Today marks one year after FBI raid

UPLAND - The first signs of trouble in the city's government became evident one year ago today.

FBI and IRS agents raided City Hall on June 10, 2010 triggering several jaw-dropping revelations and changes within the city throughout the past year.

"It led to some serious allegations against some people and it really did change the role of leadership in the city," Councilman Ken Willis said.

Agents confiscated records from City Hall, former Mayor John Pomierski's home-based business, J.H. Builders in Upland and Venture West Capital in Rancho Cucamonga.

Nine months later, Pomierski and John Hennes, owner of JH Builders, were named in an 11-count indictment accusing them of participating in an extortion scheme that led to two Upland businesses paying $45,000 in bribes.

They pleaded not guilty on March 3 in federal court in Riverside and are now awaiting their trial.

"I think that it causes not just the City Council, but the city as a whole to have to try and make sense out of something like this," Willis said. "It's like carrying on when you're feeling wounded and for the vast majority of us it was absolutely a huge surprise."

Since the raid, leadership on the City Council and City Hall has changed.

Pomierski resigned the week prior to his indictment, resulting in Mayor Ray Musser's appointment.

His move to mayor left a vacancy on the council, which voters will now refill in an Aug. 30 special election.

The elected council member will be the second newcomer to the council since Councilman Gino Filippi was elected in November.

At City Hall, various actions taken by former City Manager Robb Quincey became public, which led to his termination last month.

Stephen Dunn was promoted to city manager on June 6 to help the council move forward.

The changes have been good for the city, Willis said.

"It's been very painful change," he said. "It has caused a lot of us a great deal of hurt over relationships that we thought were based on trust."