San Bernadino Meet & Greet – March 8th
Assemblyman Marc Steinorth drops out of race against Ramos, launches bid for county supervisor seat
Marc Steinorth, Highland’s representative in the California Assembly, won’t seek re-election.
His name now appears on county registrar’s unofficial list of candidates as a challenger to two-term San Bernardino County Supervisor Janice Rutherford in District 2.
Steinorth has yet to respond to phone calls and e-mails from the Highland Community News.
The California Political Review quotes Steinorth as saying, “After two terms in the State Assembly I have done more than I ever imagined,” then questions what accomplishments he could claim after four years in the minority party.
And it says Steinorth should return the $65,750 the California Republican Party gave him on Jan. 4 for his Assembly re-election campaign.
The Assembly currently has 25 Republicans, 52 Democrats and three vacancies, giving the GOP less than a third of the votes.
County Supervisor James Ramos, former chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, recently announced his candidacy for Steinorth’s 40th Assembly District’s seat.
Ramos shared Steinorth’s announcement in a press release on Monday.
The website marcsteinorth.com doesn’t mention his decision, but still invites contributions to his campaign.
Green Party member Carol A. Bouldin has announced her candidacy for the 40th Assembly seat, according to the registrar’s list. It also lists a candidate named Kenneth Petschow as a candidate for District 2 on the county board.
Highland is represented by Ramos in District 3. If elected, a vote to replace him is likely in November.
In his press release, Ramos lists endorsements from Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon
Redlands Mayor Paul Foster, Teamsters Local 1932, San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 935, and Robert Garcia, president of the Etiwanda School District board of trustees.
In a press release on Monday, Rutherford announced the endorsement of state Sen. Mike Morell, a Republican who represents Highland in the 22nd District. Rutherford was an aide to former state legislator Bill Leonard.
Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2010, she served on the Fontana City Council for 10 years.
Originally posted on the Highland Community News website
San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos Launches Bid For State Assembly
“I was born and raised in this community. As a tribal leader, a business owner, a community leader and as a County Supervisor, I have worked to make it a better place – targeting corruption and bringing transparency to the County Board while balancing the budget and creating a reserve. My focus will continue to be on the issues that matter to the Inland Empire – economic development, tackling homelessness, improving education and working with public safety to keep our communities safe,” said Ramos. “I have always worked in a bipartisan manner and that will not change in the State Assembly.”
James was born and raised on the San Manuel Indian Reservation. He grew up in a mobile home with his family. He learned a strong work ethic and followed a path to college, earning his associate’s degree at Victor Valley Community College, and his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University, San Bernardino, before attending the University of Redlands where he earned a master’s degree in Business Administration.
Ramos, a Democrat, has served as a Supervisor of San Bernardino County since 2012. In 2015, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Board Chairman. Ramos was the first Native American to be elected to the Board of Supervisors, as well as to the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees, on which he served from 2005-12.
Ramos has worked for both Republican and Democratic Governors. In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Ramos to the California State Native American Heritage Commission for which he is chairman. In 2011, he became the first Native American appointed to the State Board of Education by Governor Jerry Brown.
In addition to his elected service, Ramos is a proven civic leader and has served on numerous boards and organizations in the greater San Bernardino area.
Ramos is also the immediate past Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with a deep commitment to the preservation of California Indian culture. He is co-founder of the San Manuel Band’s Cultural Awareness Program, and serves as director of the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference held annually at California State University, San Bernardino.
James and his wife of 28 years, Terri, are the proud parents of four children and three grandchildren.
Ramos also released list of key endorsements:
Elected Leaders
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
U.S. Congressman Pete Aguilar
U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres
State Senator Connie Leyva
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos
San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Oscar Valdez
City of Redlands
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Barich
Council Member Jon Harrison
Council Member Eddie Tejeda
Council Member Toni Momberger
City of Highland
Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Chavez
Council Member Anaeli Solano
City of Loma Linda
Council Member Ovidiu Popescu
Council Member Ron Dailey
City of Fontana
Council Member Michael Tahan
San Bernardino Community College Board
Joseph Williams, President
Gloria Macías Harrison, Vice President
John Longville, Trustee
Dr. Donald L. Singer, Trustee
Redlands Unified School District Board of Trustees
Patty Holohan
San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Trustees
Mrs. Gwendolyn Rodgers, Vice President
Dr. Barbara Flores
East Valley Water District Board of Directors
Chris Carrillo, Chairman
Organizations
City of San Bernardino Police Officers Association
City of Redlands Police Officers Association
City of Redlands Professional Firefighters Local 1354
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association
Community Leaders
David Myers, Executive Director of The Wildlands Conservancy*
Teamsters Joint Council 42 President Randy Cammack*
San Bernardino County Firefighters Local 935 President Jim Grigoli*
San Bernardino City Schools Chief of Police Joe Paulino*
San Bernardino Police Captain Rich Lawhead*
Fire Chief Rancho Cucamonga Mike Costello (Ret.)*
Police Chief City of Redlands Mark Garcia (Ret.)*
Police Chief City of Redlands Jim Bueermann (Ret.)*
*Titles are for Identification Purposes Only and Do Not Indicate an Organizational Endorsement
It’s official: San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos will run for Assembly
San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos officially declared his candidacy Friday, Feb. 9, for the Inland state Assembly seat held by Rancho Cucamonga Republican Marc Steinorth.
“As a tribal leader, a business owner, a community leader and as a county supervisor, I have worked to make it a better place – targeting corruption and bringing transparency to the county board while balancing the budget and creating a reserve,” Ramos, a Democrat, said in a news release.
“My focus will continue to be on the issues that matter to the Inland Empire – economic development, tackling homelessness, improving education and working with public safety to keep our communities safe.”
Ramos, who formed an Assembly campaign committee last month, is running in California’s 40th Assembly District, which includes most of Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino in addition to Highland, Loma Linda and Redlands.
Originally posted in The Sun