History

2006 was a dark period for taxpayers throughout the State of California. Nowhere was this more true than in the Inland Empire. While all Californians faced numerous state-wide ballot propositions to create massive new bonds, voters in cities all over Riverside and San Bernardino Counties faced local bond measures the likes of which they had never seen. The size, number and scope of these bond proposals were astronomical, and would have had very real and devastating effects on our state and local economies and on the daily lives of each and every property owner in California. In March, 2006, soon to be Inland Empire Taxpayers Association founder Chris Mann wrote a passionate letter which appeared as a commentary in the Record Gazette newspaper, urging voters to reject all of the 2006 bond measures, as he put it, sending “a resounding “NO” to those who would continue heaping tax burden after tax burden upon our shoulders as the easy way out of making tough budget choices.”

Mann’s commentary began a surge of support for protecting local taxpayers against increased taxes and bonds. The following month, April 2006, a small committee of volunteers, led by Mann and dedicated to fighting all attempts by local government agencies to raise taxes and pass new bonds, opened a bank account and filed a Statement of Organization with the California Secretary of State and the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, giving birth to the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association.

The Inland Empire Taxpayers Association’s first efforts were directed at opposing two bond measures on the June, 2006 ballot: Measure G, a $720 million bond for the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District, and Measure H, a $63 million bond for the Banning Unified School District. Both bonds were defeated on June 6th. To date, the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association has lead or been the only organized opposition to three local bond measures. We have joined with other taxpayer groups in fighting a state-wide tax proposition and to prevent the election of Phil Angelides, who promised to create $18 billion in new taxes, to the office of Governor. We have supported/opposed numerous candidates for local office, as well as local ballot measures which, although not technically bond measures, would have led to massive parcel taxes/fees. *

In all, the efforts of the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association have thus far directly prevented the creation of over $813 million in new local bonds/public debt…or approximately $1.6 billion of total public indebtedness (initial bond amounts plus interest). *

* Please see the page titled “Projects” for more detailed information.

President/Founder

Chris Mann



• Former Mayor and Councilman, City of Westlake Village
• Director, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency
• Treasurer, Republican Party of Riverside County
• Founding Member/Executive Board, Riverside County Young Republicans
• Partner, Rotkin Real Estate Group
• President, Mann Communications

Chris Mann moved to Riverside County in 2004, after completing his term as Mayor of the City of Westlake Village, in Los Angeles County, having accepted a Senior Account Executive position at O'Reilly Public Relations, the largest and best known public relations firm in the Inland Empire. In 2005, he formed Mann Communications, a public relations company specializing in land-use entitlement, strategic communications and community outreach services for public agencies, and political campaign strategy. In January, 2007, Mann became a partner of Rotkin Real Estate Group, a small commercial real estate development company.

Chris Mann has provided both tactical and strategic public relations counsel to business, public agency and elected clients throughout Southern California. His areas of expertise include land-use entitlement, water and energy project development as well as public education and community outreach programs. A practiced communications strategist, Mann’s experience includes public opinion research, message development, reputation management, coalition building, media relations, public information campaigns and crisis management in both the public and private sectors. He has provided counsel to local government agencies, non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies.

Mann has extensive experience in California politics including providing strategic counsel on city council, State Assembly, State Senate, district attorney and ballot measure races throughout the State. He serves as a trusted and respected advisor to numerous elected officials throughout Southern California and has guided scores of successful political and public affairs campaigns, including a few of his own.

Mann was elected to the City Council of the City of Westlake Village in November, 1999, a seat he won by defeating an incumbent who was one of the City’s original founders. At the age of 23, Mann was at that time the youngest elected official serving in the State of California. He became Mayor of the City in 2002, at the age of 26.

Mann was elected to the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in November 2004, defeating a 12-year incumbent in a landslide election where he gained over 64% of the vote.

Mann was elected to the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Riverside County in June, 2006, and became Treasurer of the Party in January, 2007.

Mann holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Political Science from California Lutheran University, in Thousand Oaks, CA, and has completed all required coursework for his master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration.

Executive Director

Stefan Ujkic


• Business Owner, Platinum Home Theater
• Alternate Member, Republican Party of Riverside County
• Member, Riverside County Young Republicans
• Taxpayer Advocate, Founding Member, Inland Empire Taxpayers Association
• Longtime Inland Empire Resident – raised in Cherry Valley; currently resides with his wife/high school
   sweetheart in Beaumont

Stefan Ujkic grew up in the Inland Empire and has witnessed first hand the dramatic increase in local taxes, bonds and fees. A homeowner in the City of Beaumont, and a successful small business owner, he became progressively more alarmed at the number, size and frequency of tax and bond increases in the region.

In early 2006, Stefan took action by becoming a driving force behind the creation of the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association. As Executive Director, Stefan manages the day-to-day operations of the IETA. In addition, he has become an expert grassroots campaign strategist. Stefan has orchestrated the logistics of all IETA grassroots campaign activities since its inception.

Stefan’s political experience extends beyond his duties with the IETA. He has been an active member of the Riverside County Young Republicans since mid 2006, was a candidate for the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in November, 2006, and has served on the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Riverside County since January, 2007.