Alfred Gonzales, who is one of two challengers who have surfaced against incumbent Fontana First District Councilman Phil Cothran Jr. in this year’s race, said his candidacy came about as a direct result of what he saw as an underhanded move to gerrymander Cothran’s strongest competitor out of the race.
Cothran is the son of Phil Cothran Sr., one of Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren’s firmest and most loyal political supporters. For a dozen years, Warren ruled Fontana with an iron first by virtue of her overpowering electioneering machine. In 2018, she used her political reach to establish young Cothran onto the council. That election was the first by-district council race in the city’s then-66-year history, and Warren’s team pulled out all the stops to ensure Cothran prevailed over three other candidates, including one-time School Board Member Shannon O’Brien.
Brewing for three years thereafter was an anticipated matchup between Cothran and, instead of Shannon O’Brien, her husband, Los Angeles Police Detective Jason O’Brien. With the redistricting of the city following the 2020 Census, however, Warren used her control of the council – including Cothran and two of her other allies – Fourth District Councilman John Roberts and Third District Councilman Peter Garcia – to redraw the city’s district map, carving out a small notch of District 1 and placing it into District 2, where Warren’s only rival on the board, Jesse Sandoval, resides. Continue reading →

U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips last month dismissed a federal lawsuit brought by veterans who served at the former George Air Force and their families who alleged negligence on the part of the government for exposing them to toxic substances when they were serving or living on the now-shuttered military installation.
Judge Phillips disposed of the suit without making a determination as to the validity of the allegations contained within it, ruling the federal government has “sovereign immunity” which puts it beyond the reach of the court with regard to such matters.
Over a thousand people, hundreds of whom no longer live in the Victorville/Adelanto area where the base is located or California, filed an administrative claim against the Department of Defense/Air Force on June 30, 2021 in an effort to force the U.S. Department of Defense and in particular the U.S. Air Force to acknowledge negligence in their stewardship of the now-discarded relic of the Cold War. Continue reading →

Lawrence Henderson, who in his professional capacity as the lead planner in Rancho Cucamonga played a behind-the-scenes role in shaping the city’s present character, a decade after retiring is now seeking to take on a more prominent leadership position by running to fill the gap on the city council that came about with the unanticipated death of Sam Spagnolo in May.
Henderson, along with Floyd Clark, Mary Hannah, Erick Jimenez, Ashley Stickler and Rose Stephens Olmsted, is vying to complete the last two years of the term representing the city’s District 1 to which Spagnolo was elected in 2020.
“I am running for city council to provide active representation for the citizens in District 1, assure fiscal equity for all city areas regardless of specialized funding sources and ensure proper maintenance and development of city parks and trails,” Henderson said. Continue reading →

Andrew Hoder, who is one of three candidates competing against Redlands incumbent Councilwoman Denise Davis in this year’s municipal election, said his familiarity with the community going back a half century and his currency with the issues recently roiling the city make him District 1 voters’ best choice to represent them on the city council.
“I have been a regular attendee at city council meetings for the past ten years,” Hoder said. “This gives me insight into what the council has or hasn’t accomplished in that period of time. I believe my perspective on these various issues can help guide the city in the best direction going forward.”
Hoder said his service as chairman of the Redlands Street Tree Committee is an ideal foundation for the more exacting role of being a decision-maker on the city council. Continue reading →

In three of the county’s municipalities this election season – Hesperia, Highland and Yucca Valley – there will be no council contests at all, as no challengers of the incumbents now serving there emerged.
In two of the county’s cities – Needles and Yucaipa – none of the incumbents due to stand for reelection in November are vying in the council elections.
In seven of the county’s municipalities – Apple Valley, Chino Hills, Colton, Grand Terrace, Redlands, Twentynine Palms and Upland – at least one incumbent will face no opposition this year.
In two cities – Barstow and Chino – an incumbent in one of those cities’ races is not competing.
In Hesperia, District 3 Councilman Cameron Gregg and incumbent District 4 Councilwoman Brigit Benington were given free rides when no one filed to run against them. In Hesperia’s District 2, the current term of Councilman Bill Holland is due to elapse in December. He did not seek reelection, because he could not; as a result of the city’s redistricting in 2021, the borders of District 2 were moved such that he is no longer a District 2 resident. No candidates came forward to run in the election for District 2 and the city council has chosen Allison Lee from among seven applicants to fill the post until 2026. Continue reading →