ENERGY & EXCITEMENT IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA LAST NIGHT

The event sponsored by the Inland Valley Democratic and Fontana Democratic Clubs at the VFW Hall was an exciting event and night. I am seeing enthusiasm, new faces and focus that is absolutely wonderful (best word I could come up with for now); I heard a lot of great speeches; Al Palazzo and Dennis Drager are really running an exciting campaign; they are really talking issues and specifics about the assessor's office that I believe should be maybe picked up on public TV [FYI: I have endorsed Al]; I shared some of my thoughts and got a great reception, met some new democrats and renewed friendships. I felt pumped up leaving. Great event!

SIGNS ANYONE?????

I am on the road and am getting out signs and walking info--anyone interested, drop me an email note at rdconaway@gmail.com.

Good Day on the Campaign Trail....

This morning I was honored to speak before a group of retired Teamsters. It was a great opportunity to hear their concerns and many members' stated support of my run for DA. Coming out of the meeting at around 11:30 am, I picked up the Sun and saw a supportive letter to the editor and another front page recognition of the problems Ramos is facing (when Postmus argued at his arraignment that he could not be represented by the public defender's office due the affair one of the key public defenders had with Ramos and Postmus' criticism of that relationship). Upon return to my office I opened a letter and saw a nice endorsement from Board of Directors of the Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Good day on the campaign trail.

FRANK GUZMAN & THE DA's OFFICE RACE

Frank Guzman is one of Mike Ramo's challengers. Interesting guy. While a capable criminal defense trial attorney, he changes political parties from the last time he ran for District Attorney (and lost to Ramos). Frank Guzman went from registered Democrat some 7 years ago to registered Republican and got the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly, the most conservative group within the Republican Party (after he could not get the endorsement of organized labor and came in third in the race behind Ramos and Stout). When Frank Guzman talked to me a couple of years ago when we were co-counseling on a case (Guzman brought me in, by the way for my expertise in a federal RICO case), the subject of running again was brought up by me--Guzman told me that the DDA's he had been up against (major cases with three strike allegations) were incompetent and that he was done with running for DA. Now he wants to run and lead them? When I sat down and was interviewed by the Sun's editorial board last week, Guzman told them only minutes before I sat down to be interviewed, that he had nothing but the highest respect for the Deputy District Attorneys. It should be interesting (if he gets that far). I have been on record as having the highest respect for the professional staff--my complaints have been solely registered with Mike Ramos' leadership (or lack thereof).

BARB STANTON's SAVE OUR COUNTY MEETING--Cool!!

Saturday night I had an opportunity to say a few words at Barb Stanton's Save Our County meeting. It was a great time to meet, network, meet old friends. I enjoy meeting fellow second amendment advocates that actually know the language and status of pending legislation, enjoy meeting conservatives that are worried about the integrity of County Government leadership and enjoy seeing fellow Americans speak their mind/beliefs about a wide variety of issues. That I agree with some or none of what is said is not the point. Something very special is happening at these SOC meeting. Democracy has a pulse!! Thank you Barbara!!

Ramos and Malachi, Chapter 3, Verse 5

Every once in a while my Christian bros send me a note which reminds me what counts to God; in one of the versions of the Old Testament (New International Version) Malachi 3:5 is presented as saying:"So I will come near to you for judgment; I will be quick to testify against ...false swearers (Postmus, et al if the allegations all prove to be true--and Ramos if alleged harassment incidents turn out to be true and contrary to Ramos' statements made to the investigators), adulterers (which Ramos fesses up to by his own admission by saying it was all consensual) and those who defraud laborers of their wages (the County cutting Court Clerk wages with mandatory furlough days while letting every other county worker, with the lights and air conditioner running at the Court Houses, continue to work and get full pay). A lot to think about. Its a mess.

MIKE RAMOS: THE DECEIVER NOW WANTS TO LOOK LIKE A DEMOCRAT & FALSIFY HIS LIST OF ENDORSERS??

While Mike Ramos, a recent conservative republican ally of Bill Postmus, scrambled with his Orange County henchman to buy up slate cards with the name "democrat" or "democratic" to list his name in to try and deceive Democratic Voters (he's bought at least 4 of them!!), Bob Conaway got the unanimous endorsement of the Democratic Party in San Bernardino County last night at the meeting of the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee, to add to his endorsements by the Inland Empire Stonewall Democratic Club, the Adelanto Victorville Democratic Club and the Victor Valley Democratic Club. Mike Ramos shows what he made of by buying up such campaign slates in a calculated attempt to deceive voters and lie about his affiliations. Adding to the deception is the announcement that Congressman Joe Baca, has endorsed a republican, an act which if true, is in violation of party rules. Ramos will stop at nothing to deceive his way into re-election. You can bet he will try and now run a mailer that says he has the support of Joe Baca, Sr. to further the deception! Whew--when will it stop?? With your vote on June 8th! Send the lying DA home.

