Candidates for San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector
2026 Primary Election — June 2, 2026
Office: Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector — San Bernardino County is the 5th-largest county in California and the only county in the state that consolidates Auditor, Controller, Treasurer, and Tax Collector into one department. The office manages a $16B+ investment pool, oversees ~350 employees, and presides over the county pension fund. The office is nonpartisan. Under the top-two primary system, if no candidate receives a majority, the top two advance to November 3.
Ryan Hutchison Nonpartisan Age 40 Challenger
CFO / Real Estate Broker • Rancho Cucamonga City Councilmember, District 3 • Rancho Cucamonga
Ryan Hutchison is a city councilmember and businessman challenging the incumbent. He serves on the Rancho Cucamonga City Council for District 3 (since January 2019) and is CFO of a construction management company, as well as a real estate broker since 2004. He holds a BA in Economics from Claremont McKenna College (2009). Hutchison has raised over $409K — one of the strongest financial positions of any countywide candidate in 2026. His central campaign issue is the Board of Supervisors' investigation into the incumbent for alleged self-dealing. All 5 county supervisors have endorsed Hutchison.[1]
Top Issues / Platform
- Restore Faith & Accountability: Work full-time in the office, require immediate compliance audit
- Stop Wasteful Spending / Protect Taxpayers: Balanced $300M+ city budget, grew reserves, raised bond rating, no tax increases
- Strengthen Transparency & Ethical Standards: Annual independent compliance audits, eliminate conflicts of interest
- Modernize Systems: Implement efficient oversight systems, timely payments to vendors
- Economic Development: Collaborate with county supervisors for job creation[2]
Key Endorsements
- All 5 San Bernardino County Supervisors: Paul Cook (D1), Jesse Armendarez (D2), Dawn Rowe (D3), Curt Hagman (D4), Joe Baca (D5)
- Shannon Dicus — Sheriff
- Jason Anderson — District Attorney
- Josie Gonzales — Assessor
- 28+ local elected officials
- California College Republicans[5]
Strengths ▲
- Strong fundraising — raised $409K+ vs. incumbent's $0
- 7 years of city council fiscal oversight experience
- Endorsed by all 5 county supervisors (bipartisan)
- Specific reform platform with measurable goals
- Real private-sector financial management experience
Weaknesses ▼
- Lacks direct experience in county audit/treasury operations
- Court challenge over qualifications (survived — judge ruled he could stay on ballot)
- Being challenged by incumbent in court creates distraction
- Republican alignment may hurt in a nonpartisan race with Democratic-leaning county
- Relatively new to countywide politics (only on city council since 2019)
Ensen Mason Nonpartisan Age 57 Incumbent Favorite
Incumbent ATC (since 2019) • CPA, CFA, MBA • Redlands
Ensen Mason is the incumbent Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector seeking his third term. He holds a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the University of Redlands, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and has over 40 years of experience in accounting and finance. Under his tenure, the county's treasury pool grew from $6B to $16B+ and achieved an AAA rating from Fitch. The office has won 30 NACo awards and the GFOA Certificate of Achievement. Mason is under active investigation by the Board of Supervisors for alleged self-dealing and conflict of interest. He raised $0 in 2025.[3]
Top Issues / Platform
- Proven Financial Leadership: 40+ years experience, CPA + CFA credentials, 7.5 years doing the job
- Investment Pool Performance: Treasury pool from $6B to $16B+, AAA rating, highest yield in CA
- Award-Winning Office: Triple crown of financial reporting awards, clean independent audits
- Workforce Development: 50 open positions, 20 interns, need more skilled workers
- Independence & Ethics: Office maintains organizational independence, safeguards against conflicts[4]
Key Endorsements
- CCSA Advocates (California Charter Schools Association — from previous campaigns)
- No major elected official endorsements identified for 2026
Strengths ▲
- 40+ years of accounting/finance experience with CPA and CFA credentials
- Strong track record — AAA investment rating, 30 NACo awards, triple crown of financial reporting
- Treasury pool grew by $10B+ under his tenure
- Had clean audits throughout his term
- Won re-election in 2022 with 76.6% of the vote
Weaknesses ▼
- Under active investigation for alleged self-dealing and conflict of interest
- Raised $0 in 2025 — no campaign infrastructure or voter outreach
- All 5 county supervisors endorsed his opponent
- Investigation results won't be released before Election Day
- Successfully sued to remove opponent from ballot (was seen as an overreach)
- Facing the most serious challenge of his political career
Race Summary & Outlook
This is a hotly contested incumbent vs. challenger race in the only county in California that combines Auditor, Controller, Treasurer, and Tax Collector into one office. Incumbent Ensen Mason has strong professional credentials (CPA, CFA, MBA) and a track record of award-winning financial management, but he is under active investigation for alleged self-dealing and has raised no money for his campaign. Ryan Hutchison has raised $409K+, has the endorsement of all 5 county supervisors, and is running on a reform platform.
- The investigation factor: The Board of Supervisors investigation into Mason — which voters won't see results of before Election Day — has become the central issue of the race. Hutchison has made it the cornerstone of his campaign, while Mason maintains his independence and professional track record.
- Fundraising disparity: Hutchison's $409K+ fundraising advantage gives him a massive edge in voter outreach, mailers, and advertising. Mason raised $0 in 2025 and has no visible campaign infrastructure.
- Unanimous supervisor opposition: All 5 county supervisors — a bipartisan group representing the entire county — have endorsed Hutchison, an unusually unified front against an incumbent.
- Mason's path to victory: If voters focused on credentials and track record — 40+ years of experience, CPA + CFA, AAA investment rating — Mason could still win outright with 50%+1 in the primary, avoiding a runoff.
- Key question: Will the scandal overshadow Mason's professional accomplishments? Or will voters separate the investigation from his demonstrated financial management record?
Likely outcome: Too close to call. The investigation cloud makes this unpredictable — if voters trust Mason's credentials, he could win outright; if the scandal resonates, Hutchison could force a runoff or even win in the primary. Fundraising advantage and all-supervisor endorsements give Hutchison momentum.
Primary: June 2, 2026 — General: November 3, 2026