Reprinted from the Hesperia Star

November 08, 2010 12:38 PM
Peter Day
Star Editor

About an hour before the polls closed last Tuesday, the Voglers’ recent repeated personal attacks on Councilmember Thurston “Smitty” Smith finally struck a nerve so deep that the response almost literally shook council chambers.

During the public comment period, Smitty’s wife Margaret Smith took to the podium to share her concerns. All was silent as Smith talked about the pain and anguish she felt as a result of the attacks by Councilwoman Rita Vogler and her husband Al Vogler, the latter sponsoring the large “NO” billboards on Main Street and three mailers.

“Vogler, I just want to publicly tell you how pathetic you, your spouse and your daughter are,” she said. “The lies and manipulation about me, my husband and my deceased son are unfathomable. You attempt to portray yourself as a caring and giving individual where nothing, nothing could be further from the truth. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from the San Bernardino Sun.
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE – Federal and local investigators continue to request stacks of documents from the city as part of ongoing probes into bond sales and financial records.

Requests for information have become so intensive that three full-time workers are dedicated to processing them, said Councilman Ryan McEachron.

“It’s more or less an ongoing investigation and no outcomes at this point have been shared with city staff,” McEachron said. “I’m not sure how much longer this will go or how long it will take them to come out with any kind of a report.”

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched its investigation in August, directing city employees to stop deleting e-mails or throw away paper records, including document drafts and Post-it notes, said city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester.

The SEC has declined to comment on the matter. McEachron says the agency is focused on bond sales that took place between 2005 and 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from the Daily Press.

Possible replacements include Sharon Runner, Steve Knight
November 05, 2010 8:41 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

SACRAMENTO • Sen. George Runner’s winning bid on the state Board of Equalization has set the stage for a local special election this spring to decide who will serve the remaining two years of his legislative term.

Nobody has officially jumped into the race, but likely candidates include former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner — Runner’s wife — and Assemblyman Steve Knight, R-Palmdale.

“My name’s in the hopper, and I want it to be in the hopper, but I also want to support a person who will win this seat and who we can get behind. The discussions are just starting…. but obviously I am the sitting assemblyman in the biggest portion of the 17th Senate district,” Knight said by phone Thursday. “My focus is we need a good, strongleader, we want a leader from the High Desert, and we want to keep it in the Republicans’ hands.” Read the rest of this entry »

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