Mitzelfelt's community liaison joins supervisor race

A retired sheriff's deputy of Helendale announced his intentions Friday to run for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor in the June election.

Bob Smith, now a community liaison for the 1st District under Brad Mitzelfelt, ran in the Republican primary for the 34th District Assembly seat in 2008, losing to Assemblywoman Connie Conway. Smith also serves as a commissioner on the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission.

Smith marks the seventh candidate to enter the race since Mitzelfelt announced last month his bid for the 8th Congressional District, with longtime U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, retiring.

Six other candidates have confirmed their intentions to run for 1st District Supervisor:

• Ken Anderson, field representative for Mitzelfelt and Sen. Sharon Runner;

• Russ Blewett, Hesperia mayor;

• Michael Orme, field representative for U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon;

• Rick Roelle, Apple Valley councilman;

• Mark Shoup, supervising deputy public defender; and

• Jermaine Wright, a trustee with the Adelanto School District.

The 1st District includes the bulk of the Victor Valley and spans more than 15,000 square miles from Wrightwood to Baker and the Nevada and Arizona state lines. It includes Fort Irwin and the unincorporated communities surrounding Barstow.

The supervisorial election coincides with the June 5 presidential primary. Candidates must file for the race between Feb. 13 and March 9, according to the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.

For the latest on High Desert politics, follow us on Twitter @DPPolitics.

Natasha Lindstrom may be reached at (760) 951-6232 or at NLindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.

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