We got Berned: Sanders camp stiffs Sonoma town for $23,000

FAIRFIELD, CA - JUNE 03: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Cloverdale Municipal Airport on June 3, 2016 in Cloverdale, California. Five States including California will hold the final Super Tuesday primaries next week. (Photo by Ramin Talaie/Getty Images) less FAIRFIELD, CA - JUNE 03: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Cloverdale Municipal Airport on June 3, 2016 in Cloverdale, California. Five States ... more Photo: Ramin Talaie, Getty Images Photo: Ramin Talaie, Getty Images Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close We got Berned: Sanders camp stiffs Sonoma town for $23,000 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Back in June in the run-up to the California primary, the Sonoma County town of Cloverdale welcomed Bernie Sanders to the city airport where more than 6,000 people cheered on the Democratic presidential contender.

Cloverdale isn't used to presidential rallies or big crowds — the town itself only claims 8,800 residents — so town officials had to call on neighboring burgs' police forces to give their cops a hand for the June 3 event. Healdsburg and Sebastopol, along with county Sheriff's Department deputies pitched in. In addition, four fire departments worked the rally.

All those extra police officers and firefighters piling up overtime costs money — $23,000 to be exact. Cloverdale officials told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat that Sanders' advance team assured them that local public safety agencies would be reimbursed.

But when city officials presented the Sanders campaign with the bill, instead of payment they got the runaround.

According to the Press Democrat, Casey Sinnwell, national director of scheduling and advance for the Sanders campaign, on July 13 acknowledged receipt of the bill for "uncontracted security services," but stated that the U.S. Secret Service takes the lead on all security matters and "any local law enforcement organization contacted by the Secret Service to assist in security should discuss matters related to costs with the Secret Service."

That was news to the Secret Service, which denied any responsibility for paying local public safety expenses.

David Thomas, special-agent-in charge of the San Francisco Secret Service office, told the Press Democrat that "generally localities pay for the first responder resources utilized, unless they have an agreement with some other party, campaign or donor."

And that was Cloverdale's big mistake: It didn't get the deal in writing.

With the event scheduled only 48 hours after they were alerted, town officials didn't have time to draw up a contract, they say.

Maybe they thought that Bernie Sanders, champion of small-town America values, would honor a verbal agreement.

They'll know better next time.