Murrieta: A City That's Just Faking It

By Douglas V. Gibbs

A special Murrieta City Council Meeting commenced on June 24, 2015 at 8:30 am so that the city officials could have a public meeting in order to figure out what kind of procedures they should have to investigate a complaint by a citizen, that is so far unsubstantiated, regarding the conduct of Mayor Harry Ramos.  The allegations range from the ridiculous to the petty.  When a large local land owner, Mr. Domenigoni, alleged that Rick Gibbs and Randon Lane committed extortion, the accusation was laughed off and not taken seriously.  When hometown boy Alan Long rear-ended a bunch of teenagers while in a drunken stupor, the city was quick to go to his defense, and a blood draw was held off for six hours, likely to allow the blood alcohol level to drop enough so that the then Mayor of Murrieta, who is also a first-responder with a fire department in Orange County, may have a chance to drop his blood-alcohol level below the legal limit.  His blood-alcohol remained too high, but nonetheless, the city looked the other way and while the courts play with his case, Long got reelected and nothing was mentioned regarding the Code of Conduct he may have violated.  Harry Ramos comes along, a little wet behind the ears, accused of ridiculous things such as "not being properly prepared," and the Spanish Inquisition seems to have gone into high gear.  Oh, and I might want to point out that Harry is not a favorite son like Long, or a ruling elitist like Rick Gibbs, and he has this tendency to vote against the majority, usually voting against issues that would have the city building high-density housing, or taking property from property owners, all for the sake of "sustainable development" money from the State and federal government.

Of the five council members in Murrieta, Harry is probably the most honest, genuine, and honorable man on the dais.  So, he's a target.

The meeting was a farce.  They said it was called to discuss options regarding unfounded allegations against Mayor Harry Ramos, made by a member of the public at a previous city council meeting, that Ramos publicly violated provisions of the City's Code of Conduct.  City Attorney Leslie Devaney addressed the procedures of the kangaroo court regarding how they were going to create procedures regarding the process of moving forward.

Let's stop here for a moment.  The City of Murrieta created a Code of Conduct, but have no procedure in case it is violated?  Really?  Are we just governing as we go.  Are the Murrieta V.I.P.s in City Hall running the city like a piñata, with blind folds on, hoping that every once in a while they hit the mark?

The goal was to figure out if to move forward with an investigation, and if they choose to investigate, how they may consider conducting the investigative process.

The number of members of the public in the chambers there to stand in support of Mayor Ramos was significant, but so was those seeking to hang him.  I could almost smell the sulfur from the torches and pitchforks.

Before the whole thing began, Bob Kowell took one of his own gavels to Mayor Ramos so that he may use it.  The city's mallet had vanished just prior to the surfacing of the allegations.

Ramos indicated that during the public comments portion of the meeting that had to do with figuring out how to proceed with the witch hunt, he would remain in chambers.  Once the discussion moved to the allegations, he would recuse himself.

The first person from the public to approach the podium (Faye) was so intent on getting her allegations out there that she began to discuss allegations first.  City Attorney Devaney reminded her she had to wait with her comments until the second portion of the public comments session.  The first speaker also was dismayed that we did not salute the flag before the meeting began, as is customary with all city council meetings.

Doug McAllister, one of the leaders of the pack against Mayor Ramos, and a former city council member of 12 years, himself, encouraged that the investigation on Ramos should be conducted by a confidential third party that has no connection to the city.  The allegations investigated, he also indicated, should only be regarding Mr. Ramos's conduct as a city council member.  The confidentiality of the investigation, added McAllister, would protect all parties involved.

It didn't surprise me that Doug McAllister was one of the folks heading the charge against Ramos.  In 2010, during The Colony Debate among the candidates for council, to ensure he showed his absolute anger over the proposed three initiatives that I was, for the most part, alone in supporting (C, D, and E), when it came to the candidates, which would, if passed, limit the compensation for council members, administrative staff (including the City Manager) and impose a term-limit of no more than two consecutive terms, he passed out flyers on every seat in the auditorium slamming the measures and slamming me.  As a result, the audience applauded with glee over every answer to every question  given by each candidate, except mine.  They were silent after my responses, leaving only four persons applauding for me (the people that had come with me).  During that meeting, in relation to what was going on, after I put out League of City numbers to support my backing of the three initiatives, Rick Gibbs popped a cork, as well.

