IE Chatter

IE Housing Crisis Being Understated?

An interesting article in the North County Times suggests that banks are taking much longer to foreclosure on delinquent property owners.  The argument goes that with the increased lag time, actual foreclosure numbers are much higher than they are being officially reported.

Typically, the foreclosure process takes about eight months from the first missed payment, analysts said.

But now, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and homeowners are reporting that as many as eight months can pass before a notice of default is filed. From that notice, it takes five to seven more months to complete the foreclosure process.

One San Marcos homeowner, who did not want her name released for fear of initiating foreclosure, said she missed her first mortgage payment in January and has yet to receive a notice of default. Several other homeowners interviewed had similar concerns.

A Disgusting Tale Concerning Real Estate Fraud

This an incredible article highlighting rampant real estate fraud...at the hands of a law enforcement officer, no less.  And guess who aided and abetted this fraud?

Winner winner chicken dinner if you said the newly elected president of the Inland Valley Association of Realtors!

Joe Cusamano, broker/owner of Pro-One Investments in Riverside and president-elect of the Inland Valley Association of Realtors, said he knows he has clients who have lied to lenders to "buy and bail" and done short sales between parents and children.

He said he tells them what the law requires but still works with them because he believes they are good people caught in a collapsing market who are not getting sufficient help from either lenders or the federal government.

Cusamano described one client as a young law enforcement officer and family man who was buying a bank-repossessed house next door to one he already owns in Moreno Valley.

The client could afford his current $1,900-a-month payment for his mortgage, taxes and insurance, but he saw "buy and bail" as a way to improve his family's lifestyle. He had bought his house in June 2005 with a $294,000 mortgage, and since then, its value had fallen to about $155,000.

He noticed that the bank-owned house next door was bigger and had more upgrades, and he put in a winning offer of $145,000.

The client's plan is to let his original house go to foreclosure, Cusamano said, and probably the only adverse consequence he will face is having bad credit for the next five years. Meanwhile, he will save $700 a month on his house payments.

Scandals in the Water in San Bernardino County

The cup runneth over in San Bernardino County scandals.

Now a president of a high desert water agency has been arrested for illegally taping conversations/closed session meetings.  Oh boy!

Phillip Terrence Johnson, 64, was taken into custody at his home in Landers and charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of recording confidential communications, said Deputy District Attorney John Goritz.

Johnson is president of the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, which serves Flamingo Heights, Johnson Valley and Landers.

After an investigation that lasted more than two months, investigators identified three occasions when he is alleged to have improperly recorded conversations, though Goritz declined to provide details about those instances.

"Retired" Redlands Treasurer Takes Plea Deal With Jail Time

According to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, newly "retired" Redlands Treasurer Mike Reynolds won't need to worry about putting around his garden to waste away his personal time.  He will be able to fill the void behind bars for 30 days.

The article reports:

"My reputation was irreparably damaged when I was arrested," he said. "I could start the rest of my life the day after sentencing -- and that's why I took the plea."

Reynolds will return to San Bernardino County Superior Court on Sept. 25, when he is expected to be sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to reimburse Redlands nearly $38,000. He also will receive three years probation.

This is silly and obviously not the truth.  You take a plea deal so you can start the rest of your life?

Reynolds said in an interview that he assumed that staying in office nearly a year after the allegations first surfaced might somehow help him during plea negotiations.

"Once I realized there was no bargaining chip to being in office, I retired," Reynolds said.

I think this pretty much tells us all we need to know about this.   

Murrieta: Doug McAllister Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Doug McAllister

Doug McAllister is in such stride with the pace of the city that not even his daily workouts interrupt him from taking phone calls.

The 49-year-old incumbent who has served on the council for five years says he decided after much contemplation to seek re-election in the Nov. 4 City Council race in which two seats will be up for grabs, including his own.

"I can't walk away and see it go bad," McAllister said. "One of the reasons I ran (in 2003) was I was tired of the dysfunction of the council and I thought Murrieta deserved better. I did everything I said I was going to do. I have a new list."

McAllister is running against five other candidates including high school teacher Paul Clay 50; incumbent and electrical contractor Warnie Enochs, 59; local publisher Nancy Knight, 64; management consultant David Landriscina, 53; and planning commissioner and telecommunications executive Randon Lane, 39.

McAllister, the son of a preacher, started his adult life as a man of the church. After several moves, McAllister landed in Murrieta 1995 where he later took the position of director of government and external affairs for Verizon Wireless.

Previously a member of the Planning Commission, McAllister survived a possible ouster during a recall election six months into his first term and said his biggest accomplishment as a councilman since has been to soothe the political turmoil that once defined Murrieta as a bickering community.

However, he admits that he too contributed to clashes of the past when he declined to vote for a fellow councilman to take the seat of mayor.

"Every time I didn't follow my gut was my biggest mistake," McAllister said of withdrawing his initial position to support Enochs' mayoral bid. "My purpose was to stay away from the feud and do what was fair (by voting for him) and I was talked out of it."

It's with that historical perspective that McAllister said the most important issue facing Murrieta is maintaining a cohesive council in the future. He believes that the votes cast and discussions by the current council represent five individual voices working together to make decisions.

"We're at a transition point," McAllister said. "Where we go from here is a major issue. We collaborate and any decision we've made has come from one council."

If re-elected, McAllister said he would also work to beef up the police department. Though the city is close achieving its goal of one officer per every 1,000 residents, McAllister said he believes Murrieta should keep working to hit that target. He said he would continue searching for ways to pay for more officers to reach the goal.

"It'd be really simple to begin taking away money from the police to go build something, but we cannot get behind the crime curve," McAllister said. He said public safety is "one of the pillars of our way of life."

Of course, to establish new jobs the city will need to rake in more cash. McAllister said economic development would be his third focus should he get re-elected. He said he would pursue new business personally, and work closely with the city's new economic development department to seek out appropriate businesses and promote Murrieta as the right place to build.

"It took five years (to hire a director of economic development), but we're on the right path today," McAllister said. "We're still building that path and we need a whole (council) focused on it."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

Doug McAllister

-- Age: 49

-- Occupation: Telecommunications executive

-- Civic involvement: City councilman for four years; former planning commissioner; former Steering Committee member; former General Plan Advisory Committee member; Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology, representative; Murrieta Valley Unified School District "Choices Program" leader; Temecula/Murrieta Government Action Committee member; Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce member; Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County fundraiser

-- Web site: www.CouncilmanMcAllister.com.

Murrieta: David Landriscina Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

David Landriscina

David Landriscina is eager for his ideas about how to run Murrieta to be heard, but he's not impatient. He understands that familiarizing residents with a new name takes time, and a new concept even more so.

The 53-year-old candidate for the Murrieta City Council believes so much in his idea to move Murrieta toward charter status that he's pitching it again. After three unsuccessful runs, Landriscina is once again attempting to secure a seat on the council.

"This campaign started in 2001, and it's based on patience and tolerance to make a message that resonates with the public," Landriscina said. "The (candidates) who run once and don't come back, that speaks to their character. You don't just back off."

Landriscina, who said he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and is now a management consultant with an energy provider, is one of six people running for two seats on the council. Other candidates seeking the four-year terms are high school teacher Paul Clay, 50; incumbent and electrical contractor Warnie Enochs, 59; local publisher Nancy Knight, 64; planning commissioner and telecommunications executive Randon Lane, 39; and incumbent and telecommunications executive Doug McAllister, 49.

