About Supervisor Hansberger

Dennis Hansberger
Third District Supervisor
1996-Current
1972-1980
Chairman, 1975 - 1977
Chairman, 2002 - 2004

Dennis Hansberger, son of Leroy and Helen Hansberger was born on October 1, 1941 in Redlands, California. Dennis graduated from Redlands High School in 1960; attended San Bernardino Valley College from 1960 to 1963; and then attended the University of California at Riverside in 1964, studying geology, world literature, and business administration.

Dennis began his business career at Colton’s Atlas RediMix Concrete Company in 1959, while attending classes at Valley College. By 1964, he took a job with Redlands City Schools as a program assistant with special education for handicapped children at Crafton Elementary School. Before the year was over, he was hired as a financial manager for Tri-City Concrete Company in Redlands.

In December of 1968, Dennis Hansberger was selected by San Bernardino County’s Third District Supervisor, Donald C. Beckord, to be his Executive Assistant and Field Representative. Supervisor Beckord did not seek reelection following his first term. After much thought and consultation with family and community leaders, Dennis entered a field of nine candidates seeking the Third District seat. He won the peoples’ vote and was sworn into office as Supervisor of the Third District on December 4, 1972. Two years later, Supervisor Dennis Hansberger was elected by his peers to be the Chairman of the Board for a two-year term, becoming the youngest Chairman among California’s fifty-eight County Boards of Supervisors, as well as one of the youngest in San Bernardino County’s history. Supervisor Hansberger was re-elected to the Board in 1976 and served until December 1, 1980. He was one of the founding members of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

After leaving the Board in 1980, Dennis initiated the consulting firm of “Hansberger and Associates,” specializing in land-use planning and public policy. The firm often dealt with mining and mineral resources along with mine excavation in San Bernardino County. He was an active member of the Redlands and Yucaipa Rotary clubs and was a founder and charter member of the Yucaipa Jaycees and a former member of the Toastmasters Club. He was also one of the original members of the “One Hundred Men in San Bernardino.” Dennis has dedicated much of his time to volunteer work in fundraising for specific organizations, the rehabilitation of penal institution inmates through work furloughs and related programs, and wildlife preservation. Among his community service are three years as Chairman on the Redlands Community Hospital’s Board, the Board of Counselors of the California State University in California, the Foundation Board of the San Bernardino County Museum, the Inland Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Capital Projects Committee of the Girl Scouts of America.

On November 5, 1996, Supervisor Hansberger was elected to yet another term as the Third District Supervisor, succeeding Barbara Riordan of Redlands, acting as the Vice Chairman of the Board. During this time, the Supervisor became involved with numerous organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Local Agency Formation Commission, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, Omnitrans, San Bernardino Associated Governments, the Inland Empire Health Plan, the Consolidated Fire Agencies of the East Valley, and the Inland Valley Development Agency. He has served on the South Coast Air Basin Coordinating Council, the South Coast Air Pollution Control District and served as a past-president of the Southern California Regional Association of County Supervisors.

Supervisor Hansberger has been the recipient of numerous awards. He was named one of California’s Five Outstanding Young Men by the California Jaycees. In 1980 he was chosen “Man of the Year” by the Toastmaster’s Club #1166-F. He received the Meritorious Service Award from the Southern California Regional Association of County Supervisors. He was given the Award of Merit by the Tree People for his work in the Converse Flat Restoration Project and an Outstanding Service Award by the Commuter Transportation Services. His philosophy of good government starts with his belief that county government’s role is to provide service to the public, to look at what is best for the residents of the County and not what is best to maintain the institution. Further, it is his belief that the County should encourage and support economic development through business opportunities and job creation. It is Supervisor Hansberger’s goal to focus on public service and bring the County of San Bernardino back to the business of providing good government.

Supervisor Hansberger was re-elected once again in 2000 to serve as the Third District Supervisor and unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from 2003-2004. In March 2004 the constituents of the Third Supervisorial District elected him for a third consecutive time.

Supervisor Hansberger resides in Redlands and is married to physician and former Loma Linda Mayor, Dr. Karen Gaio Hansberger. He has four children, Martin, Marshand, Mark, and Matthew, and has eight grandchildren. An outdoorsman at heart, he enjoys working in his garden, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding in his moments of leisure.