First, our snow plowing system in the Mountains was a proven disaster after the December 2008 storms. Over a period of three months, I and my office fixed the failed system to provide better service and accountability.

During that same storm, I was introduced to Cedar Glen, which had burned down during the 2003 fires, five years before. Over 40 chimneys still stood, some up to 30 feet high, waiting to fall on some young adventurous boy who would climb it. Cedar Glen still looked like Hiroshima. I and my staff, with County departments cleaned it up at a cost of approximately $4,000 per lot. $56,000 less per lot than my predecessor cleaned up the Slide and Grass fires of 07.

I led the charge to eliminate a $20,000 plus benefits package the BOS had approved without any public discussion in 07. A Campaign Promise I kept!

In January 2009, Special Districts approached me to discuss the Moonridge Animal Park, an alpine rescue zoo operated by the County in Big Bear. Negotiations with the Forestry Service to lease property on the North Shore had fallen apart for the 3rd time. I instructed Special Districts to investigate the purchase of property in Big Bear (due to declining property values). The County ended up purchasing 10.5 acres around the corner from the existing site near Bear Mountain resort for $2.1 million. This is less the a 15 year lease on the North Shore that would have required $3 million in grading and another $1 million to get utilities to the proposed site.

The County is set to break ground in May on the new facility which will likely increase revenues 3 fold and finally get a new zoo for the benefit of both the animals, and the public!

We reopened Bear City Park in Big Bear for public use.

We provided a $300,000 bridge loan to Rim of the World Parks District to help them stabilize their finances…they are paying back as agreed and back on their feet. (Thanks to the elected leadership there!)

We will soon begin construction on a new pipeline to Pioneertown to bring clean water to the people there. How would you like to have Uranium and Cyanide in your water supply. My predecessor dilly-dallied for years…I got the project moving while attaining support from environmental organizations in the region. The Wildlands Conservancy is providing property for tanks and pump stations for the new route.

This is just the beginning of the things we have accomplished….To Be Continued

Neil Derry

I am writing in response to The Sun newspaper’s predictable defense of political candidate and San Manuel Tribal Chairman James Ramos (“Neil Derry’s ugly campaign,” Feb. 5 editorial).

Unlike Mr. Ramos, I don’t need to hide behind paid surrogates or casino advertising payoffs. The people of the 3rd District know that I am not afraid to speak for myself. And as a longtime resident who grew up in the neighborhood surrounding the casino and who has represented it for 12 years, I can personally attest to the damage that it has created.

I stand strongly behind the facts presented in my campaign flier.

James Ramos was part of the tribal leadership during the “killer for hire” scandal where two tribal members received a slap on the wrist for their serious crimes;

Investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency have expressed written concerns about Mexican Mafia influence at the San Manuel reservation and their extortion of tribal members who receive $100,000 per month in casino income without even having to work;

Newspaper stories and eyewitness accounts confirm that tribal criminals have engaged in violent altercations, assaulted casino patrons, intimidated casino security personnel and even publicly used illegal drugs without any action taken against them by the tribe;

San Bernardino County Deputy sheriff’s deputies aren’t even allowed inside the casino without permission from Mr. Ramos and the San Manuel leadership;

During Ramos’ tenure as chairman, few, if any, tribal lawbreakers have faced punishment for their criminal behavior.

Mr. Ramos’ failure to take responsibility for policing criminal activity at his casino and on the reservation highlights the glaring double standard of his candidacy.

As tribal chairman, Ramos personally benefits by receiving millions of dollars in casino profits – but he doesn’t pay any state or local taxes on this massive income. He pays no property taxes on his mansion which is located on the reservation. He contributes nothing in taxes from his casino profits to our local schools or our local communities. He won’t even have to pay Sacramento’s outrageous new fire service tax because tribal lands are exempt!

As if tax-free living weren’t a big enough financial perk, Mr. Ramos’ casino doesn’t have to comply with the same employer rules and regulations as every other business in San Bernardino County. He can ignore worker safety requirements or sexual harassment laws without any oversight from state or county government agencies.

Ramos’ financial conflicts of interest have become very apparent in his opposition to the proposed Los Coyotes Casino in the city of Barstow. The Barstow community supports the Los Coyotes casino, which is located in a commercial area far away from any neighborhoods, but which would compete with Mr. Ramos’ own casino.

Federal public records show that San Manuel is working to kill the Los Coyotes casino. How can Ramos represent the citizens of Barstow while undercutting the city’s efforts to create local jobs?

It is probably no surprise that gambling special interests have provided 82.41 percent of Mr. Ramos’ political war chest – bankrolling his campaign to the tune of $592,000.

The citizens of the 3rd District pay our taxes, follow the rules and work hard to provide for our families. The real question facing 3rd District voters in the June election is: Why would we vote for someone as a county supervisor who doesn’t pay taxes; who refuses to enforce the laws against his fellow tribal members, and who doesn’t even have to live under the same rules as the rest of us?

Answer: We won’t.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry represents the 3rd District, which includes the cities of Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley and a portion of San Bernardino.

By Neil Derry, published by The Sun on Feb 8, 2012

Click here to read more

SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry has announced that he will be nominating Redlands resident Theresa Kwappenberg, former president of the California County Planning Commissioners Association, to the county Planning Commission at Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting.

Kwappenberg served on the county Planning Commission from 1997-2006.

“Planning matters have an enormous impact on the future of our communities and their residents,” Kwappenberg said in a news release Thursday. “I believe in following the rules and documents and consistently applying the law in a fair manner.”

Kwappenberg, is appointed, will replace Bill Collazo.

Click here to read more.

Derry released this flyer on January 31 to residents of his district.