At the top of Landriscina's agenda, should he be elected, would be to request that city staff complete a market research report looking at the green technology, medical and energy fields and to contact leaders of top corporations in each field to bring those businesses here, he said.

"We need our people to live here and work here," Landriscina said. "Those are the primary industries for the emerging market, and they'll produce high-paying jobs."

Immediately after that action, he said, he would ask for a similar report from city staff on what it would take to change Murrieta's status to that of a charter city, which would take Murrieta out from under the state's governance.

A charter city is exempt from certain state mandates, such as a requirement to put contracting jobs out to bid to all California companies. This, Landriscina said, would give Murrieta the flexibility to offer contracting jobs to companies within city limits, keeping money locally.

Murrieta, Landriscina said, is particularly suited to become a charter city with City Manager Rick Dudley at the reins. Dudley successfully guided his former city, Vista, through charter status in 2007.

"Why not exercise an option to make the most of our market?" Landriscina said. "It would break from Sacramento to a certain degree over how the dollars are doled out, and it also presents a positive image to investors."

As a third goal, Landriscina said, he would spend more time and effort to secure federal funding for the Murrieta Creek Flood Control Project, a federal project expected to cost more than $115 million to restructure the creek that flows through Murrieta and Temecula.

The project has been in the works since 2001 when it first qualified for federal funding, but progress has slowed as the stream of cash has dried up.

"The problem is, we are due for a 100-year flood," Landriscina said of the threat of a massive flood that would cause major destruction to portions of the city. "If that happens, all of Old Town will be under water. We have an investment there to protect, and we're also protecting Old Town."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

David Landriscina

-- Age: 53

-- Occupation: Management consultant

-- Civic involvement: Murrieta Valley Unified School District Measure E Oversight Committee member; Murrieta veterans memorial sub-committee member; Friends of the Murrieta Public Library member

-- Web site: www.MurrietaFirst.com

Murrieta: Nancy Knight Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Nancy Knight

She still wears an old campaign pin and she says she has lost count of how many times she's run for City Council. This year, once again, Nancy Knight is throwing herself into the race for a seat at Murrieta's helm.

Knight, 64, said she continues to seek a voice as a city leader because she feels past and current administrations have approved development without attracting quality jobs to keep the high-earners within city limits during the day, without offering multiple options to those who need cheaper rents, and without incorporating more energy-efficient building methods to reduce the reliance on natural resources such as water.

"It appears they're bringing still more retail centers," Knight said, adding that city leaders should instead be pushing for the development of corporate buildings to fuel a high-end work force within the city. She's running, she said, because "I was approached and because it gives (voters) a choice."

Knight is one of six candidates running for two seats on the Murrieta City Council in the Nov. 4 election. The other candidates are high school teacher Paul Clay, 50; incumbent and electrical contractor, Warnie Enochs, 59; management consultant, David Landriscina, 53; Planning Commissioner and telecommunications executive, Randon Lane, 39; and incumbent and telecommunications executive, Doug McAllister, 49.

Knight, now retired, worked for 25 years in the health care industry as a research and development scientist in clinical diagnostics, she said. Along with a bachelor's degree in biology, Knight said she earned a master's in business administration.

After retiring, Knight helped her husband run his printing business, which later transformed into a monthly publication, The Bugle, which she leads now as editor.

Although she's never been elected, Knight has run for public office numerous times, seeking seats on the Murrieta City Council and the California State Assembly, Riverside County Board of Education and other elected seats, beginning in 1977, she said. This is her fifth attempt at running for a council seat in Murrieta.

But if elected, she said, she would use the knowledge she acquired while earning her MBA to actively seek opportunities to bring high-paying jobs to Murrieta.

"It's been an issue for a long time," Knight said. "We have an imbalance between housing and jobs. We need to focus on high tech (corporations). I know who you have to target to bring (companies) here; I know what they're looking for in terms of incentives."

Knight also feels city leaders have cluttered views by approving tall apartment buildings to satisfy state requirements for low-income housing development. She says she would drill developers who propose affordable housing projects to make sure they actually know what qualifies as such and proposes turning vacant office suites on land zoned for multiple uses into apartment units.

"A lot of them are vacant today," Knight said of office suites along Los Alamos Road. "So a better use is to find a new use."

Familiar with the restrictions of the California Environmental Quality Act, Knight said she would review closely all projects coming before the city. She would also aim to create partnerships with local public utilities districts to offer cheaper rates to building businesses and homeowners who allow their rooftops to be used for solar paneling. And, she said, she would focus her attention on making wind energy more accessible to more residents.

Knight would also press heavily, she said, for improvements to environmentally friendly development, including drawing up city incentives to persuade residents to switch their green lawns for landscapes that use less water.

"Seventy percent of the water people use is for their lawn," Knight said. "We need to plant things that can be watered with (recycled) water (so we don't) have to pump water ... to water our landscapes."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

Nancy Knight

-- Age: 64

-- Occupation: Publisher

-- Civic involvement: Southwest California Chamber of Commerce, founder; Numbers USA, member; UC Riverside, alumna and program speaker.

-- E-mail: Nancy@TheBugle.com

Murrieta: Randon Lane Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Randon Lane

From his seat on the Planning Commission, Randon Lane said, he can see city procedures that don't work. But from that seat, he can't change them.

That is why the 39-year-old telecommunications executive says he is running for one of two seats on the City Council.

Lane, who has served as a representative of the city's General Plan update and the Steering Committee, and unsuccessfully ran for a council seat in 2006, said the city missed the bus in controlling the business development by not hiring a director of economic development until after the boom, and now "rake(s) builders over the coals" by setting up unnecessary procedural hoops for them to jump through.

He believes he can help encourage greater opportunities for business and still make sure that the community benefits by the development by helping simplify the process.

"The City Council preaches a business-friendly process, but that's where it ends," Lane said. "In my opinion, we're still dealing with the same issues we were five, six years ago."

Lane is one of six candidates for two four-year terms. The other candidates are high school teacher Paul Clay, 50; incumbent and electrical contractor Warnie Enochs, 59; local publisher Nancy Knight, 64; management consultant David Landriscina, 53; and incumbent and telecommunications executive Doug McAllister, 49.

If elected, Lane said his first priority would be to actively pursue communication with leaders in technological and medical industries to bring high-paying jobs to the city.

Part of his plan would include working with city staff to create a standard process for development to meet city building requirements. Currently, he said, the process is muddled.

"We get so caught up in the minutiae of what we're doing that it takes longer than any other city to get anything done," Lane said.

Lane also believes in the need to provide the community with ample police, fire and emergency response services to keep the city in the upper echelon where public safety is concerned.

He said the community's standard of living would drop noticeably should the city allow police service to lag, and added that he would work to find money in the budget so the city can meet its goal of having one police officer for every 1,000 residents. The city is just under that goal now.

He's not without regrets; given a second opportunity, Lane said he would reconsider applications he approved as a planning commissioner from furniture store tenants in Furniture Row who are now starved for customers.

In retrospect, Lane said, the commission should have searched for a better assortment of businesses that could have breathed life into the shopping area after the stagnating housing market cut business to furniture stores dramatically.

But with the lesson learned comes a practice learned that he believes could benefit the community.

Carrying over the standard he set on the commission, Lane said, if elected, he would encourage the other council members to require all development to build up the infrastructure around their projects before allowing them to proceed with their structures.

