Corruption and Missing Candidate Mark Redlands Tea Party Forum

Candidates for San Bernardino County third district supervisor faced tough questions Thursday night at a Redlands Tea Party Patriot candidate forum.

But the toughest question, and most pointed comments, were reserved for the candidate who was not there. Where was Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees James Ramos, some asked.

Incumbent Neil Derry and former Twentynine Palms Mayor James Bagley noted the absence of their opponent.

“I wish you had put an empty seat next to us to represent Mr. Ramos,” Derry said during his closing remarks. “I’m not sure he will show up to any debates. He thinks he can buy this election. I’m going to work very hard to stop him.”

About 100 people from all party affiliations filled Mill Creek Cattle Co.’s large banquet hall for the forum, the first one of the election season. Tea Party committee members had originally planned on hosting four candidates, but Kenneth Hunter dropped out of the race and now endorses Derry. Ramos canceled due to a scheduling conflict.

Moderator Phill Naman presented questions that ranged from specific issues to general topics. They started the questions off with a three-minute introduction followed by “lightning round” questioning in which candidates were asked to provide yes or no answers.

Questions touched on county employee pension funds -- which both men said needed reworking -- the embattled San Bernardino Airport -- which both said did not need to be an international airport -- and political corruption.

Derry and Bagley detailed their plans and their experience. Most people expressed satisfaction with what they heard. But even after the debate, both men were still being questioned.

“I cannot buy your vote,” Bagley told the crowd. “But I can earn it. I’d like you to know who I am. I would like to represent you on the county board of supervisors. I believe that integrity and transparency are important in government. You need to improve the economy with enhanced developments (by the county.) Transparency needs to be the fundamental basis for everything that happens in the county."

He brought up the issue with the Colonies scandal that reportedly involved threats and bribes and members of the board of supervisors and some county staffers.

Bagley called a $100 million settlement between a developer and the county board of supervisors a gift. If that policy was legitimate and valid it would have been done in the open and not in closed sessions, he said.

He also listed fiscal responsibility, one of the Tea Party’s tenets, as one of his major focuses.

“You have to live within your means, just like families do,” Bagley said.

Derry pulled no punches, telling the crowd he has been with them all along, is not someone who comes out just to campaign. He also works toward transparency, he said. He pointed out that he has cut his own benefits twice and has turned down others he was entitled to take because, “It was the right thing to do.”

He alluded to his legal problems, referring to campaign fraud charges filed against him by Mike Ramos, who he called “a corrupt district attorney.”

“I don’t mind having a target on my back though it makes my wife and mother uncomfortable,” Derry said. “But I’m willing to do the right thing even if it hurts. And it has hurt.”

“This is really a two-person race,” Derry told the audience. “I’ll be honest, it’s between myself and Mr. Ramos. A vote for me is a vote for me and a vote for anybody else is a vote for Mr. Ramos.”