The Political Leopard Rarely Changes His Spots
History is repeating with State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) where his scheming has gotten himself in trouble with the FPPC the campaign finance regulator in California. In 2016, he paid $40,000 in fines to the FPPC for his campaign finance violations for his failed race for State Controller in 2010. Stantalus and Ventura Counties both faced fines due to their actions with the politician. It seems 15 years later, Senator Strickland is wanting to repeat his same mistakes with a new county in San Bernardino.
Tony Strickland has previously received funds from the political action committee controlled by Phil Cothran Sr. the chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party when he ran for City Council in 2022. There was a proposal in the San Bernardino County Party to endorse Tony Strickland and his fellow Senator from the north Roger Nielo in August where some in the committee thought it was strange and weird that they are going to endorse candidates outside San Bernardino County. In September it was unveiled that it was going to be a fundraising pact with those legislators because they got endorsed. The main issue many of us find ironic is that we have some costly races in our own county that we need to help out with in Assembly Districts 36, 47 and 58 to start out.
California Republican Party also did send out a notice in July 2025 advising county parties to stay away from these arrangements and did cite the actions from Senator Strickland in their memorandum about fundraising and earmarking of donations. The goal is for the San Bernardino County Party to avoid legal scrutiny and other regulatory issues that drain fiscal resources out of the organization. The San Bernardino County Republican Party has endured some legal problems in the past in particular with former Assessor and Supervisor Bill Postmus. Our goal should be is not to repeat the same mistakes that end up crippling our county party. We need to stand for integrity in the Republican Party. We should not be known as the enablers of Cook County West.