Previously, Lane said, developers had been allowed to build without completing improvements to roads and intersections that provide access to their projects. Requiring infrastructure first, Lane said, will ensure that Murrieta can sustain the impact new businesses have on roads, traffic and public safety.

Standardizing this process on the commission has been his greatest accomplishment, he said.

"These are some basic things," Lane said. "It's just something that beautifies our city."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

Randon Lane

-- Age: 39

-- Occupation: Telecommunications executive

-- Civic involvement: Planning commissioner since June 2003, past Steering Committee member, Murrieta Hames Lupus Walk board member, Riverside County Children and Families First 5 commissioner

-- Web site: www.Lane2008.com.

More on Lake Elsinore Arson Attacks

More coverage of the recent spate of arson attacks on the vehicles of local candidates for public office.  One candidate interviewed says she fears for her life.

While I am not so sure that if I were in her shoes that I too would feel for my life...I do find these attacks cowardly and troubling. 

Murrieta: Warnie Enochs Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Warnie Enochs

Though he's served on the City Council in Murrieta for 13 consecutive years, Warnie Enochs said he still has the enthusiasm to keep going.

The 59-year-old electrical contractor and senior elected official is seeking re-election to his fourth consecutive term during the Nov. 4 election in which two seats ---- his included ----- will be up for grabs.

Five other candidates are vying for the four-year terms on the council, including fellow high school teacher Paul Clay, 50; local publisher Nancy Knight, 64; management consultant David Landriscina, 53; Planning Commissioner and telecommunications executive Randon Lane, 39; and incumbent and telecommunications executive Doug McAllister, 49.

While some community residents have called for imposing term limits on council members, Enochs, who has said he favors term limits, said his experience puts him in a unique position to guide the city through what he calls a pivotal moment.

"I'm still doing what I said I would in the beginning," Enochs said. "I listen, care and work hard. That's what qualifies me to run for this next term."

Enochs is most proud of his work to establish the Murrieta Public Library. He said he worked alongside several residents and traveled to other Riverside County cities for examples on how to pull from the county library system and create a city library.

He said his greatest shortcoming as a council member was allowing himself to be pulled into political infighting, which at times created an impasse among leaders at the expense of residents who deserved a functioning governing body. Should he be re-elected, Enochs said, maintaining diplomacy with other council members would be a top priority, as he has experienced firsthand how a dysfunctional council impedes city business.

But he is not without controversy.

Enochs is facing 14 felony counts of forgery, extortion and conspiracy, stemming from a divorce. None of the charges is related to his position as an elected official. A trial is scheduled for September, though several previous court appearances have been postponed as Enochs' attorney is called to argue other cases.

While some residents have called for Enochs to step down, others support his run at re-election. Enochs contends that support proves he has been able to keep his personal and legal life separate from that of the life of a city leader.

"Everybody knows my personal life, of course," he said. "But I feel this is all going to go nowhere. And the perception of me postponing it just because I'm trying to get re-elected is just not true."

Fiscal responsibility would be a main focus in his fourth term, should that day come, he said. Enochs said particularly in times of economic uncertainty, the city must watch every cent.

"We've got to be real careful with our money so we don't do layoffs, or cut back on overtime that our police and fire depend on," Enochs said.

Public safety, Enochs said, is also incredibly important. If elected to his fourth term, Enochs said he would continue to vote in favor of expanding the Police Department and look for ways to stretch dollars to employ more officers until the city reaches the goal of having one officer for every 1,000 residents.

And while other candidates have said they would work to attract medical offices to Murrieta to bring high-paying jobs locally, Enochs takes the position of seeking those offices to provide residents with the medical services they need.

Referencing cooperation between the City Council and a group of doctors who are proposing to bring a physicians' teaching hospital to Murrieta, Enochs said rapid growth is putting more demand on having doctors nearby.

"We do need these beds," he said. "They'll be full."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

Warnie Enochs

-- Age: 59

-- Occupation: Electrical contractor

-- Civic involvement: City Council, member; Town Hall Association Endowment Board, member; Western Regional Council of Governments, member; Youth Accountability Board, member; Friends of the Murrieta Public Library, member.

-- E-mail: AtoZLighting@yahoo.com.

From the "Boo hoo!" Department...

Please get your tissues handy.  More activists are complaining about all those poor illegal aliens... 

This time they are down in Lake Elsinore bitching and moaning because...gasp...illegal aliens are afraid that they might get caught for violating our immigration laws.

I thought Politics Was a Contact Sport...

Disturbing news coming out of Lake Elsinore where a political candidate had his vehicle (containing campaign literature) set ablaze in front of his house.  At first blush it could be dismissed as a coincidence.

What makes this story distubring is that it is the second time a local politician or candidate for office has had his car torched by arsonists.  Before candidate Richard Knapp had his minivan torched, current Councilman Tom Buckley had his vehicle vandalized and set on fire.  This was back in late July.

I think Buckley's circa 1980s "popped collars" are a blight and I have my suspicions about men driving minivans......but come on people.  This is the 21st Century.  Lobby your councilman to ban popped collars along with the baggy jeans and demand that any self respecting red blooded American male putter around in a vehicle that gets sub-20 miles to the gallon.

All kidding aside, these acts are very troubling and I hope that those repsonsible are held accountable in short order. 

Murrieta: Paul Clay Candidate Profile

Paul Clay

To Paul Clay, the five seats at the top of Murrieta's decision-making hierarchy are conduits to the greater picture.

The 50-year-old high school social studies teacher is running for one of two seats up for grabs in the Nov. 4 City Council race.

If elected, Clay said, he would use his position to drum up participation from residents on much broader issues decided by larger governments that have significant effects on Murrieta.

"I find a lot of teachers become the ones who are involved in local issues and run for school boards, City Council and Congress," Clay said in an interview before the start of his workday at Heritage High School in Perris. "What I tell you (are my top issues) now might change if I learn something new tomorrow."

Clay will be up against five other candidates for the four-year seats. Also running are the two incumbents, electrical contractor Warnie Enochs, 59, and telecommunications executive Doug McAllister, 49; and local publisher Nancy Knight, 64; telecommunications executive and management consultant David Landriscina, 53; and Planning Commissioner Randon Lane, 39.

After a failed attempt in seeking the Democratic nomination in the 45th Congressional District election earlier this year, Clay is making his first stab at running for a local office.

Though he considers many issues within the city to be of vital importance, Clay is running more on a platform of strengthening the city government's interactions with the state.

"The mayor and City Council need to make sure that they are in open dialogue with the state regulators, especially the governor's office," he said.

Clay also believes that residents should mobilize in national political races. Though the council positions are nonpartisan, Clay said he believes current leaders vote along party lines and he would encourage participation in the races for higher offices.

Clay said that, if elected, he would use his position on the council to oppose a proposal in Sacramento to use local government money to resolve the state's budget shortfall.

While admitting that much can't be done from a council seat, Clay said he would try anyway.

Clay declined to state positions on issues relating specifically to Murrieta, and admitted that some of his concerns were more pertinent to state politics or school boards.

Clay said he believes the most pressing issue that Murrieta residents should focus on is the construction of the Liberty Quarry, a 155-acre granite mine proposed on 414 acres next to the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve and south of Temecula.

Though the quarry is well outside Murrieta's city limits, Clay believes residents should band together in urging the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to block the quarry. He and other opponents contend the mining operation will worsen air quality, and traffic from the quarry will place more of a burden on already clogged freeways.

