Fontana Councilman John Roberts sets sights on seat in Congress

by Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun
Article Originally Published: 03/05/2008 09:57:12 PM PST

FONTANA - City Councilman John Roberts recently filed papers with the county Registrar of Voters to campaign in the 43rd Congressional District's Republican primary election on June 3.

"This is the time for change," Roberts said. "That seems to be the mantra for both parties."

It will be a big change for Roberts, as he embarks on his first run for Congress after 15 years on the council. He said he is not a career politician, but a career public servant. Roberts retired from the San Bernardino County Fire Department after 32 years.

He served as county fire marshal for 15 years.

Roberts, who is chairman for the Omnitrans Board of Directors, said his top local priority is transportation. The issue, he said, has been grossly neglected by Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino. For example, Roberts points to the Cypress Avenue overpass project at the 10 Freeway in Fontana. The project was envisioned in 1998 at an initial cost of $9 million. The cost has bloated to about $39 million and is scheduled to begin later this year. Baca said Roberts needs to check his numbers.

"The guy hasn't done much research," Baca said. "I've brought in $31 million for transportation in the area."

Roberts, who favors a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, said Baca does not support the Border Patrol and is one of the first people to complain if they conduct a sweep. "We cannot have open borders," Roberts Advertisement

said. "We've seen what it does to our emergency rooms and our classrooms." Baca said he has voted for funding for the Border Patrol.

"What I didn't support was the fence," he said. "We shouldn't profile and don't pick up everybody. You've got to know who you're going after."

Roberts received more than the 40 signatures required from registered party voters to make a candidacy official.