BOB CONAWAY ASKS IF MIKE RAMOS HAS INVESTIGATED IF CONVICTED ICE OFFICIAL PAID STATE TAXES ON HIS $950,000 INCOME & HOW SAN MANUALS WERE INVOLVED??

In today's Sun Newspaper, another shocking revelation about ongoing corruption in San Bernardino County and the people close to it. The San Manual Tribe (Mike Ramo's supporters) was the location of a lawyer (Rancho Cucamonga resident Constantine Kallas) who took a bribe [abusing his authority and position with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] to help an illegal alien obtain residency and get a deportation order quashed. From 2000 to his arrest in 2008, Kallas and his wife deposited $950,000 into their accounts from the illegal operation. Several questions for Mike Ramos......(1) did the San Manual Tribe (one of Mike Ramo's supporters) knowingly allow Kallas to set up an illegal immigration business and allow him to take money for his illegal enterprise?? (2) why haven't you shadowed the federal case with a state tax evasion investigation to make sure Kallas paid his State income tax? Illegal activity involving another Ramos ally?? (3) did the tribe derive any economic benefit from the illegal enterprise in form of fees and/or payments and since that is not gambling related income, did they pay taxes on it?? Anyone remember the local Chevy dealership owner that Mike Ramos called a close friend getting convicted of illegally funneling his money through employees that did not have the proverbial pot to @#$* in (to avoid the campaign finance limits) to pass money onto Anthony Adams (who lied to the voters about promising to oppose tax increases and said he would keep the money--hmm, doesn't that become taxable income since it was over the allowable campaign limits and becomes "personal income", Mike)??

BOB CONAWAY ASKS WHERE's RAMOS IN THIS COLONIES MESS??

In my blog post on March 24, 2010, I laid out what incumbent Mike Ramos of the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office could be doing to get the records on the Colonies negotiations so we could get to the truth of what was going on. Its a matter of record (its a bit of a legal memorandum--it's like I am doing the job for him and not getting paid??). So does Ramos do anything to embarrass his buddies?? Nah!! Instead in today's Sun Newspaper we get word of the California Attorney General sending the letter in follow-up to get the records after how many years?? Wow, when will this stop?? I have a clue--elect BOB CONAWAY as your next District Attorney on June 8, 2010!!

BOB CONAWAY GETS the ENDORSEMENT of RETIRED JUDGE STANLEY HODGE in SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACE!!!

I was honored to receive the endorsement of Judge Stan Hodge (Ret.) who not only had a distinguished career on the bench here in San Bernardino (and before that a thriving private practice), is now again practicing law, handling tough cases often involving corrupt acts by public officials and or agencies. Stan has seen the injustice of some of our institutions and practices and again, his endorsing me over an incumbent DA and a seasoned criminal trial attorney, is a great honor. Thank you STAN!!

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT -- CALIFORNIA's MOVE-OVER LAW

NO JOKE!!! New Traffic Law 2010 [the type of public information notices a District Attorney's Office Could Build its image up with]

New Law: If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you have to change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph. Every state except New York , Hawaii and Maryland and D.C. has this law. In California , the "Move-over" law became operative on January 1, 2010. http://www.moveoveramerica.com/ . It is a fairly new law that states if any emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, if you are able, you are to move into the far lane. (see details at the following web address). http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp

Why doesn’t the DA’s office have a Prop 215 advocacy unit instead??

My thoughts after getting a tad bit more informed on the medical marijuana raids and my thoughts on what I think might be constructive step (and I am still reading up):
(1) It is a remarkable waste of resources when we don’t have money to fund our special units targeting violent crime in part because we spend money going after medical marijuana facilities and their customers. Pursuing medical marijuana patients and the co-ops that responsibly dispense the prescribed drug is poor budget management;
(2) The push to have better conviction rates may be a motive --if that is the only reason for targeting marijuana using patients, there is something very wrong--the DA's office has had Prop 215 on the books since 1996 and Ramo's steps seem fixated on interfering with the rights created under the law;
(3) The push to show to the conservative base which does vote in these mid-year elections (while some med marijuana advocates don’t) that Ramos is tough-on-crime may be a factor; real change happens at the ballot box and politicizing prosecutorial policy is part of the reason Ramos should go;
(4) Oh yeah--the entire notion of ignoring State Law that creates a patient's right to use medically prescribed marijuana (which through Prop215 is a state constitutional right) to create a justification to hold in custody a person under a conflicting local law or policy, is offensive to the rule of law, not in furtherance of it.

