Vol. XV, No. 4
February 1, 2002

San Bernardino assessor sues opponent; county counsel questions assessor’s authority

San Bernardino County Assessor Donald Williamson, who is in a tight race for re-election, this week sued one of his opponents, Linda Foster, alleging unpaid property taxes on six billboards. His action triggered an investigation by the County Counsel’s Office into Mr. Williamson’s authority to file the suit.

Ms. Foster, formerly Mr. Williamson’s chief of staff who quit in 2001, said taxes have been paid on the property and accused the assessor of filing the suit to divert attention from previous allegations of sexual harassment against the assessor.

Based on reports from the Barstow Desert Dispatch, the (Ontario) Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and San Bernardino Daily Sun, the suit alleges that Ms. Foster and her husband are partners with former Assembly Member Brett Granlund and others in the Colorado Indian River Land Trust and they failed to file a Form 571L disclosing the billboards that are located near Laughlin, Nevada. Mr. Williamson estimated that $2.3 million in taxes are owed for the past 13 years.

Jim Foster said the billboards were declared on a form filed by Hal Heywood of Heywood Outdoor Advertising. Mr. Williamson conceded Mr. Heywood did file the 571L forms but he believes he has not fully declared all the billboards he owns or co-owns.

Meanwhile David Wert, speaking for County Counsel Alan Marks, said Mr. Williamson did not inform the County Counsel’s Office of his decision to hire an outside attorney to file the suit. Until now, the assessor has “always” gone through the county counsel, Mr. Wert said. He added that department heads can spend up to $25,000 on outside lawyers without permission, but it’s unclear whether they have the authority to file a lawsuit on their own.

Former Assessor R. Gordon Young is also running against Mr. Williamson.