Another article in a series revealing the true nature of Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar.
Why did Pete Aguilar choose to run as a Democrat?
Pete Aguilar has many questionable, unscrupulous, and disreputable relationships with corrupt Republicans that other Progressive Democrats and I find very unsettling.
These are just a few of Pete’s Conservative Pals that I have recovered:
Jerry Lewis
Republican politics in the Inland Empire begins and ends with one man, Jerry Lewis. Mr. Lewis’s corruption is well known, but since he hails from a safe district that brings in the pork (earmarks), he was never seriously challenged. Pete Aguilar knew Jerry Lewis through Larry Sharp the former CEO of Arrowhead Credit Union.
During the Lobbyist Copeland Lowery scandal, Redlands Councilman Mr. Aguilar defended the lobbyist by giving the rational that public officials have no relationships with other public officials. How can they not? They sit on many boards and commissions together.
Mr. Lowery helped steer pork into the district through his man in Congress Mr. Lewis who sat on the Appropriations Committee. The scandal was uncovered indirectly because the FBI was investigating Rep. Duke Cunningham for corruption.
This loyalty was rewarded when Rep. Jerry Lewis endorsed Pete Aguilar in his race for city council.
Larry Sharp
Many scandals occurred during the tenure of Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Sharp. Shady accounting practices, lack of internal controls, and a PAC gone wild with power. This occurred during the housing boom, so only a few were aware and even cared about the scandals to boot anyone out. After the bust, Mr. Sharp is now at Cal State San Bernardino and Mr. Aguilar is running for Congress. They have left Arrowhead Credit Union still in conservatorship of the federal government and the Inland Empire with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. How convenient….
I heard that the DCCC just added Aguilar to the Red to Blue program. :( It is so frustrating that the party would back this guy before we have even had our primary. I am tired of leadership picking the least progressive candidate just because they think they will win.
ReplyDeleteThe DCCC is just concerned with winning. This was the same strategy that was employed during the 2006 and 2008 election cylces. We see the results when we try to pass Progressive legislation, and the Blue Dogs start to balk. Congressional Majorities are meant to be used, not preserved.
ReplyDelete