Just a quick break from the excellent coverage of the California State Budget Debate of 2007:
News on a very competitive race forming in San Bernardino County’s Third Supervisorial District. The district, which includes the cities of Redlands, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, plus many rural and suburban communities. The longtime incumbent is controversial local political figure Dennis Hansberger, who has held the seat for the past twelve years (and did a stint on the board from 1972-86). Hansberger is being challenges by San Bernardino City Councilmember Neil Derry, who has vast public policy experience as an elected official and a top district staff member to then-Assemblymember Fred Aguiar of San Bernardino County.
No one else is expressing an interest to stand for this seat, meaning the race could be decided in the June 2008 primary.
While the candidates are bringing their credentials to the electoral battlefield, the talent each team has lined up for strategy is very impressive for a local race in San Bernardino County.
The incumbent has enlisted the Los Angeles County-based firm of Adler Public Affairs, a consultancy that specializes in municipal and county contests, notably in Southern California. According to the company’s website, Adler Public Affairs also represents oil interests, developers, and governmental agencies. Among successful candidates Adler has represented include Democratic Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CD 39), Democratic Assemblymember Betty Karnette and Democratic US Senator Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio.
Not to be outdone, Neil Derry has signed the outstanding talents of Steve Presson as lead consultant, with Mike Richman serving as associate consultant. Recently, Richman was awarded an honor from the National American Association of Political Consultants for his tremendous work on the Michelle Steel for Board of Equalization race in 2006, while Sacramento-based Presson is a veteran of many tough races in San Bernardino County, having guided candidate Bill Postmus to an upset victory in a 2000 supervisorial race and then-Supervisor Postmus’ lopsided 2006 win for county assessor. Presson has years of experience in San Bernardino County.
Neil Derry is off to an amazing start at raising the necessary funds for this race, having nearly $100,000 in available campaign funds since announcing his candidacy just this past May. Supervisor Hansberger – as expected for a 35-year political fixture who has been aggressively raising money for his 2008 campaign since 2005 – reported raising more than his challenger, showing nearly $500,000 cash-on-hand. View the reports here.
With Derry off to a fast start garnering impressive endorsements (law enforcement associations) and attracting new campaign donors, and Hansberger sitting on a warchest built from his several years of service as an elected politician, a race that almost certainly will determine the future of San Bernardino county is brewing in the Third Supervisorial District.