San Bernardino County opens investigation into county auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector

San Bernardino County is investigating Ensen Mason, the county’s elected Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors directed county CEO Luther Snoke to investigate Mason at its Tuesday, Feb. 24 meeting.

Members of the public have alleged that Mason, “despite being the highest paid elected official in the county, is not in his elected office full time, because he operates a full-time business, Mason Financial Services,” Dawn Rowe, third district supervisor and chairperson of the board, told County CEO Luther Snoke after public comments at Tuesday’s meeting. “Ensen’s a CPA and a registered investments adviser, and in that role, he frequently provides advice to his clients on investments that they should make.”

“So this creates a significant opportunity for conflict of interest,” Rowe said. She asked Snoke to investigate whether that conflict is real or perceived.

According to county spokesperson David Wert, as county treasurer Mason manages a $15 billion investment pool, along with the county’s $17.2 billion pension fund.

Mason could not be reached for comment on Tuesday evening.

Mason was first elected in 2018 and his current four-year term ends Jan. 4, 2027. The seat is up for reelection in the June 2 primary election.

According to the Transparent California website, which lists state public employees’ salary and compensation information, Mason’s total pay in 2024 was $350,882, with $105,931 in benefits bringing his total compensation to $456,813.

He also owns Redlands-based Mason Financial Services, which he’s operated since 1998, according to the company website. In a 2023 newsletter published on the company’s website, Mason advises his clients to avoid investing in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) funds.

During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, several members of the public voiced concerns about Mason’s practices before Rowe directed Snoke to look into the matter.

“I just don’t see how this is not a conflict of interest. How can a county official conduct the same kind of work for the public and for the private sector at the same time?” Corey Torello told the board. “How do you know he’s not profiting from his public position by investing billions of dollars on behalf of the county to increase the value of the investments of his personal clients?”

Handling investments for the county and private clients is “double dipping,” Mark Lee told the board.

“I ask all of you as my representatives to do something about this as soon as possible,” he said. “This is fraud.”

Speaker Samuel Powers agreed.

“I consider this an abuse of power and it needs to be investigated immediately,” he said.

“If nothing else, it’s a bad look,” Rowe said after public comments ended Tuesday.

“I would hate to see that these monies are being leveraged in any way from the county side to benefit someone’s personal business,” he said.

San Bernardino County is no stranger to allegations of corruption by public officials.

In 2018, former Assessor Bill Postmus was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 11 felonies, including conspiracy to accept a bribe, conflict of interest, misappropriation of public funds and asking for and receiving bribes.

And in 1998, County Administrative Officer James Hlawek resigned before the Board of Supervisors announced he was under investigation by the FBI. Hlawek, his predecessor Harry Mays, former Supervisor Jerry Eaves and three others eventually pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges.

“The public’s confidence and trust in public officials is alarmingly low – for good reason, I feel,” Mason wrote in a candidate’s statement published by The Sun in April 2010, after Postmus’ arrest. “People have entrusted elected officials with tremendous responsibilities and many have violated that trust. Trust and faith are further eroded by government officials at all levels when they tend to vote and make decisions that aren’t representative of the electorate’s values. My dream and goal is to restore the public’s faith in elected officials. It will take a lot of effort and time to undo the damage that’s been done.”

Mason lost that election and a 2016 run for the Redlands Unified School board before being elected Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector in 2018.

Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Highland sheriff’s station, to allow them to attend the funeral of sheriff’s Sgt. Grant Ward, who died of cancer Feb. 1.