"It's really an ecologically sensitive area," Clay said. "The feeling most people have is they don't have any authority and we need to have the power to say what gets developed in our jurisdiction."

Being a teacher, he also has a strong interest in school campus issues. As an elected official, Clay said he would demand truthful reporting of crimes that occur on school campuses and would push for a specific force to investigate such crimes.

Referring to what he believes is an intentional under-reporting of crimes on campuses, Clay said he believes schools should be the safest places for children to be and he believes that is not the case now.

"They (school officials) are under the gun, to lower the violence," Clay said. "Being that they can't lower it, the next choice is to hide it. We should investigate crimes (on campuses) and make a thorough job of it."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

Paul Clay

Age: 50

Occupation: High school social studies teacher

Civic involvement: member of the Perris Secondary Educators Association's grievances committee

E-mail: ClayForCouncil@aol.com.

Pomona: Cops Called On The Cops

With the ever changing definition of the Inland Empire some will argue that Pomona is not a true part of the IE brotherhood....  Well....hmmm....

Anyway...there is an interesting article about the cops being called on Pomona cops who got involved in a verbal shouting match (allegedly) with some community activists over the Pomona police department's use of vehicle checkpoints.  The nutjobs in Pomona think it is too radical and police stateish to actually expect drivers of motor vehicles to actually possess drivers licenses.

Well, some members of the Pomona police department think that these crybabies should shut their yappers and strap on a helmet because they have seen first hand the havoc caused by unlicensed drivers.

The insanity is so great, that i am going to post the entire article here.   What is amazing is that there are nearly 300 comments.

Hours after off-duty police officers engaged in a shouting match with participants at a community meeting, members of the Pomona Habla/Pomona Speaks coalition began taking steps Friday to file formal complaints against the officers.

Coalition representatives met Friday and decided to file complaints with Police Chief Joe Romero's office and the City Council in addition to seeking an independent investigation of Thursday night's incident, said coalition member Arturo Jimenez.

The coalition will also file complaints at the state level, he said.

"We are going to be filing a complaint with the state Attorney General's Office and calling for his involvement," Jimenez said, adding that various state agencies will also be contacted.

Thursday evening's actions on the part of the officers were out of line, Jimenez said.

"What happened (Thursday) was a horrible intimidation tactic," he said.

The incident took place during a community forum organized by the coalition at the Centro Promesa de Dios on West Second Street in Pomona's Arts Colony.

The event drew more than 100 people to discuss traffic checkpoints in the city. It was also a means of collecting residents' ideas that could potentially be included in a list of proposals to be presented to city leaders as a means to address checkpoints.

Members of the audience spoke mostly about negative experiences with checkpoints, but some gave their views on why they are necessary.

The conflict erupted when a woman commented that regulations requiring licenses are racist policies and that the city should develop alternative means of keeping streets safe without using checkpoints.

She went on to say that even people who have not been through a checkpoint live in stress.

At that point, someone among a group of about a dozen officers shouted: "Get a license!"

Meeting organizers said people who could not show respect for others would be asked to leave, prompting an officer to shout: "This is a community meeting!"

From there a few officers and audience members clustered together shouting at each other.

While some meeting organizers addressed the shouting group, others called on attendees to move toward the front of the stage and continue with the agenda.

Two officers - Phil Bozoich and Jorge Aleman, who were involved in the heated exchange - left the building followed by audience members who with the remaining attendees chanted, "Justicia! Justicia!" meaning justice in Spanish.

The rest of the officers left the gathering shortly after.

Police Chief Joe Romero, who on Friday was already investigating the matter, said the officers attending the meeting did so on their own time and "not in an official capacity" but their actions will be reviewed.

"Those that go into professional law enforcement know that their off-duty actions are as carefully scrutinized as their professional actions," he said.

Officers were sent out to the meeting after calls were made to police seeking their presence, Romero said.

City Manager Linda Lowry has received inquiries from City Council members about the meeting and she "has asked that I look into the entire situation," Romero said.

Among the steps Romero said he will be taking are meeting with Bozoich, who is president of the Pomona Police Officers' Association, "to assess that organization's involvement and naturally I will be meeting with command staff to best determine how to proceed with resolving this situation."

Bozoich said Friday that he had asked members of the association if they would consider attending the meeting.

His request was prompted by two recent traffic collisions. One, on Aug. 15, was a hit-and-run incident on Temple Avenue that left a 19-year-old Ontario woman on life support. The driver reportedly was unlicensed. The second incident, on Aug. 17, involved a drunken, unlicensed driver who hit a police patrol car, injuring the officer and police dog inside.

Bozoich said he saw a newspaper article about the community meeting and thought officers could attend and give their views and possibly start a dialog with the coalition.

Officers were surprised to find the meeting would be in Spanish, but he had Aleman, who is bilingual, at his side translating for him, Bozoich said.

During the meeting, Bozoich said, he and others asked Jimenez for an opportunity to speak.

"We spoke up to give our opinion of checkpoints," he said, adding they were not afforded the opportunity to address the audience.

But Jimenez said everyone had an opportunity to speak, and he told the officers all they had to do was get in line to speak.

Bozoich said people appeared angry with Aleman because he supports checkpoints.

Attending the meeting was "definitely not productive for us as an association," he said.

Romero said the matter is a priority for him and that he canceled plans to attend a training program outside of town and expected to work on the matter throughout the weekend.

Temecula: Chuck Washington Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Chuck Washington

Chuck Washington is not good at being retired.

Back in 2005, he retired from Delta after 18 years of being a commercial pilot. In March, he went back to work flying as the first "rehired retired pilot" at Delta Airlines ---- no joke.

In 1999, Washington left Murrieta politics behind after serving on that city's council for four years, including a stint as its mayor. Just four years later in 2003, Washington was elected to Temecula's City Council and last year served as the city's mayor ---- making him the first person in California, possibly the nation, to hold the key to the city of two separate towns.

Now he has the support of his wife, Kathy, and his adult daughter, Lindsey, to seek a second term on Temecula's council, and Washington says he plans to remain an active public servant if re-elected this November.

Washington, 55, is one of five candidates vying for two seats on the Temecula City Council. Also on the Nov. 4 ballot are Albert Abbott, 29, office manager; Rita Hernandez, 73, retiree; Mike Naggar, 46, incumbent and businessman; and James "Stew" Stewart, 47, business owner. Council terms are for four years.

Washington identified three main issues he will focus on during his campaign and, he hopes, his next term: traffic, higher education and youth, and health care.

He doesn't shy away from saying that much of Temecula's traffic is because of the city's success as a place where people want to live, shop, work and visit. But he also knows there is a need to create better traffic flow for drivers and to reduce the amount of time commuters spend in their vehicles.

"In the early 1990s, we had people directing traffic on Rancho California Road," he recalled. "That was a time when there were fewer cars on the road, but traffic congestion was worse. In the intervening years, there have been improvements to managing the traffic."

He said two projects that will alleviate congestion are the planned extension of Overland Drive on the west side of Jefferson Avenue that will connect to Diaz Road. He said a similar project on the drawing board involves the creation of a series of bridges and roads that will connect Rancho Way in the Rancho California Business park to Ynez Road on the other side of Interstate 15.

"The larger picture is to position ourselves to secure resources to get those things done," he said in terms of planning, clout in the region, funding abilities and acquisition of rights-of-way.

