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.