-----Original Message-----
From: Wert, David (CAO) [mailto:dwert@cao.sbcounty.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 4:43 PM
To: Wert, David (CAO)Subject: Statement of San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane on the Release of the Affidavit for Search Warrant
Statement of San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane on the Release of the Affidavit for Search Warrant July 2, 2008

Contact: Chairman Paul Biane, (909) 387-4833

With today's release of the Affidavit for Search Warrant, it became publicly known that it was action by my office on behalf of the Board of Supervisors that sparked the investigation that led to the charges announced Monday against Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman.

Until now I have not discussed this publicly out of concern for interfering with the grand jury process and concurrent criminal investigation. However, now that the grand jury has issued its report and the courts have ordered the public release of this information, it is important that I provide some background on how this situation developed.

After the Assessor took office, there were indications that political activities were being conducted within the Assessor's office.Specifically, County staff members were receiving unsolicited political e-mails from full-time members of the Assessor's staff during regular business hours. At the time, it was widely believed and discussed that Assessor consultant Mike Richman was working on the campaigns of Supervisor-elect Neil Derry, former Assembly candidate Bob Smith, and Assembly nominee Curt Hagman.

This was most concerning because then-Supervisor Postmus and I had both had County Counsel train our offices on ethical standards, specifically on the prohibition against the use of county resources for political activities. After Mr. Postmus became Assessor, County Counsel and I both admonished him on what we believed was happening in his office. Despite this, the activity continued.

Aware of the fact that political use of County resources may constitute a crime, I directed County staff to inspect County e-mails being sent and received by Mike Richman. E-mails of a political nature were discovered during the course of this effort. It was clear to me that I had a responsibility to refer the evidence to the appropriate law enforcement agency, so with the assistance of County Counsel, on August8, 2007 we presented the e-mails to the San Bernardino County District Attorney, Public Integrity Unit.

I supported the District Attorney's efforts to keep the Affidavit for Search Warrant confidential for as long as the District Attorney believed its release might compromise the ongoing investigation.However, now that the courts have caused its public release, I believe there is an important message contained in the affidavit.

The fact that my office, upon receiving evidence that improper activities were occurring within in the County, gathered and presented evidence to the District Attorney, is proof that a culture of corruption no longer exists in San Bernardino County.

Individuals will sometimes behave inappropriately. However, the true test of an ethical organization is the manner in which such transgressions are addressed.

The County of San Bernardino has now passed this test.