Fontana City Councilwoman Acquanetta Warren is the new Inland Regional Vice-Chair of the California Republican party. Warren was tapped by CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim to fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Ed Laning. The appointment was ratified unanimously by the 
full Board of Directors, which met Monday in San Diego.
Warren, who is also 2nd Vice Chair of the San Bernardino County GOP, received key support from County Chairman Bill Postmus, Senator Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga, former Sen. Jim Brulte, Assemblyman Bill Emmerson of Redlands, and past CRP Chair Shawn Steel. Also seeking the appointment was Thaddeus Taylor of Bishop, past chairman of the Inyo County Republican Party.
Keeping a representative of the state’s largest and fourth most populous county in the Inland seat was important to the leadership team of Postmus and his 1st Vice Chair, Paul Biane. The pair also serves as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the County Board of Supervisors. Their fundraising and party-building strategy relies heavily on local elected officials filling out the ranks of party leadership. Warren said the county’s strategy of enlisting local electeds in Party leadership is working but needs to be expanded throughout the county and the state. "We need to reach out more to the local officials," she said. "Somewhere between local government and the Party there is this void. I would like to help bridge that gap so that the strong values and ethics of our Party can be displayed locally."
As a fellow county GOP officer and chief of staff to Supervisor Postmus, I’ve found Acquanetta to be an excellent communicator and fundraiser with strong ties to her fellow African-American community leaders. Considered a rising star in San Bernardino County politics, Warren said she likely will run for the seat to which she has been appointed when its term expires in the fall of 2007. Warren was appointed to the Fontana City Council in 2002 and was elected in 2004. Her "day job" is serving as Operations Manager in the Public Works Department of the City of Upland.