictments, we can end up in double jeopardy."
He said the county has been hit hard by the economy but it appears nobody is talking about bringing in jobs.
"We're hearing backstabbing and bickering about who slept with whom."
Labadie, pictured right, said he supported Biane in 2002 but believes the supervisor's leadership skills are now lacking."We've lost our tax assessor, we've lost our CAO. This is a direct reflection of our leadership. We need new leadership and a new direction."
One of the reasons Labadie said he is seeking the supervisor seat is because he believes the board has all too often ignored residents' concerns. He pointed to residents' opposition to mandatory trash service and the Royal Rangers Adventure Camp as examples.
"We were never represented," Labadie said about the residents of the mountain community. "I want to make sure the voice of the people are actually heard."
Labadie supports campaign limits, saying politicians should accept no more than $2,500 from a donor.
"We need to approach government in a new way and not accept oversized contributions."
Bill Alexander for County Supervisor!
Run Bill Run!
Biane seeks endorsement from Upland Mayor?
Ugh! Be careful what you wish for Paul.