As for addressing the community's health care needs, Washington not only wants to make sure the Temecula hospital, which was approved in 2006, is built ---- but he wants to foster the development of urgent care facilities in the city and see the newly formed Cal State San Marcos nursing program flourish in Temecula.

Washington said he will remain focused on reaching more young adults and delivering the academic resources they need.

"With the issue of higher education comes the question of how do we create a nurturing environment for our youth as they grow, so they have the best opportunity to reach their fullest potential?" he said.

While at the forefront of exploring youth issues in 2007, chairing the city's Youth Master Plan committee, Washington said he's not yet ready to disengage from his focus on Temecula's predominantly young population ---- especially teens and those in their 20s. Washington, a former Navy pilot, has his Facebook and MySpace pages ready to reach out to demographics who many times aren't actively involved in local politics.

"Being a city leader is not all 'bricks and mortar' projects. It's being out in the community," Washington said. "The job is so in-depth, it just fills your life. I just want to keep going while I have the energy and passion. It fills me with that good sense that I've done something right.

"I'm running again because the job is fun and rewarding to do, and there are things that still have yet to be done."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

Chuck Washington

-- Age: 55

-- Occupation: Pilot

-- Civic involvement: Incumbent, Temecula City Council since 2003, Murrieta City Council 1995 to 1999, past vice chairman, Boys & Girls Club board of directors; past president, Habitat for Humanity; past vice chairman, Economic Development Corporation, past chairman: Western Riverside Council of Governments; past board member, Inland Empire Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; Families First Award 2008; Temecula Citizen of the Year 2004; Murrieta Citizen of the Year 1995; Kiwanis Citizen of the Year Temecula Valley, 2000; PTA Honorary Service Award Recipient.

-- Web site: www.chuckwashington.org

Temecula: Stew Stewart Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

James "Stew" Stewart

James "Stew" Stewart hasn't been shy about putting his name on the ballot when he saw an opportunity to spur change and discourse during an election.

While the 47-year-old has made two "statement" runs for governor and U.S. Senate, this November will be the second time Stewart makes a serious attempt for a Temecula City Council seat.

"I've always enjoyed politics, and I have thousands of people who have asked me to run again," Stewart said.

Stewart is one of five candidates vying for two seats on the Temecula City Council. Also on the Nov. 4 ballot are Albert Abbott, 29, office manager; Rita Hernandez, 73, retiree; Mike Naggar, 46, businessman and incumbent; and Chuck Washington, 55, pilot and incumbent. City Council terms are four years.

Stewart and his wife, Lisa, have lived in Temecula since 1991. The couple have three adult children. He operates two barber shops in Temecula and Murrieta.

Stewart said the main issues he would like to focus on in the council race are: how redevelopment money is used in Old Town; building a police station inside the city limits; decreasing traffic; and increasing the number of local jobs.

Stewart said he has concerns about the amount of money being spent in Old Town and long-term debt the city may be accruing. He said his primary concerns rest with the civic center project, which city officials have reported will cost approximately $76 million, and the city's redevelopment agency ---- which is responsible for stimulating private investment in the redevelopment area, primarily Old Town.

"My main issue is that money can be spent without voter approval. I don't have a problem with free enterprise. But I would rather see individually initiated development rather than city-sponsored development," he said of the use of redevelopment funds and incentives.

Stewart's second issue is to have a police station located in central or southern Temecula. He cited the amount of man hours being lost when Temecula officers have to travel to the Southwest Justice Center to start and end their shifts.

Stewart said that building a city-based police station ---- and not just a police storefront ---- should be done soon.

"We're running out of land; if we don't do it soon, we're going to paint ourselves into a corner," he said.

Stewart said the last issues he would like to address, jobs and traffic, are interrelated.

"If we had more local jobs, we'd have less traffic," he said.

"Why not spend the same amount of time and money to help provide stable incomes for our residents, as the city did to pay for a new garage at the mall?" Stewart said in reference to an $11 million city contribution toward the construction of The Promenade mall's new 936-space parking structure.

He said the lack of high-paying jobs in the region forces not only Temecula residents to travel to San Diego or Los Angeles, but also residents of other communities such as Murrieta and Menifee to do the same, which creates additional pass-through traffic. He also believes Temecula should capitalize on the city's existing industrial parks to bolster the presence of manufacturing and white-collar jobs.

"In all those areas, we should promote, entice, woo ---- whatever it is going to take to get those jobs to the city," said Stewart. "I think that would be money well-spent by the city."

This will be Stewart's second run for Temecula City Council, which he categorizes as his serious attempts at public office. However, Stewart ran for governor in 2002 and for U.S. Senate in 2004, "out of sheer frustration."

"Those races featured some of the biggest boneheads, and voting for any of them was a complete waste of time," he said.

When Stewart ran for Temecula City Council in 2006, he spent only $850 of his own money ---- and still collected just more than 6,000 votes, finishing a not-too-distant fourth in the race for three seats.

Stewart said he still plans to take a regular-guy approach to this campaign. He doesn't want your money.

"It doesn't take a dollar to get a vote; it takes people voting for you," he said. "Passing my campaign around by word of mouth is the greatest endorsement I could get."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

James "Stew" Stewart

-- Age: 47

-- Occupation: Barber/business owner

-- Civic involvement: Second run for Temecula City Council, supporter of Christian Youth Theatre, Little League, Pony League, Pop Warner, Temecula Soccer and Youth Basketball.

-- Web site: www.temeculastew.com

Temecula: Mike Naggar Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Mike Naggar

When Mike Naggar first ran for Temecula's City Council in 1999, he ran on a platform that included suing the county for allowing runaway development without having infrastructure in place.

"That's probably still one of my proudest accomplishments. The result of those suits led to growth management practices countywide," said Naggar, who is serving as the city's mayor.

Naggar is one of five candidates vying for two seats on the Temecula City Council. Also on the Nov. 4 ballot are office manager Albert Abbott, 29; retiree Rita Hernandez, 73; barber and businessman James "Stew" Stewart, 47; and pilot Chuck Washington, 55, the other incumbent in the race.

Naggar, 46, works as a land development and planning consultant in Perris.

In Temecula, Naggar said there is still much he would like to get accomplished. This November, Naggar will seek his third term on the council so that he can see three of his main goals come to fruition.

Topping his list is moving forward with the city's plan for $250 million worth of roadway improvements, including the construction of the French Valley Parkway Interchange. He said that $140 million project will help alleviate traffic on main city thoroughfares, such as Winchester Road, as well as reduce congestion on Interstates 15 and 215.

"Keep in mind, this is what we are working on now," he said noting that $83 million in road improvements have been completed since 2000, when Naggar first began serving on the council. He lists the widening of Winchester and Rancho California roads, as well as the Diaz Road realignment, among his roadwork-related accomplishments.

Naggar's second goal is to find a permanent, approximately 50-acre site for a Cal State San Marcos campus. An extension office of the school will begin offering nursing classes this September after a yearlong effort by Naggar and other city leaders to lure the public university to Temecula.

"We've landed Cal State San Marcos here and got them open," he said. "We've also had Concordia and Mt. San Jacinto come to Temecula as well as Redlands College come to Murrieta. The goal is not that Temecula land every college campus, but that we have higher education in the region. It's an extremely important economic development tool."

The city has also fostered the formation of a foundation that will raise funds for higher education; Naggar was appointed as a member of that foundation last week.