My thoughts—why doesn’t the DA’s office have a Prop 215 advocacy unit (and or a citizen’s advisory counsel) looking into ways to educate the public on the law and protect patient rights against efforts to chill the exercise of State Constitutional rights??

POT CLINICS & THE COLONIES & MIKE RAMOS

In today's news we have a picture of the twisted priorities in this County. First with the DA's office already being over budget, they are pushing the busting of medical marijuana clinics despite Californians having the right to use marijuana for appropriate (physician prescribed) medical reasons. This budgetary arrogance and lack of accountability should not be a surprise for a DA that has cost $140,000 in investigation costs due to his moral indiscretions with a woman on his staff (so far) . Secondly, in the article in the Sun on the 12th of April (on the purchase of the $6.4 million office building from a partnership the Colonies was a part of), the DA's office admits it was looking for more room (but was denied the proverbial room at the inn)--good thing for the County--we would have had a DA's office budget that overran a year earlier. The most incredible thing of all is that that WHEN the DA's office was denied the space it claimed it so desperately needed and the building was bought from the same principal that cost the County $102 million just a short time before, NO INVESTIGATION WAS DONE!! This DA by making the decisions and delaying the action on the Colonies has created a permissive environment of abuse and or waste. Such leadership we cannot afford!

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROSECUTION(S)?

At a recent meeting in Apple Valley, a well-heeled investor stated (after a few too many drinks) that Joe Gomez got what he deserved for not backing the maglift train program (like former Mayor Lawrence Dale did) and now that Joe was being pushed out, the money should be coming in on the train project (in fact a meeting was supposed to take place on Thursday??)--whether true or not, the very fact Barstow Mayor Gomez (who is the first democrat to win that seat in some time)was the subject of a conversation in an Apple Valley meeting tells us the slippery slope the media and political figures involved have put us on; because of the danger of charges involving public officials or public figures being potentially politically motivated (and the taint that places on the hopefully still non-partisan prosecutor's office), an extra effort needs to be made to scrutinize the filings by the DA's office, to make sure we are accusing and trying public figures on verifiable facts (vs staged events and or witnesses).

RAMOS SIGNS CONTRACT FOR COLLECTIONS WITH COMPANY ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL CONDUCT

National Corrective Group, Inc. (NCG) is now the name of the company operating the ACCS "district attorney bad check restitution program" collection business. ACCS contracts with local prosecuting attorneys’ offices to operate Bad Check Restitution Programs in 140 counties throughout the nation.

Mike Ramos signed a contract with on October 8, 2004, despite a complaint that stated (Case No. 01-21151 PVT) the district attorneys signing contracts with ACCS "failed to provide check writers an opportunity to be heard regarding the imposition of any fine, fee or charge regarding a dishonored check, by having ACCS demand and collect unlawful check fees and by delegating to ACCS, a private collection agency with a financial stake in the outcome, the unreviewable authority to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed" Original Complaint at p. 14, lines 16-21 and the added problem of "ACCS's employees [ ] impersonating California County District Attorneys"--Original Complaint at p. 14, lines 14-15.

Public Citizen [www.citizen.org/litigation/forms/cases/] who is serving as co-counsel in a California-wide class action (which includes San Bernardino County) states at their web site that the current case challenges arrangements made between local prosecutors to in effect "rent" their name and authority to private debt collectors, who use false threats of prosecution to coerce people who have written bad checks to pay various fees. The fees are then split between the debt collectors and the prosecutors.

Once ACCS obtains a contract, contends Public Citizen, it (ACCS) advertises to merchants and other debt collectors for unpaid checks. When the checks are referred to ACCS, it then sends collection letters to the check writers that warn that they have been accused of a crime, and that to avoid prosecution, they have “the option” to enroll in an expensive mandatory “misdemeanor diversion program,” pay the check and pay additional fees assessed by ACCS.

In a class action lawsuits filed in California [Elena Del Campo v. ACCS, Civ. No. 01-21151 JW (Northern District of California-San Jose)], consumers are challenging ACCS’s collection practices. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that the letters are deceptive and misleading for many reasons including:

• The letters do not disclose that they are sent by a private company, rather than the prosecuting attorney’s office.

• ACCS in almost all cases has received the dishonored check directly from a merchant, or another collection agency. In most cases, the merchant or collection agency has referred the check to ACCS for collection, and has not accused the check writer of a crime. In most cases a district attorney has not reviewed the case, or even seen the check.