Bob Kowell, one of the authors of those initiatives, was present at the Ramos special meeting, and followed McAllister on the dais.  Kowell called the proceeding a kangaroo court, and suggested that all of the allegations against Mr. Ramos are unfounded.  "Let Ramos finish the term as mayor," Kowell suggested, "which is a ceremonial position."  Mr. Kowell also said that any discussion regarding the investigation should be public.

Kelly Seyarto urged that all allegations must be investigated, something of which Ramos has encouraged.  Seyarto also indicated a proper process must be conducted in a manner that protects all parties.  "Rumors must be proven to be fact, or just rumors."

Howard Omdahl railed against the public nature of the meeting, saying that allegations regarding Mayor Ramos should be investigated in a confidential manner.

Diana Serafin, a candidate in the last election, and supporter of Ramos, pointed out the shortcomings of all of the council members and called what is happening a witch hunt and that the process must stop.

Ernie White, a local activist regarding Agenda 21, and a regular contributor on One America News, also suggested the proceedings are a kangaroo court.  He noted that Domenigoni's allegations were never pursued, and that McAllister seems to think he has control of the city, and his demands are being chased by the city.  The allegations, said White, are "politically driven specifically because of Ramos's votes against high density housing."

Barbara Nugent defended the Code of Conduct, but questioned the lack of procedures being in the document.  How can you have a Code of Conduct, but no procedure to pursue a process regarding investigating a council member if one of them is accused of violating the Code of Conduct?  She also suggested a third party investigator should be used and the procedures ought to be reminiscent of the procedures that were in the former Code of Conduct.

Faye Wons, the woman who was confused in the beginning, railed against suggestions that the allegations were motivated by Ramos's ethnicity (she called him Mexican, he's Puerto Rican).  She also suggested a confidential investigation.

After Faye was finished, no other public commenters were ready regarding procedures, so the city council took over the discussion.  Rick Gibbs, of no relation to yours truly, said that the meeting was not a court, so it couldn't be a kangaroo court (revealing his lack of understanding what the term "kangaroo court" means, or he was trying to steer everyone away from it).  He then added that "the council is responsible to ensure the Code of Conduct is followed and that the members of the council must hold each other accountable."  Gibbs then touted how great he thinks he is, talking about himself for a moment, and then returning to the business at hand, he said that it is possible the allegations are simply erroneous opinion.  He pointed out that the lack of procedural processes must be addressed, and that in all that they are doing, they must be transparent.  He added that asking the City Manager (Rick Dudley), and City Attorney Devaney to be a part of the procedures could be detrimental to their employment, but because of the Brown Act it wasn't like the city council members could just get together and discuss the case.  Gibbs then indicated that "a third party investigator completely unattached to the city must be a part of the process" and that the independent investigation must address only the facts without any recommendations one what do do next.  Leave that to the council.

Randon Lane suggested that the city consider the FPPC investigative process.  City Attorney Leslie Devaney inserted that if there are any FPPC violations they would be addressed separately.  Lane suggested that any findings that violate FPPC must be forwarded to FPPC.  Lane agreed that a process needs to be in place that is internal on how to handle something like the current problem regarding the allegations against Harry Ramos.

Alan Long welcomed the establishment of a process regarding whenever the Code of Conduct is disobeyed.  He questioned, however, chasing allegations not grounded in truth.  Confidential accusations are unfounded claims.

Jonathan Ingram was the last of the council members to speak, and was the only one that spoke in a manner that didn't sound like he was stroking the power of the power players.  He offered questions regarding the evolving process.  He asked about where they were going, and what this would evolve into.  Then, he made an interesting statement that one normally doesn't expect to hear from a politician.  "There needs to be an investigation, but we must be reminded that everyone has a constitutional right to due process."