Rounding out the councilman's top three goals for his next term is getting a hospital planned in southern Temecula built.

"The hospital was approved in 2006, the legal hurdles were overcome and now we have to hold their hand through the end of the process," Naggar said. "The hospital is not only vitally important to the health care needs of the region, but it will also bring jobs here."

Naggar said that moving forward with all three issues ---- roads, higher education and the hospital ---- will lead to a better quality of life for residents of the city. He said the special quality of the town is what drew him to Temecula to begin a family with his wife, Mylah, in 1991. The couple has two children: Sienna, 16, and Liam, 3.

While there are things he would like to improve, he says he can't deny the progress that has already occurred in the rapidly growing city, such as the highest police-to-resident ratio in the county: 1 to 910, a park ranger program, four-person staffing on fire engines ---- which allows firefighters to attack a blaze more quickly ---- and 200 acres of open space he helped acquire for the city at the cost of $1.

"In the past nine years, we've accomplished a great deal of victories but there is a lot left to do. Temecula is one of the premier cities in the state of California and in order to stay that way we can never rest on our laurels."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

Mike Naggar

-- Age: 46

-- Occupation: Land-use consultant

-- Civic involvement: Incumbent, served on City Council since 1999; planning commissioner, 1997 to 1999; League of CA Cities Policy Committee on Housing & Economic Development; � General Plan Update Committee (Traffic Element); Vail Elementary School Site Council; Temecula Valley Unified School District Safe Schools Committee; California Republican Assembly treasurer; Boys and Girls Club board of directors; Coach: youth soccer and basketball; Starlight Ridge HOA

-- Contact: mike@mikenaggar.com or call (951) 551-7730

Lake Elsinore: Links Between Votes & Campaign Donations

The Press Enterprise examines the timing of big dollar contributions to Lake Elsinore City Council candidates and their votes on projects.  You decide if this is really a story.  Sounds like a "tell me something I didn't already know" story.

The story is linked.

I am a little surprised at the size of these warchests down in Lake Elsinore.  I guess it always surprises me when it comes to how much money these candidates have to raise for local seats.

Hesperia: Mark Kirk Candidate Profile

I found this candidate profile in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.  Mark Kirk, the Chief of Staff to Supervisor Gary Ovitt, is running for Hesperia City Council.

Assuming the Daily Bulletin profiles the other candidates, I will post them accordingly.

Mark Kirk is a behind-the-scenes political mover and shaker in San Bernardino County.

Kirk, 33, is the chief of staff for 4th District Supervisor Gary Ovitt, who is also the chairman of the county Republican Party.

Kirk spent his early childhood in Oklahoma, and later attended junior high and high school in Hesperia, where he lives with his wife, Erin.

In June, Kirk was elected to the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee. He has also taught education courses at Azusa Pacific University and Chapman University. Now, he's running for a seat on the Hesperia City Council.

Question: How did you get interested in politics?

Answer: I've always been interested in politics. My first recollection of my involvement in politics was in 1980. I remember being in Oklahoma, being 6 years old, arguing that anybody would be better than Jimmy Carter.

I've always had interest in those who lead our communities and the decision-making process that they use.

Q: What was your first political job?

A: My first paid political gig was working as a field rep for then-Assemblyman George Runner. That was in 2002. George was very dedicated to strong constituent services, and I think that's probably what I took away the most - the importance of communicating with constituents, solving their problems and working with them.

Q: What challenges do you see facing the Republican Party in San Bernardino County?

A: I think the major challenge for the party is to focus on policies and not people. I think the problem where we are now with people losing interest in the party revolves around the personalities.

And what we have to do is we have to get people refocused on the policies and the platforms.

That's going to be what returns people or keeps people with the Republican Party - smaller government, no taxes, pro-small business, pro-life. These are the issues where the Republican Party is on the right side, and what I mean by that is they're on the side of the majority of America.

Q: How do you balance political campaigning, your county work and your personal life?

A: The tougher part is the personal-life aspect. You can't be a chief of staff without putting in lots of hours. We may go home at 5 or 5:30 or 6 o'clock, but the job doesn't stay at the office. We get calls with issues we need to deal with at 8 o'clock (at night), in the morning, on the weekends. In a lot of ways the job never stops.

The political aspect is easy because you just don't do it during county time.

It does mean some challenges in the evening, in the mornings when county issues are still coming at you, and when you're still trying to get political issues wrapped up.

I don't normally take time off until campaign season. You kind of save it up. You take a day, and you use your personal vacation time to get that done.

Q: How do you spend time with your family?

A: I'm very fortunate. I have a very understanding wife. She understands there is a certain season when I'm going to be sparse.

That part I think is the bigger challenge, but it requires diligence and self-discipline.

Q: Why are you running for Hesperia council?

A: This is an opportunity for me to take what I know, take what I've learned and make some positive impact on the community.

Q: You recently started blogging on your campaign Web site, www.mk4council.com. How do you like blogging?

A: It's an interesting thing. I've never done it before. I enjoy it. It took us a little while to work out the kinks.

What I enjoy is constituents, people who care about the campaign being able to ask me questions. Even though I've published my cell phone number so people can just call me, I think some people like to anonymously e-mail me and ask me questions.

I've had a lot of fun. Too many times, politicians have all the answers. I think at times people would prefer that politicians listened more. This is a listening time for me. It helps me form some positions I need to take into this campaign.

Q: What's your take on recent corruption scandals in the county?

A: I think there's one unique facet of this set of scandals, as opposed to 10 years ago.

This set revolves around one individual, rather than 10 years ago when we had a group of individuals who were conspiring to take advantage of taxpayers.

I have my personal feelings about it. I'm holding back as much as I can to hear the assessor respond to these accusations and claims. I think everyone deserves that.

You see from the Board of Supervisors and the (county administrative) office that we're trying to do the right thing and trying to respond appropriately to these challenges.

That's different from the past. In the past, you had an administration and supervisors who were trying to cover it up. You don't have that now.

We're in a better place now, but I can see why taxpayers and constituents are frustrated, because they deserve a county with no scandals, and until we get to that point, we'll continue to see frustration. People deserve better.

Redlands: Treasurer "Retires" Amid Scandal

The treasurer of the city of Redlands has announced that he is retiring, effective immediately.  Mike Reynolds is retiring after serving in the capacity for over 25 years. 

About a year ago, he was embroiled in scandal when it came to light that he was allegedly misappropriating funds.

Reynolds faces up to 12 years in prison on three felony counts of misappropriating public funds, falsifying documents and keeping a false record. He was charged in November 2007 with removing $37,880.96 from a Redlands city trust account to cover shortages in his office's petty cash drawer, and then falsifying documents to attempt to conceal his actions.

Reynolds was re-elected last year after the revelations surfaced once the filing deadline had passed.  The Reldands City Council will now decide whether or not to appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the term or call for a special election.

Public Officials Take Drug Test: Publicity Stunt or Right Move?

Several high ranking San Bernardino County elected officials recently took voluntary drugs tests after Tax Collector Dick Larsen advocated mandatory random testing in response to an ongoing scandal where another elected official is rumored to have a drug addiction.

Here is an exceprts from the Press Enterprise:

Earlier this week, all five board members took drug tests and released the results. They all tested clean of "any substances," according to county spokesman David Wert.

Political observers and academics, as well as the supervisors themselves, are split on whether the move was an empty political gesture or a decisive step in assuring the public of their integrity.

