San Bernardino:  Always an anchor for political intrigue and haberdasheries.

Now let me be clear...I have had my disagreements with City Attorney Jim Penman on a number of issues throughout my five-plus years on the City Council.  I did not endorse him for Mayor in the 2005 election (nor did I endorse now Mayor Morris).  I endorsed Councilman Chas Kelley as I thought he would be a common-sense Mayor who understood that a Mayor has limitations on his power, must respect the role of the City Council, and must understand that private-sector investment, not government dictation, was the true path to economic vitality.

Over the last two years, I have had a good working relationship with Mr. Penman, as I have with Mayor Morris--philosophical disagreements aside.  Since the innauguration of the new Mayor and Council, Jim Penman has bent-over-backwards and made sincere efforts to work with the Mayor and Council on policy matters. 

The City Attorney's office has always made its best effort to advise City policy makers (and I believe this even though I have publicly disagreed with them, starting with my appointment to the Planning Commission in 2000 and an issue that Henry Empeno certainly remembers.)

But this is not the issue.   Jim Penman now faces an opponent, Marianne Milligan, his former assistant.  Milligan is a vivacious individual whom I also like personally, but, she has no roots in our community.  In a City preparing to celebrate her bicentennial, Ms. Milligan has resided in our City for only two years, coming from Costa Mesa where she was Assistant City Attorney.

There is honestly no way for Milligan to comprehend the history or significance of San Bernardino in such a short span of residence.  It is even more disheartening that a few would use her in a attempt to attack Jim.

This has truly become an issue of outsiders becoming involved in local politics.  Costa Mesa vs. San Bernardino, the 949 vs. the 909...and the choice is very clear.