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Former San Bernardino County District Attorney Dennis Stout announced Wednesday that he is considering running for his old job in 2010 — challenging District Attorney Mike Ramos, who defeated him in 2002.
Stout, who served as the county’s top prosecutor for eight years, said he believes political corruption is worse than when he left office and that Ramos spends too much time on politics.
He accused Ramos of inserting himself into the criminal probes of five former assessor’s officials and jeopardizing the cases.
“I believe San Bernardino County is at a crossroads and can continue down this path of corruption or somebody can step in and do something about it,” Stout said. “I believe I’m that person.”
Ramos, who was unopposed when he won a second term in 2006, said he’s happy to run on his record.
“I welcome the opportunity to compare my administration to his,” Ramos said in an interview. “I am extremely proud of all of our accomplishments.”
Ramos said his office was recognized for its gang prevention efforts with his attendance at a White House conference last week and has one of the top prison conviction records.
Only a day earlier, Ramos had released a list of his endorsements and said that he expects a re-election fight because his corruption investigation has “challenged the entrenched establishment.”
In recent months, Ramos has fended off allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with subordinates. He has been accused by two defendants, former Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, of pursuing politically motivated prosecutions.
Ramos said he could not comment on the cases because the investigation is continuing, but he cited the recent decision by the state attorney general to join his office as the prosecution as an indication that his investigators have “very good cases.”
He also expressed confidence that he would be vindicated in a human resources investigation of a sexual harassment claim by a former employee.
Stout faced ethical questions himself while in office. He was accused of meddling in a November 2000 election involving former Supervisor Jerry Eaves, who then was under investigation by his office.
The former district attorney said the allegations against Ramos are far more serious, likening them to the difference between an infraction and a felony.
Stout, who has been retired since he left office, said he will make a decision in four to eight weeks. He said he will spend those weeks gauging what kind of support he could get.
Reach Imran Ghori at 909-368-9558 or ighori@PE.com
Filed under: Media, Military Industrial Complex, Prison Industrial Complex, Religion Industrial Complex, San Bernardino County, SB Assesssor, SB DA, SB Judges, SB Military, SB Sheriff, SB Supervisors | Tagged: Bill Postmus, Dennis Stout, Jerry Eaves, Jim Erwin, Michael Ramos |
Big Bear Observation Post 
Attorney Bob Conaway is running for DA. I have known this attorney for several years and he is a good guy.
Come join us at the Anti-Corruption meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 PM at Denny’s 1180 Alabama and the 10 freeway.
Thank you for posting the PE story on the blog. My only comment is that I think your headline is a little over board. You can’t make a conclusion like that without noting that I was never the target of any investigation. The AG’s office reviewed the “case” submitted by the sheriff’s task force and reached the conclusion that no state laws were broken. Gary Schons, the head of the AG’s Office in San Diego said our Office was never the suject of an AG investigation. The SO investigators involved told me that I was not the target of any investigation. The sheriff and the under sheriff told me personally that I was not the target of any investigation. No charges were ever filed in spite of a years worth of attempts to get people within my office to break the law. The US Attorney’s Office said that I wasn’t the target of any investigation. It all boils down to leaked transcripts of political conversations that were going on all over the county at the time. 16 others were taped by Scott. Why weren’t those transcripts make public? They include some very prominant people. Keep up the good work I enjoy yoyur blog and thank you for the chance to comment. I would welcome the chance to tell my side of the story.