In a repeat from two years ago, three of four members of the Board of Supervisors are seeking to keep their secrets safe from outsiders. Their worst fears were realized when Supervisor Neil Derry beat out incumbent Dennis Hansberger two years ago despite their support and fund raising on Hansberger’s behalf.
According to a report at www.inlandpolitics.com, three supervisors are again attempting to keep an outsider off of the board. Supervisors Mitzelfelt, Ovitt and Gonzales have all made $10,000 loans from their campaign funds to assist their embattled colleague. Supervisor Derry had sense enough to stay out of it.
Although Biane has the support of three of the county’s four biggest unions, his numbers do not look so good. One month before Election Day he reports less than $63,000 on hand while Rutherford reports over $155,000. And that $63,000 includes $30,000 from his fellow board members, some of whom have a need to keep outsiders off of the board.
Rutherford has run on a ethics reform platform while Biane can only run on a ethics-challenged record, still awaiting determination of a possible criminal indictment. On top of that, the issues at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he received free medical care and did not report it have not been resolved as federal investigators are still looking into the matter.
In the June Primary, Biane was rejected by two thirds of the voters. For an incumbent, that does not suggest a good chance at re-election.
As we get closer to Election Day, it shall be interesting to see if Chris Jones can pull off a win with such a funding deficit. Or perhaps some of the Biane’s developer friends will come through for him with the big bucks he badly needs right now.
