San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors candidate Neil Derry's hypocrisy in his effort to oust popular incumbent Supervisor Dennis Hansberger has entered into the realm of the absurd. A recent mass mailing from the supervisorial hopeful (described here) blasts alleged ethical lapses in both the supervisor Derry wishes to replace as well as current news surrounding the Office of the County Assessor.

In issuing the campaign mailer referenced above, Neil Derry becomes the first  - and so far, only - candidate for the Third District to begin a negative mail campaign against an opponent.

What makes Neil Derry's attack piece unique is the rank hypocrisy he displays in it by highlighting the recent news surrounding County Assessor Postmus' office.

Although it is premature to speculate on the nature of the county district attorney's office inquiry into the assessor's office, it should not go unnoticed that Dennis Hansberger was the lone supervisor to NOT endorse Bill Postmus' candidacy for assessor back in 2006.

Neil Derry has ties to Bill Postmus and his political machine. Neil Derry's first campaign consultant was MPR Strategies - a political consulting firm that area media have identified as being closely associated with Assessor Postmus. A top advisor to Derry's campaign is Jim Erwin who served as a chief lieutenant to the current occupant in the Assessor's Office. Erwin's background includes that of being a principal functionary in the politically powerful county deputy sheriff's union - where Erwin showered Postmus with campaign funds.

Neil Derry's biggest campaign donor for his supervisorial campaign is the Sheriff's Employee's Benefit Association (SEBA), the union representing county law enforcement personnel. Its head is controversial union boss Bill Abernathie.

Abernathie's name has surfaced on several internet weblogs in recent days due to his past. In 1988, Derry's most significant donor was involved in a sex scandal in which he was arrested and tried for sexual battery and forcible rape. Abernathie would be acquitted on all charges yet the lurid details of the incident remain as archived news.

Neil Derry promises ethics reform, but issues the first (and misleading) negative hit piece on his opponent. He blasts his opponent on alleged ethical lapses, but associates himself with political operatives that may be at the heart of a criminal inquiry.