Aug 06

County Superintendent Candidate Alex Vara Speaks August 14

See below for more information.

Dec 13

Democrats: Do Not Support Benito Barrios

San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club Official Do-Not-Support Position

The San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club UNANIMOUSLY opposes Benito Barrios for City Council, Ward 2. Do-Not-Support declarations have been rare in our club’s history. However, Barrios’ record is so disturbing, so unethical, and so incompatible with Democratic values that we feel compelled to advise fellow Democrats.

Abuse of Power: As a councilman, Barrios was caught by the media calling the police chief in the middle of the night seeking special treatment after being stopped for driving on a suspended license, while he was actively a fugitive from the law. He has been a fugitive twice. This is not leadership; it’s entitlement.”

Dangerous Judgment: Barrios attempted to sell guns from the dais during a council meeting in a city struggling with some of California’s worst gun-violence rates. On July 20, this year, he posted to his public social media account a video claiming that Satanists inside and outside the United States government had built mind-control devices capable of implanting thoughts and driving people to suicide. The post remained on his page for fifteen days. The archived Facebook post is available at archive.ph/2pD4j. A councilman votes on police staffing, a $329.5 million city budget, and partnerships with mental health services. This is not a person who should be making those decisions.

Pro-Trump Actions and Endorsing Trump:Barrios signed a pro-Trump letter praising Donald Trump and inviting his federal law enforcement into San Bernardino despite Trump conditioning it on extra ICE and immigration enforcement, even as Trump attacked immigrants, destroyed unions, arrested union leaders, and targeted working families. The San Bernardino County Young Democrats and immigrant-rights groups condemned the letter and him at the time. We condemn Benito Barrios now. Benito Barrios also outright endorsed Donald Trump for President in 2016.

Toxic MAGA Alliances: He is a close ally of disgraced MAGA mayor John Valdivia, who was censured and embroiled in corruption and sexual harassment scandals. Barrios publicly endorsed him and benefited from that political machine. Dangerous Judgment: Barrios attempted to sell guns from the dais during a council meeting in a city struggling with some of California’s worst gun-violence rates. Rejected by Voters: He is now on his fifth run for office. He lost re-election in his primary with only 29.7% of the vote, failed to qualify a write-in attempt, and failed to qualify for the ballot again when he ran against Jan 6 hero Representative Pete Aguilar. And at a March 18, 2026 council meeting Barrios even frivolously threatened legal action against San Bernardino City’s Democratic Party chapters and a 14 year old child, Andy Fuentes for speaking out against his pro Trump record during public comments. Democrats must ask themselves: Why would any Democratic leader in San Bernardino or beyond support a failed councilman with a pro-Trump record, a history of abusing power, and ties to MAGA corruption within the city? Ward 2 deserves stability, competence, and real Democratic values, not a return to the chaos of Barrios, Valdivia, Elliot and Ibarra. The City of San Bernardino and Ward 2 cannot have our heart broken again in a city that has run out of hearts to give.

We urge all Democrats: DO NOT SUPPORT Benito Barrios for City Council, Ward 2 and join us in actively campaigning against him with time and money. UNANIMOUSLY resolved by the San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club on December 5, 2025.

Sources, References, and Quotes can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bR5xi7Js9iGiQvLcxmLGvo9Htcmjxtfl/view?usp=sharing  (Copy and paste this link into your browser.)

Nov 20

Meeting Calendar and Speakers

Meetings are Fridays at 12:15 PM at Juan Pollo Restaurant, 1258 West 5th Street, San Bernardino, California.

AUG 21 Our speaker is Alex Vara, Candidate for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. From 2016 to 2025, Vara was a member of the Redlands Unified Board of Education. He was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in the vibrant neighborhood of South-Central Los Angeles. He and his wife have been living in Highland for approximately 25 years, and they have been happily married for 34 years. They have three children, Briana, Julian, and Emma. With 30 years of experience in education, he serves as a Middle School principal. “My mission is to provide students with opportunities I never had, empowering them to reach their full potential.”

 

 

AUG 28, Candidate for Rialto City Council Ana Gonzalez speaks. Gonzalez is a mother, educator, nonprofit executive director, volunteer, and community advocate. She attended public schools in Rialto.

“My first priority is to promote equal access and services to all residents. With a 76% Latino population, it’s important to provide bilingual agendas, minutes, and everything else so that the Spanish population can get involved,” said Gonzalez.

“My priorities are infrastructure, housing, health & safety, and small business advocacy.”

She also shared that one of the biggest challenges is Rialto’s unfunded pension plan liabilities—currently a $130 million deficit. “We need a plan to start paying those down. Our city can go bankrupt,” Gonzalez says. “That debt is expected to increase dramatically within the next five years. City council must prioritize making these payments instead of taking on new projects.”

Gonzalez has lived in the city of Rialto for over 27 years. “I see the needs of our residents,” says Gonzalez. “Working for an environmental justice organization, I see the needs of our communities every day and have served to bring people together and find solutions.”

California Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes and Councilman Joe Baca Sr. have endorsed Gonzalez in her run for city council. For more information, please visit voteanagonzalez.com.

SEP 4 & 11: DARK

TBA: City Manager Eric Levitt’s vist has been postponer to a future date to be arranged. Levitt brings more than 20 years of city management experience, having previously served in Alameda, Simi Valley, Janesville, Wisconsin, Sedona, Arizona, and most recently Fullerton, where he developed an economic development plan, improved infrastructure funding, and cut staffing vacancies. Levitt started as San Bernardino City Manager just this month.