Friday, June 2015 – 10:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 15, 2018 – 07:40 p.m.
A couple June 5 election losses in San Bernardino County surprised political onlookers, who expected different results.
Obviously, the first is the ouster of 16-year District Attorney Mike Ramos. Voters, with their eyes now opened to Ramos’ years of countless shenanigans and abuses of power, decided it was time for a change and elected Jason Anderson.
The other loss is that of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector Oscar Valdez.
Valdez had the deck stacked against him out of the gate, thanks to his initial campaign consultant.
It seems Valdez was hoodwinked by his predecessor, Dick Larsen, into using O.C.-based David Ellis as his advisor.
It was a move that cost him the election.
Ellis let Valdez’s challenger, Redlands-based CPA Enson Mason, buy up most of the slate voter guides, those cards that show up in the mailbox recommending whom to vote for.
In down ballot contests, such as Auditor-Controller, it’s a game changer. Add in a traditionally-low Latino voter primary election turnout, and Valdez lost.
A couple months ago, Valdez fired Ellis and hired Sacramento-based Chris Jones. But the damage was already done.
It also didn’t help Valdez’s cause when he used Larsen, who also endorsed Ramos, in an automated phone dialer call to voters.
Wanna jinx a campaign! Just use ‘Dick’ Larsen!
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