Larsen, on vacation in South Dakota, said he was not grandstanding or preparing for a run at a higher office when he proposed drug testing.

"I love being the county treasurer," he said. "I'm very happy with what I'm doing."

I love these sort of denials by politicians.  If he loves being the county treasurer and he is happy doing what he is doing and he is not grandstanding for political purposes...then simply say that you are not going to seek another office.  I wish the reporter would have asked him to make that pledge.

I simply do not know the true motivations of Dick Larsen.  But stuff like this makes the average person so cynical and hardened when it comes to politics.  I think this is one of the reasons why so many people flock to Barack Obama.  It isn't his poliices in my opinion or that he is for "change".  I think it is more that what he says and people believe he is all about is that he seeks to bring more civility or realness to the political process.

Sign 'O The Times

Because of the real estate downturn, Lake Elsinore Treasurer Peter Weber is asking the City Council to stop creating community facilities districts due to foreclosures placing a heavier burden on the other homeowners.

Critics of Weber's argument say that once a home is foreclosed and resold, the sale of the home recaptures the delinquent taxes.

Another Email Blunder

Rita's email address is:  rvh-lajefa@msn.com

I know it is probably ticky-tack to nitpick on this stuff, but I think Rita Hernandez has also committed a blunder with her email address. 

The Temecula area is pretty well known for its anti-illegal immigration sentiment. I am not exactly sure that having anything in spanish in your email is the way to go about getting votes...

Temecula: Rita Hernandez Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Rita Hernandez

Rita Hernandez only has to look to Temecula's city seal ---- Old Traditions, New Opportunities ---- to underscore why she is running for City Council.

"I love old traditions," said Hernandez, 73. "And why not give someone new an opportunity to bring some different ideas to the table? Why does it have to be the same people, the same faces every year making the decisions for this city? I want to be a new face and a new voice for the people of Temecula."

Hernandez is one of five candidates vying for two seats on the Temecula City Council. Also on the Nov. 4 ballot are Albert Abbott, 29; Mike Naggar, 46; James "Stew" Stewart, 47; and Chuck Washington, 55. City Council terms are four years.

Hernandez has lived in Temecula since 1989. She had previously planned to run for office during the last election cycle, but her plans were curtailed by the death of her husband, Pascual "Pat" Hernandez. She credits her own zest for life and community to her three children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Hernandez identified her top three issues in the race as being a focus on youth and senior citizens; working people and safety.

"We've got our young ones covered, but our teens ---- ages 14 to 18 ---- are left out of the loop," she said. "You always hear these parents saying there is nothing for these kids to do. We have movies in the park and sports park, but there are still those who aren't satisfied. We could do better."

Hernandez said she has been in contact with other cities that have alternative programs and approaches for reaching that specific demographic, though she is not yet ready to reveal her plans. She also would like to see more attention given to the city's senior citizens.

Hernandez said the construction of a second senior center, more centrally located to the population base of Temecula, is one avenue the city could take to increase services to older generations. She also suggested forming an advisory committee that would make recommendations to the council on senior citizen issues.

There also needs to be a better way of assisting the working population of Temecula, she said, adding that the daily commutes residents endure to travel to high-paying jobs outside the county will eventually take a toll on them. She said more recruitment needs to be done to lure new employers to Temecula.

"I know that we have several large companies that employ people here in town," she said. "But I think we need to do more to recruit more companies. It's something that needs to be discussed and explored further."

She suggests creating a city committee to entice new companies to come to the community.

For Hernandez, the issue of safety ranges from better handling of traffic to making sure neighborhoods are secure during this time of rampant foreclosures.

"We have a fantastic police department, but things do still happen," she said citing a recent burglary near her home. "I think we need to try to avoid as many of those problems as we can."

She suggests working with the police chief to determine what existing programs, such as Temecula Citizens Corps or the gang task force, are the most effective. At that point, she said, the city could bolster the programs that yield the best results by diverting resources away from others that are not effective.

Hernandez said she worked in the medical field for 34 years, until she retired from her job as a medical office manager in 1986. She said she has been a volunteer for the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival and the Arts Council of Temecula Valley. She serves on the pastoral council at St. Catherine's Catholic Church.

She said though she never had a title for her efforts, she successfully petitioned to have Avenida de la Reina closed off to through traffic and fought against a "bus barn" being built in her neighborhood.

"I think I'm well-qualified and have life experiences to be a successful city leader," she said.

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

Rita Hernandez

-- Age: 73

-- Occupation: Retiree

-- Civic involvement: Volunteer for the Temecula Valley International Film Festival, the Arts Council of Temecula Valley, and for Birth Choice. She serves on the pastoral council at St. Catherine's Church.

-- E-mail: rvh-lajefa@msn.com

Brief Thoughts on Albert Abbot

Don't have much time to comment on the article below and will add some more thoughts later. 

I simply wanted to point out that I find Abbot's public email address to be an odd choice.  "GonzoMurrieta"?  I find it bizzarre.

Not that any person running for city council needs to be ready for "prime time", but come on.  In the grand scheme of things, this is a pretty minor thing to get your dander up over.  Hopefully, there will be some discussion about the issues important to the people of Temecula.

Temecula: Albert Abbot Candidate Profile

The North County Times is cycling through their candidate profiles for the upcoming elections and I will post them below so that readers can make an informed decision.  If a candidate in the Inland Empire would like me to post information about their campaign, I will do my best to be fair and balanced.

All posts containing candidate profiles or event/campaign releases will be posted free of any commentary on my part.

Albert Abbot

Albert Abbott is running in the November election for City Council because, while he says Temecula is a great place to live, he adds that he believes there is still a ways to go to make it a well-rounded community.

"Everyone says they love to live in Temecula, but no one really says this is the place where they work and play," he said. "I suppose that is why I am running, because why not make Temecula the place to live, work and play?"

Abbot, 29, has lived in Temecula since 1984. He graduated from Temecula Valley High School in 1997. Later, while he still lived in Temecula, he commuted to Cal State San Marcos where, he said, he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.

"I love Temecula," he said. "That's why I never left. I stayed here with my family, and now I've started my own family. Temecula is a wonderful place to live. It's centrally located. I don't want to live in Los Angeles or San Diego, but I want to be able to travel to those places for entertainment."

Abbott is one of five candidates vying for two seats on the Temecula City Council. Also on the Nov. 4 ballot are retiree Rita Hernandez, 73; incumbent Mike Naggar, 46, a businessman; barber and business owner James "Stew" Stewart, 47; and incumbent Chuck Washington, 55, a pilot. City Council terms are four years.

Abbott said he has lived in Temecula for three years with his fiancee, Michele Herring. The couple have a son, Joseph, who will be 2 in October.

Abbott worked as a human resources manager at Pechanga Resort & Casino. He said he also worked at a local movie theater and in the human relations department of Home Depot in Temecula ---- at which time he took night classes and earned a master's degree in business administration.

He now works as an office manager for a family-run investment firm.

"Working at a home-based business gives me more freedom than a typical 9-to-5 job," he said. "I may not be politically connected, but I read the local papers, I talk to people and I've grown up here. Some people feel the city is going in the wrong direction, while some are very happy. There is room to have that mix of opinions."

Abbott said his three major issues are traffic, luring higher-paying jobs to Temecula and creating more higher education and trade school opportunities.

He also believes there should be more thought given to what happens to students after they graduate high school.

