Gonzales Now Facing Write-in Opponent
Posted on: Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 03:00 CDT
By George Watson
County Supervisor Josie Gonzales is going to have an opponent in the June 3 election after all.
Vincent Laster, a San Bernardino man who worked on Gonzales' 2004 campaign, is staging a write-in effort in the hopes of defeating his former boss, who he said has lost touch with voters.
"I believe she doesn't represent the working-class people of the 5th District," Laster said.
The 5th District, which encompasses San Bernardino, Fontana, Rialto, Colton and the unincorporated communities of Muscoy and Bloomington, is the most urban area in the county.
Like Gonzales, the blue-collar district is generally considered to be hold Democratic values.
Although supervisors are elected in nonpartisan elections, Laster's take is that Gonzales has forgotten those Democratic values, and he's hoping the belief will resonate with some voters.
Gonzales is known as a hard-working politician who is constituent- friendly, particularly over the past year. She encountered some tough times early in her supervisorial career, leading angry residents of unincorporated communities to try but fail to recall her.
Laster had pulled papers months ago to take on Gonzales. But he withdrew from the race late last winter because his mother-in-law was ill.
"We felt that there was going to be some long-term care, and family was much more important than a campaign," Laster said. "Sadly, she passed on quicker than expected."
Given the opportunity again, Laster felt it was important that Gonzales faced some opposition.
He chided Gonzales for voting in favor of a $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners LP over a controversial development project in Upland.
"Speaking of working-class values, she voted to pay (Assessor) Bill Postmus' assistant six months for doing nothing," Laster said. "That's not working class."
Laster said he was Gonzales' campaign manager in her quest to be supervisor in 2004. He said he was appointed to the post by Leo Briones, Gonzales' campaign consultant.
But Bob Page, Gonzales' chief of staff, has previously and vigorously disputed the claim, although he did not return a call for comment Monday.
Page has acknowledged that Laster worked on the campaign.
Briones said Monday he did not recognize Laster's name.
Laster said he has lived in the area since he was 4. He has 18 years of political campaign experience, he said, including working on the recall of former Supervisor Jerry Eaves. Laster served in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, is married and has a stepchild.
Anyone interested in contacting Laster can e-mail him at vincentlaster@aim.com.
(c) 2008 The Sun, San Bernardino, Calif.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: The Sun, San Bernardino, Calif.
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