Candidate Forum Moves Ahead Minus Ramos

The Redlands Tea Party Patriots are gearing up for Thursday night’s candidate forum, which will proceed without San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman James Ramos.

The forum will feature candidates for San Bernardino County’s third district supervisor seat. District Three Supervisor Neil Derry, former mayor of Twentynine Palms James R. Bagley, Kenneth T. Hunter, of Redlands, and Robert Wilson, of Colton, had confirmed their participation.

Ramos, who is also a trustee with the San Bernardino Community College Board, had confirmed, but then backed out when his staff determined there was a scheduling conflict.

Ramos was committed to attending a fundraiser the same night, according to his staff.

Individual Tea Party members have expressed their frustrations. The forum will be the first of the season. Ramos’ staff says he would be interested in attending future forums. Currently no other organization has announced its intention to host a forum.

“As residents of San Bernardino County we were looking forward to learning about his views on the future of our county,” Annie Rumary, a Tea Party committee member, said shortly after Ramos pulled out of the event. “This forum would have given Mr. Ramos the opportunity to defend any accusations levied against him.”

The forum is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Mill Creek Cattle Co., 1874 Mentone Blvd., Mentone.