"Where people go after high school to get an education is likely where they will stay to begin their careers, because businesses have gravitated to those environments and the potential work force," he said.

Abbott said there should be a greater offering of trade schools and corporate partnerships, so education can quickly result in employment for students.

"I think we have more than enough restaurant workers and sign twirlers in Temecula," he said. "We need more job opportunities that will offer at a minimum $45,000 a year and which will allow people to afford to live here."

Having more employment interrelates with Abbott's other top issue ---- traffic.

"Every morning, hundreds of thousands of people are getting on our freeways, heading to their jobs in San Diego, L.A., and Orange County," he said.

Besides congesting the roads, he said, those long drive times also cut into residents' time spent with their families, and result in a loss of sleep and added frustration. He said it is not uncommon to be at an intersection where signs warn of potential $371 tickets for red light violations, yet some drivers still take a risk to cut down their drive times.

"People are so frustrated that they will chance those huge fines just to get home, but those actions are causing an unsafe environment for all of us," he said.

While he said there are long-term bus, light rail and trolley options the city should consider, he has other suggestions for making travel easier on residents, such as synchronizing traffic signals based on hourly demands and deactivating some timers and sensors at peak hours so main thoroughfares can flow better.

Albert H. Abbott II

-- Age: 29

-- Occupation: Office manager

-- Civic involvement: volunteer at the Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival

-- E-mail: gonzomurrieta@aol.com

Blogs & Links to Southwest Riverside County Issues & Candidates

Here are some links you might find useful:

Bob Magee for Lake Elsinore City Council

A list of heavy hitters on his mile long endorsement list.

Randon Lane for Murrieta City Council

Lane was soundly beaten in 2006 when he ran for city council and also didn't look too good in his recent attempt to be elected to the Riverside County Republican Central Committee.  However, he does have some solid endorsements and might have the support and money needed to pull off a victory this time around.

About Murrieta Blog

A local blog discussing all things Murrieta.

Rescue Temecula

Not a lot of interesting stuff here.  But it does look like someone is manning the store.

Menifee 24/7

Discuss all things Menifee here...

Southwest Riverside County Campaign Reports

Doing a little browsing around and came across this page from the Press-Enterprise.  It has a link to several campaign finance reports from the Murrieta-Temecula area.

Is the Housing Slump Bottoming Out? A New Metric Tool Available

IE Chatter:  "Someday soon, all the smart guys on Wall Street..."

[Front Row Frankie Raises His Hand Quickly]

FRF: "You mean the ones that got us into the housing bubble in the first place?"

IEC:  "Ahem.  Yes...metrics.  Someday soon, along with releasing housing starts to guage how the real estate market is doing, Wall Street might also release the "Re-keying Report" compiled through a national survey of locksmiths."

In the news today is a story about how the foreclosure market has been a boon to locksmiths tapped to re-key homes during the slump.

While he says he's only turning a small profit from re-keying jobs on foreclosed homes -- because of the distances involved combined with high gas prices and other job-related expenses -- nonetheless, Koehn says, these jobs now represent 35 percent of his business.

He said he actually turned a bigger profit a few years ago, when the housing market was booming. Homeowners kept his shop busy with calls on lockouts and purchases of safes.

Obviously giving new meaning the old "head I win, tails you lose" gambit.

More on the Wild Wild West

After posting the last story in the news today, I thought that I should also mention some of the current troubles between the Riverside County Sheriffs Department and the Soboba Indians.

Here is a fantastic article that offers some insight on the mindsets of those involved in this crazy situation. 

In a nutshell, authorities say crime has run amok on the reservation and at levels that far exceed the other communities adjacent to the reservation.  Tribal Chairman Robert Salgado scoffed and retorted, "Hey Dude Whitey!  We just had a concert and 7,000 people partied without any trouble."

Point goes to the authorities.

The RSD says that they have engaged in running gun battles where three suspects were killed and had a police helicopter fired at.  The RSD say that there have been times when they have tried to honor the wishes of the tribe by notifying them upon entry, but that the tribe has tipped off suspects.  Tribal Chairman Robert Salgado says, "Hey Whitey!  Just like a military base, just give us a holler so we can give you directions to the right house."

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight!

In assessing the stalemate, Chief Deputy Jim Domenoe was very to the point.

"We hope it doesn't hit a crisis point, but I am fairly certain it will," said Chief Deputy Jim Domenoe. "We are going to be reasonable about this, but if they cause us significant delay, that could be grounds for arrest."

Oof!  Buckle your seat belts, kiddies.  This ride might get bumpy.

The Resurrection of the Wild Wild West

The following is from the "NOT As Seen On TV" department.

Four bounty hunters took a leisurely trip over to the Soboba Indian Reservation in 2004 to capture two convicted felons who were wanted by authorities.  That was until these bounty hunters ran into a modern day "Bonnie & Clyde".

The bounty hunters took cover when Moreno and his girlfriend opened fire with semiautomatic weapons and Moreno was able to get away, prosecutor Chris Bouffard told jurors during opening statements in the trial of Moreno and Shaundeen Theresa Boniface.

Reports indicate that 21 shots were fired at the bounty hunters, allowing Moreno to evade capture.  The defense attorney has an interesting portray of the events.

Although it doesn't appear there is any direct connection between this incident that occured several years ago and the most recent flare up in tensions between the Riverside County Sheriffs Department and the Soboba Indians, it offers a glimpse into what some observers might casually suggest is a modern day "Wild Wild West".

National Association of Realtors Reports: Inland Empire Suffers Steep Decline in Home Prices

With rising unemployment and a real estate market that appears to only be getting worse, who knows where this all ends.

The National Association of Realtors reports that the median price of a home in the Inland Empire has dropped nearly 33%, year over year.  That puts us as the third worst in the nation according to their data.  You can see a full list of their survey of metropolitan areas here.

Inland Empire Unemployment Rate Rises to 8.9%

I guess this will be my first "real" post.  It ain't sexy, but it is a Sunday.

An article in the Press Enterprise discusses the rising unemployment rates in the Inland Empire.  Considering the Inland Empire is bigger than many other states by geographic size and population, our economic situation is pretty significant for the country.

The article states that unemployment rates of 8.9% haven't been this high since 1995!  Surprisingly to me, unemployment in Riveside County is higher than San Bernardino County.

Welcome to IE Chatter

Welcome to IE Chatter.

I am new to the "blogosphere" and not sure if this is my thing.  I am told that in order for a blog to be successful, the owner must be active and continually add new content.  I am told most "bloggers" start out strong and fade quickly.

History will probably show that I will also be one of those that burns out quickly.  In the meantime, I will give this a shot and see where it all goes. 

Hopefully, my blog will be entertaining to most and a thorn in the side to many.  I guess that would be a simple way of calculating success.  If you like what you read, give me a "shout out" and please drop a comment after the posts you find interesting.  I am highly unlikely to divulge much about myself personally and prefer the anonymity of blogging.  I plan on discussing a wide array of subjects in the Inland Empire.  And while I will try to present news and facts and offer up my opinions on the topics of the day, I am sure there will be a healthy dose of gossip and rumor as well.

We all have our pet peeves and I am no different.  I have my annoyances and areas of concern.  I hope that others will chime in and make this an interactive experience so that "audience participation" will help shape the direction of this new venture.

If you want to chat about something in particular, make a comment and I will consider starting a new post to discuss the topic.

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