County Corruption Suspect Mark Kirk Resigns County Post

Mark Kirk, one of four men implicated in what has been described as one of the largest corruption scandals in San Bernardino County history, has resigned as director of government relations.

Kirk submitted his resignation Monday, said David Wert, county spokesman.

Kirk, 36, also had been chief of staff to San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt. He and four other defendants - former County Supervisor Paul Biane, former chief of staff to Neil Derry Jim Erwin and general partner with Colonies Partners, L.P. Jeff Burum – were charged by the California Attorney General’s office with nine counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, misappropriation of public funds, improper influence and conflict of interest.

The charges stem from a $102 million settlement approved by the county's Board of Supervisors in 2006 with the developer, Colonies Crossroads Inc., over flood control improvements on 434 acres of land in Upland.

The Attorney General’s office said Kirk accepted a bribe in exchange for securing a yes vote from a supervisor on a multi-million dollar settlement that started with a dispute over a water basin next to a shopping center.