Profile of County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt

Hesperia Star
By PETER DAY Star Editor

While his clean-shaven, bespectacled predecessor, Bill Postmus, looks like a political-candidate poster child, the bearded, unassuming Brad Mitzelfelt comes off more like a college professor, or perhaps a park ranger.

Although the two share ideological similarities, their styles differ. Mitzelfelt, who for more than six years served as Postmus’ chief of staff, isn’t really interested in the chess game of politics.

“Politics isn’t what gets me up in the morning. Policy is,” said Mitzelfelt, who last November was appointed to complete Postmus’ two remaining years as supervisor of the county’s first district. “I see politics as a means to an end. It’s not an end to itself.”

Already in his first few months, Mitzelfelt, who lives in Wrightwood, has several accomplishments under his belt. The most notable is his request of $500,000 to help purchase equipment for a new aerospace mechanics-training program at the Southern California Logistics Agency (formerly George Air Force Base). Victor Valley College, the county, the city of Victorville and a non-profit consortium spearhead the program. Last month, the Board of Supervisors approved Mitzelfelt’s proposal.

“I’m very excited about it.”

During a recent Hesperia Chamber of Commerce Coffee Club gathering, Mitzelfelt outlined other priorities. They include cracking down on gangs, tracking sex offenders and protecting consumers from identity theft. He also believes it’s time the county be more aggressive with illegal dumping and make more headway with freeway congestion and transportation issues.

“I take things issue by issue. I look at each issue and how it will benefit my constituents.”
Recent gang sweeps are helping the Victor Valley get a handle on the gang problem, but that highlights a shortage of jail space.

“We are the No. 1 county for sending people to prison,” Mitzelfelt said. “That’s kind of good and kind of bad. We’ve got a big problem [in jail overcrowding]. We just don’t have nearly the capacity that we need.”

Regarding transportation, he cited rising costs of freeway construction as a huge obstacle. “Costs have gone through the roof,” he said.

But he agrees with regional economics and politics guru John Husing that “logistics is the job engine for our economy.” Local jobs keep tax money at home and families in one place. The SCLA program should help do that by providing a number of jobs paying $48,000 to $75,000 a year.

“Young people can work here.”

Later, during a one-on-one interview with the Hesperia Star, Mitzelfelt credited a new county ordinance that puts more teeth into fighting illegal dumping. Perpetrators can be fined as much as $10,000, and tipsters are encouraged to contact authorities.

“Illegal dumping is a huge problem in the High Desert. We’re not going to put up with it anymore.”
Mitzelfelt also is working with the Bureau of Land Management to solve land management issues.

Several years ago after former President Bill Clinton tried to shut down cattle grazing in the High Desert the county took away “dumping cards,” which allowed BLM workers to discard refuse at area landfills. Recently the cards were given back, and he is hoping to meet with representatives of the agency on a quarterly basis.

“I do want to improve our relationship with the BLM.”

By improving the relationship with BLM, the county also can help solve illegal off-roading issues. Many BLM-maintained areas are OK for off-roaders, for instance.

“There’s a lot we can do together with BLM.”

Newly-revised, larger restaurant grading cards are also a help to local businesses and consumers, according to Mitzelfelt.

“The new ones are being phased in. They contain more information. An ‘A’ letter in a window is good for business.”

The son of physician-turned-orchestra-conductor H. Vincent Mitzelfelt, Mitzelfelt grew up in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles. He was a talented distance runner who ran three miles in around 15 minutes and a mile under 4 minutes 30 seconds.

“I like to fish, mountain bike and run.”

He studied piano under Pasadena-based master pianist Surajeet Chatterji, who currently teaches classes at Hesperia High School, and owns two pianos. Saying he plays at an intermediate level, Mitzelfelt says Mozart’s “Rondo alla Turca” is favorite classical piece.

“It’s the hardest thing I know, so it’s my favorite.”

Mitzelfelt is a Marine Corps combat veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He served as a combat correspondent, a position which earned him several awards.

In July, Mitzelfelt is planning on getting married to his fiance.

“It’s a big year for me.”

While Mitzelfelt brings a different leadership style, he believes Postmus has tremendous strengths.
“He is a very talented political strategist. He’s a talented leader. He’s also good with budgets and managing people.”

Moreover, it appears Postmus is enjoying his new position.

“He’s modernizing that department. He really has a job he enjoys.”

Although Mitzelfelt doesn’t prefer the political part of his job, he recently entered fresh political waters when he held a fundraiser to kick off his 2008 election campaign. Attracting 300 supporters, he raised $165,000.

“It was a great success. I have no doubt I’ll have the funds to get the message out. I’ve done this before. I know how to win campaigns.”