• In most states the check writer has not committed a crime unless the check writer intended to write a bad check. (The details of what constitutes a bad check crime vary from state to state).

• Most or all of the fees that ACCS charges have no legal basis.

• ACCS fails to provide the consumer warnings on the letters that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires.

• ACCS threatens check writers with prosecution when it does not have the intent or capability of prosecuting a check writer. Also when ACCS sends its letters to individual check writers, it has no idea whether a prosecutor will decide to prosecute any individual check writer. After ACCS exhausts its collection efforts, it may send the check to the local prosecutor, who will then review the check and any evidence to decide whether to take any action

• THE QUESTIONS WE ALL SHOULD HAVE FOR MIKE RAMOS (aside from potentially creating liability for the County for a violation of thousands of people's civil rights) is (1) Why didn't Ramos investigate the alleged abuses in OUR county by ACCS which were alleged in a US District court action in 2001, three years BEFORE Ramos signed the contract? (2) Why is it that someone OUTSIDE the DA's office is investigating operations in our County that appear to be illegal--AGAIN??
  

RAMO's PARANOIA -2nd edition

RAMOS stated in a campaign statement in the Sun Newspaper on the 31st of March: " Finally, when I was elected, I made a commitment to the citizens of this county to fight Political Corruption. We created the Public Integrity Unit and are partnered with the Attorney Generals Office in the largest corruption case in the history of this county. I will not be deterred by well funded and well orchestrated personal attacks. The investigation is ongoing and we will not be finished until justice is served." A few comments from Bob:
(1) The public integrity unit has tried one case in its 7 years and lost it--so much for commitment vs show boating;
(2) Partnering with the AG's office was hardly optional--it was get on board or get out of the way (which would have been embarrassing);
(3) Ramos' states he will not be deterred by "well-funded and well orchestrated personal attacks"--he has to be kidding--did he look at my 460 form? I couldn't raise money to campaign if I wanted to with his smoldering personality and intimidation; coordinated? I have not talked with Guzman in a long time and it was on a case I co-counseled with him on in federal court some years ago and at that time, he had no interest in running for any office, ever--the reason he appears to be running today for office is similar to mine--there are issues Mike that need to be discoursed. By the way, are you coming to the debate in Big Bear in May?? Is every time that someone questions your leadership and track record a personal attack? Wow--you'd better take running for Congress out of your career path--its like you have an identifiable button to push, a political glass jaw!

RAMOS SLEEPING AT THE HELM OR COVERING HIS BUDDIES

When news of additional corruption in San Bernardino County breaks almost every day (and the source of the information is from some source OTHER than the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office and Mike Ramos), you have to believe something is wrong with the so-called protector of our rights and safety (Ramos)! Yesterday, we hear the San Bernardino County Health Department, who was criticized by the County Grand jury in 2008-2009, is now being investigated by the DOJ, not Ramos. Now we hear of Uffer's pre-lawsuit claim (Uffer the former CEO of the County fired by the current Board of Supervisors) where in 180 pages he details at least three no-bid contracts and how that happened, ten purchase orders for the marketing of Chino airport awarded without bidding on the grounds there wasn't time totaling more than $800,000, Ovitt's Chief of Staff (Mark Kirk) pushing Uffer to hire two firms employing Ovitt's friend Steve PonTell, the hiring of Friends of Bill Postmus(none of which qualified for the positions they were hired into) and Postmus (then the board chairman), who insisted that his personal attorney act as interim county counsel (like no conflict of interest there--egad, no telling how much confidential data was leaked out for the profit and benefit of bidders, developers and permit applicants). This county leadership team is messed up. Help on June 8 is possible with your vote. Keep Ramos in and be a laughing stock or change to someone who has been hollering about the corruption for years!!!!

"I'm under attack"

Not my words, but the first words out of Ramo's mouth at a recent fundraiser. It shocked at least one of his (former?) supporters who volunteered the information to me when I met him today. The word choice and timing of the words is important folks--first, he is either getting rattled by the electioneering process (what can 2 self funded candidates possibly be doing you'd have to ask) or second, he was manipulating the crowd into opening their wallets for mo dough (like he needs more money). Beyond all that I see another problem. I am deeply troubled about how he appears to view a very typical democratic process (e.g. an election)--Ramos apparently does not view the election process as a contest for leadership and ideas, but as something personal--e.g. an "attack"--maybe former County District Attorney Stout was justified in his view of Ramos being just the kind of guy that would retaliate against any political opponent. I hope someone is watching this guy and will protect my first amendment rights in the campaign process. I truly hope the democratic process has not died in San Bernardino County. Bob