County assessor’s office raided

Investigators with search warrants raided the offices of San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus on Thursday night, carrying off an undisclosed number of computers and files.

The district attorney’s office, which conducted the raid, would not disclose its nature Friday.

“The search warrants were served and the investigation is ongoing,� spokeswoman Susan Mickey said. “We will provide more information when we are able.�

Postmus issued a statement saying his office was cooperating fully.

“This inquiry will not interfere with our day-to-day public service, and we are looking forward to a swift resolution,� he said. “Taxpayers should know that my office stands ready to assist them and all service will continue uninterrupted.�

The former San Bernardino County supervisor has a history of controversy. He was named last year in a state audit of the Victorville-based California Charter Academy, whose founder, Charles Cox, was indicted on charges of grand theft and misappropriation of public school funds.

Postmus accepted $25,450 in political contributions from Cox while running for supervisor. At the same time, Postmus was serving on two of the charter school’s boards. He testified about the academy before a grand jury last year.

Postmus, who was elected assessor in 2006, raised eyebrows in 2005 when he and fellow Supervisor Paul Biane negotiated a settlement between the county and Colonies Partners, a Rancho Cucamonga developer.

County lawyers deemed the proposed $77-million settlement excessive, and it was not adopted. Both men had received campaign contributions from the developer or its partners.

A confidential memo outlining the deal was leaked to several newspapers, leading to an investigation by the district attorney’s public integrity unit. The leaker was not found, but all five supervisors vowed to take lie-detector tests to help prove it wasn’t them.

In his 2006 bid for assessor, Postmus outspent his opponent, Donald Williamson, 10 to 1 but just barely won.

During the campaign, he sent out fliers detailing a sexual harassment claim against Williamson that the county had settled. The mailings included copies of checks the county paid to the women involved.

County spokesman David Wert said all of those issues had been raised in the past.

“And in the end they were all completely vetted in public and no wrongdoing was found,� he added.

Biane, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said he could not comment on Postmus.

“All of us in county government and in the public should avoid speculation and allow the investigative process to run its course,� Biane said. “The county can assure the public that there is no indication either the subject of the investigation or the investigation itself involves or will have an impact upon the efficient operation of the assessor’s functions.�

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