S.B. City Attorney Jimmy Penman and others failed to report or underreported gift memberships at the Arrowhead Country Club.

Five other San Bernardino officials are named in a complaint filed by the FPPC:  former Mayor Judith Valles, former Police Chief Garrett Zimmon, then-City Manager Fred Wilson, former Water Department Director Bernard Kersey and former Economic Development Director Gary Van Osdel.

The complainant also named Arturo Delgado, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School, District and former San Bernardino Convention and Visitors Bureau chief Steve Henthorn.

Reps. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, and Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, rounded out the list, according to the S.B. Sun. However, in their defense, There is more to this story: Rep. Jerry Lewis‘ spokesperson reports that Lewis declined an offer to join the country club. Rep. Baca says he is a paying member of the country club.  So what gives with the Sun reporting this as a major news item.  Seems the Sun doesn’t know themselves so why connect their names to this story without first getting the facts straight

Delgado‘s spokeswoman  said he is not a country-club member. Zimmon has said he had no comment other than to say he had “nothing to do” with the club. Penman said that because he did not play golf and always paid for meals at the country club’s dining room, he does not think the value of his guest membership exceeded legal limits.

Temptation will always be there when our laws allow individuals, businesses and corporations to corrupt our political system.  It’s time for Sacramento draft new legislation that chew up solicitation offerors.  This need to be a felony. It’s time to incorporate FPPC violations into the Penal Code. Without which, things are not going to change much.

According to the S.B. Sun this morning, There was no word from the FPPC on Tuesday if any of the other officials named in the complaint are expected to face penalties. None of the others named in the complaint said they faced any punishments.

Incoming search terms:

• arrowhead country club san bernardino membership prices