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10/22/18 – Out of town Special Interest groups have decided to buy Banning’s elections. Their goal is clear: smear popular frontrunners Jerry Westholder and David Ellis and install two faceless, obedient yes-men on the council. Their names : David Happe and Partick Cork Irwin.

Money appears to be no object for “Business Leaders for Ethical Government”, a Political action committee (PAC) funded by Jeff Burum’s Diversified Pacific in conjunction with the Morongo Mission Band of Indians. 

 

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TARGET: THE PEOPLE OF BANNING

The PAC has been funded by Jeff Burum personally with $20,000 , $49,500 came from his company, Diversified Pacific, and $30,000 were contributed by the Morongo Tribe, see above filings.

Why is it so important for these players to control the outcome of Banning’s elections? Simple. With 3 Grand Jury investigations on record, Banning is the most lawless city in California. Period. The players know this and they want to keep it that way ; it enables them to get everything they want, anytime they want it.

With a 6-figure war chest at their disposal, the group has begun an unprecedented, ugly smear campaign against Jerry Westholder and David Ellis, two outspoken candidates who want to break free from the corrupt status quo Banning is so famous for.

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ATTEMPT TO CONFUSE AND SMEAR – WHO BENEFITS?

The Diversified/Morongo smear campaign is coordinated to benefit two dedicated “yes-men”. They are city council candidates David Happe and Patrick Cork Irwin.

District 4’s Happe is a virtually unknown candidate who just moved to Banning a year ago. He did not appear at the candidate forum, likely because he was profoundly unfamiliar with the city’s issues.

The citizens of Banning have yet to see David Happe engage in his campaign. Instead, the Diversified/Morongo funded PAC continues to send out mail pieces in his support, while their candidate remains faceless and hidden in a small District of less than 2,400 voters.

In District 5, the role of Diversified Pacific/Morongo “yes-man” has been assigned to another developer sellout, Patrick “Cork” Irwin. Some people say that his nickname “Cork” is in reference to his drinking habits. Like Happe, Irwin too enjoys the support of the Diversified/Morongo PAC equally.

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2018 ELECTIONS – BANNING’S LAST CHANCE TO AVOID BECOMING “BURUMVILLE”

This election is the last chance for Banning to avoid becoming “Burumville” – a city that will ultimately suffocate in poverty.

Jeff Burum, owner of Diversified Pacific, owns the vast majority of undeveloped land in Banning. Therein lies a great danger for the future of Banning. The company’s focus is on developing low end, stack-and-pack homes.

And along the way, Burum may even line his pockets with subsidies in form of $4 billion in bond proceeds from Proposition 1, the affordable housing initiative. The measure is on the ballot on November 6, and if approved, will make Banning even more of a target of predatory developers who plaster the city with the cheapest of junk possible.

Many people believe that Burum’s projects will likely destroy Banning as we know it, and will lead to subsidized poverty. If Banning wants to avoid becoming “Burumville”, your best bet is to stay away from their bought-and paid-for candidates, Happe and Irwin.

Only Westholder and Ellis have shown to have the awareness to adequately protect Banning’s citizens from the enormous dangers lurking from the sinister, selfish plans of Jeff Burum, Diversified Pacific, and their close ally, the Morongo Indian Tribe.

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DECEPTIVE PATRICK CORK IRWIN MAIL PIECE FALSELY IMPLIES HE IS A COP

In a political mail piece financed by the above mentioned PAC, Patrick Cork Irwin’s photo is shown next to the a badge reading “Banning Police Officer”.

The layout of the piece is reminiscent of a Police ID. The piece is meant to convince voters that Irwin is an expert when it comes to law enforcement, in particular the Banning Police Department.

Nothing, however, could be further from the truth : Irwin never wore a police badge his entire life – he never was a police officer. He was a manager of the Banning Electric Utility.

Irwin has not been endorsed by the Banning Police Officers Association. He has never met with Banning’s Police Chief. He has never been seen at a City council meeting. Irwin has never given an interview to anyone, nor did he show up for the candidate forum held by the Chamber of Commerce last month (watch video of forum for District 5 here).

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DECEPTIVE DAVID HAPPE MAIL PIECE FALSELY SUGGESTS SUPPORT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

In a similar mail piece, financed again by the PAC, individuals dressed like police officers are shown smiling behind a Happe campaign sign. This is meant to give the viewer the impression that Happe is supported by police officers.

Again nothing could be further from the truth. The police officers shown in the picture do not work for Banning PD –  also, their uniform insignia do not match those of Banning PD.

So why would police officers who are clearly not from Banning, care whether or not David Happe gets elected to the Banning City council? They wouldn’t.

As a matter of fact, it appears that the “officers” depicted aren’t officers at all, but paid actors or models. After close examination, the picture has no connection to reality – it is nothing more than make-believe…..

….and so is Happe’s pretense of caring about crime and law enforcement. Like his sidekick Irwin, David Happe has never met with Banning’s Police Chief. Neither does he have the endorsement of the Banning Police Officers Association, nor any other law enforcement organization, for that matter. He is nothing more than a poser.

Happy is a novice to Banning and just moved here a little over a year ago. He did not show up to the candidate forum last month (view video of the forum for District 4) .

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CONCLUSION

Big out-of-town money is funneled into this election by Special Interests. Their plan is to help two synthetic candidates get elected, so the donors can have their way. The names of their candidates are David Happe and Patrick Cork Irwin.

If you care about Banning, and don’t want to end up living in Burumville, play it safe : stay clear of Happe and Irwin during this election.

 

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