From Examiner.com by Sharon Gilbert

(San Bernardino) – San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry came out swinging this past week with a political mailer that pulls no punches. Starting this early in the campaign season, weeks before the filing period opens, signals a very expensive race that insiders say will far exceed seven figures between the two major candidates.

View Derry’s mailer with the facts about Ramos

In Derry’s first mailer, he capitalized on James Ramos alleged checkered past as a casino boss and rumored Mexican Mafia member. Ramos is the chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, whose casino is located in the Third District above the city of Highland and he is Derry’s most significant opponent.

The battle between the two men has been going on for many months as they spar about ethics or lack thereof. Derry pleaded guilty to a minor Fair Political Practices Commission violation early last year.

(from InlandPolitics.com) –

Since 2010, a whopping $592,000 has been funneled to two Ramos-controlled campaign committees.

By whom you ask?

Indian gambling interests.

An amount making up 82.41% of his total campaign war-chest raised.

For a candidate with many vulnerabilities, this falls into the category of major stupid

Ramos, a democrat, has been trying to distance himself from his title as Tribal chairman, and instead adopt the bait and switch title of businessman, hasn’t figured out that the already received money is now a landmine.

Throwing the Tribe’s money around the community in an effort to raise his profile likely isn’t enough to counteract the negatives.

Supervisor Neil Derry, the republican that Ramos is trying to unseat, has a twelve-point party registration advantage in the conservative Third District.

Ramos likely has a solid thirty-percent of the vote at best.

Sources say Ramos’ own internal polling shows as much.

The attempt at buying the seat combined with not paying various state income and property taxes is problematic.

The more of this type of ammo that Ramos provides Derry makes Ramos’ defeat less and less costly.

Some of the issues at hand already has Ramos’ supporters second guessing themselves.

Here is a more detailed look at Ramos’ casino-related campaign windfall.

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CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE RAMOS, RAMOS FAMILY, AND OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS
DATE CONTRIBUTOR AMOUNT
02/10/10 JAMES RAMOS SR. $ 5,000
03/01/10 CARLA RODRIGUEZ $ 1,500
04/14/10 LYNN VALBUENA $ 500
09/22/10 CARLA RODRIGUEZ $ 2,500
05/10/11 RAMOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD COMMITTEE $ 50,000
06/13/11 VANESSA RAMOS $ 5,000
06/15/11 ROWENA RAMOS $ 10,000
06/16/11 JAMES RAMOS $ 50,000 (LOAN)
06/19/11 ALAINA MATTHEWS $ 5,000
06/19/11 THERESA RAMOS $ 5,000
06/22/11 SANDRA MARQUEZ $ 6,000
06/28/11 RAMOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD COMMITTEE $ 150,000
09/06/11 DELORES FIELDS $ 1,000
11/14/11 KEN RAMIREZ $ 10,000
12/26/11 CARLA RODRIGUEZ $ 10,000
12/27/11 JAMES RAMOS $ 50,000 (LOAN)
SUB-TOTAL $ 376,500
.
INDIAN TRIBES
DATE CONTRIBUTOR AMOUNT
02/03/10 SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 15,000
02/16/10 SOBOBA INDIAN TRIBE $ 1,000
02/22/10 SANTA YNEZ INDIAN TRIBE $ 5,000
03/04/10 ONEIDA INDIAN NATION $ 5,000
03/19/10 MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 5,000
03/20/10 BARONA INDIAN TRIBE $ 1,000
03/25/10 SYCUAN BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 1,500
04/14/10 AGUA CALIENTE INDIAN TRIBE $ 500
05/26/10 SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND OF MIWOK INDIANS $ 500
09/01/10 SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 5,000
09/22/10 ONEIDA INDIAN NATION $ 5,000
09/27/10 MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 5,000
09/28/10 PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 2,500
09/28/10 SANTA YNEZ INDIAN TRIBE $ 1,000
03/30/11 SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 15,000
05/10/11 SANTA YNEZ INDIAN TRIBE $ 10,000
05/31/11 RINCON BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS $ 10,000
06/16/11 SYCUAN BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 2,500
06/19/11 MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 10,000
10/03/11 SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 10,000
10/25/11 PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 5,000
11/15/11 MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 10,000
11/18/11 SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 10,000
11/18/11 SOBOBA INDIAN TRIBE $ 5,000
11/18/11 YOCHA DEHE WINTON NATION $ 5,000
12/12/11 SYCUAN BAND KUMEYAAY NATION $ 5,000
12/14/11 AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS $ 2,500
12/14/11 SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 10,000
12/15/11 SAN PASQUAL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 500
12/27/11 29 PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS $ 1,000
SUB-TOTAL $ 164,500 . OTHER CALIFORNIA CASINOS AND GAMBLING ASSOCIATIONS
DATE CONTRIBUTOR AMOUNT
10/26/10 CALIFORNIA NATIONS INDIAN GAMING ASSN. $ 1,000
06/16/11 CALIFORNIA COMMERCE CLUB $ 10,000
06/22/11 CALIFORNIA NATIONS INDIAN GAMING ASSN. $ 5,000
11/14/11 CALIFORNIA COMMERCE CLUB $ 10,000
11/15/11 HAWAIIAN GARDENS CASINO $ 5,000
11/18/11 HOLLYWOOD PARK RACETRACK AND CASINO $ 2,500
11/15/11 THE BICYCLE CASINO $ 5,000
12/15/11 LAKE ELSINORE HOTEL AND CASINO $ 2,500
12/22/11 CALIFORNIA NATIONS INDIAN GAMING ASSN. $ 10,000
SUB-TOTAL $ 51,000
.
TOTAL $ 592,000
.
Source: San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters
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Supervisor Derry talks with Local Edition about E-Verify program