Due Process.  What a concept.

Ingram indicated that due process needs to be kept in mind as the council determines how to go forward with this.

After Ingram completed what he had to say, Harry Ramos began to speak.  He admitted that the proceedings were very uncomfortable to him.  He said he welcomes the investigation.  He also indicated that the process decided upon must be uniform for all members of the council, and in all future proceedings.  Ramos stated he's not even sure what all of the allegations against him even are.  In the end, however, "public opinion is the true teeth.  The penalties are teeth.  My job is to work with my council.  I am duty bound, if my colleagues were to act illegally, to hold them accountable."  He talked about the irony of the timing of this all, and stated it is not one of our shining moments as a city.  He remembered back to when the Code of Conduct was being adopted, and said that it was he that suggested the city should have a procedure in place where constituents can hold council members accountable to the Code of Conduct, but it was voted down.  "Now, here we are.  My colleagues, regarding the allegations, need to ask 'What evidence do you have?'"

Mayor Ramos then addressed the suggestions that the allegations are being presented for racial reasons.  He said, "Racism has never been something spoke of by me on this dais.  It has been suggested that these allegations are racially driven.  That is troubling.  I don't know what is in people's hearts, so I don't even think about racism.  I took exception to the suggestion that if I can be attacked, then our minority kids are not safe.  I have seen no sign of racism or racial motivation.  There is simply no evidence."

Ramos then addressed the process itself.  "The fairest process is to have an ethics commission.  We must guard against such a commission being stacked by too many members of either side.  I believe that is the most transparent way to address allegations to the public."

City Attorney Devaney asked the city council, regarding how to address anonymous allegations which are potentially unfounded, because it is hearsay that cannot be proven.

Ramos indicated that if we don't have a fair process, council members will not know if their vote on anything may encourage allegations (suggesting, without saying it, that the allegations against him may be retaliation for the way he votes).  "Should we be chasing after every unfounded allegation?"

Randon Lane returned to his microphone, stating that there are three categories they needed to be looking at in this process.  1. FPPC violations, of which would need to be sent to the FPPC for them to be properly addressed.  2. Internal Process, consisting of two sub-parts, those regarding the Code of Conduct, and any H.R. issues that address a fair work environment.  3. The investigation, and in that it would need to be determined if the city needs to go to the FPPC, seek a legal path through the District Attorney, or if to handle it all internally.  Without credible witnesses, this would all be a moot point.  Then, there would be no direction to take.  If the claims are unfounded, and Ramos was to deny all of the allegations, then it ends right there.

It was at that point I needed to depart, due to other scheduled obligations.  I had seen, and heard, all that I needed, however.  The whole meeting revealed three glaring things.  One, the city was ill prepared for such a situation to emerge; two, a number of the people involved in the allegations and on the council enjoyed hearing themselves talk and being a part of the ruling elite than seeking a logical and honest answer to what was going on; and three, the proceeding was just the beginning of what would become a witch hunt, likely driven by retaliation by those that do not like how conservative Ramos is, or that he dares to vote against "sustainable development" issues.

I've heard people like Rick Gibbs talk about the "stack 'em and pack 'em" housing that is being pushed on the City of Murrieta, along with other "sustainable development" issues.  The elitists like Rick Gibbs either agree with the madness, or they are unwilling to stand against it because of all of the money the city stands to lose if they don't.  They refuse to stand up against the higher agencies and governments regarding the extortion that is being perpetrated against cities like Murrieta.  Ramos is the only one willing to stand against the madness, and rebel against the madness, and the thanks he gets for being willing to vote his conscience, and in line with constitutional principles, is to be targeted, and if they succeed, removed from politics altogether.

Is Ramos sometimes unprepared?  Perhaps.  Is he wet behind the ears?  Absolutely.  Is he perfect?  None of us are.  But, this is a witch hunt.  I have no doubt about it based on what I know, and the fact that Doug McAllister is among the ring leaders should throw up red flags for everyone in Southwest Riverside County.

I stand firm in my support of Mayor Ramos.

Do you?

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary