District 40 — California State Assembly

Henry Gomez Nickel has served the City of San Bernardino since 2014. As a member of the City Council, Henry is also Mayor Pro Tempore. He received unanimously election by his fellow six city council members due in large degree to his keen ability to bridge political divides. Henry serves on the League of California Cities’ Transportation, Communication and Public Works Policy Committee tasked with reviewing state and federal legislation related to transportation funding, construction, public works, telecommunications and related areas. 

As a City Council Member, Henry worked to faithfully bring San Bernardino out of bankruptcy in 2017.  Elected as a reformer in a 2014 special election following the city’s 2012 bankruptcy filing, Henry supported law enforcement investments, fiscal discipline and accountability to a city historically plagued by crime, poverty and political dysfunction. Henry won a resounding reelection victory in 2015. Henry championed sound fiscal management, contracted city services, the passage of a new city charter, performance improvement measures, greater community engagement, increased law enforcement capacity, new housing and commercial development, ethical political conduct and a new professional corporate culture to the city’s government.

Henry’s two decade career includes service within the US Treasury Department in Washington DC, coordination of overseas voter registration in Germany during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections and more than eight years as a regional transportation analyst. He also served as an educator within the local school districts. He currently works for the San Bernardino County Economic and Workforce Development Department and is a member of Teamsters Local 1932.

Elected officials must remain absolutely committed to serving constituents. As a representative of the district, voters are my boss. I work for every person in the district and must take that into consideration with every decision made. To maintain constituent trust, confidence and future reelection, I must convey their wants, needs and interests. This understanding of the proper role of an elected representative is essential.

We must never forget the decisions made by our elected officials truly affect the safety, health and livelihoods of real people. We must end divisive dysfunctional politics by focusing on our common problems rather than simply personalities and affiliations. While we may disagree, we must never forget what unites us. We must always hold government and those serving within it accountable.

Government must live within its means, promote policies that protect the public and serve to create ongoing prosperity, justify each tax dollar spent and remain accountable to its constituencies. Doing so ensures that necessary and valuable services will be readily available for residents and businesses now and in the future. These guiding leadership and management principles derive from Henry’s extensive experience as an entrepreneur, educator and public servant. 

Ramos, a Democrat, has served as a Supervisor of San Bernardino County since 2012. In 2015, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Board Chairman. Ramos was the first Native American to be elected to the Board of Supervisors, as well as to the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees, on which he served from 2005-12.

Ramos has worked for both Republican and Democratic Governors.  In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Ramos to the California State Native American Heritage Commission for which he is chairman. In 2011, he became the first Native American appointed to the State Board of Education by Governor Jerry Brown.

In addition to his elected service, Ramos is a proven civic leader and has served on numerous boards and organizations in the greater San Bernardino area.

Ramos is also the immediate past Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with a deep commitment to the preservation of California Indian culture. He is co-founder of the San Manuel Band’s Cultural Awareness Program, and serves as director of the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference held annually at California State University, San Bernardino.

Supervisor Ramos has served and continues to serve the Inland Empire in government leadership roles at the State and Local Boards and Commissions.

Executive Committee of California State Association of Counties

Chairman CSAC Housing, Land Use and Transportation

Chairman Urban Counties Caucus

Chairman Latino Counties Caucus

Chairman San Bernardino County Homeless Youth Task Force

Vice Chairman San Bernardino International Airport Authority

Vice Chairman San Bernardino County Transportation Authority

Vice Chairman Local Agency Formation Commission San Bernardino County

Inland Valley Development Agency

Behavioral Health Commission

Ramos has a wide range of local and regional knowledge with the unique ability to bring collaboration to controversial issues , his governing style has lead to the overall success of boards and commissions he sits on.

James and his wife of 28 years, Terri, are the proud parents of four children and three grandchildren.