All Politics Week: Fresno Mayoral Race
The Fresno Mayoral Race is starting to gear up. Mayor Alan "Bubba" Autry is being forced out because of term limits. In the running are:
* Business owner Jim Boswell
* Former Council member Tom Boyajian
* Council member Mike Dages
* Council member Jerry Duncan
* Fresno Deputy Mayor Jeff Eben
* Council member Henry T. Perea
* Director of Community & Economic Development at CSUF Ashley Swearengin
The election is on June 3rd, and if there is no clear winner, there will be a run-off between the top two vote-getters in November. I've had my first door visitation from Tom Boyajian who used to represent my district, and I figure that won't be the last I see of him or the other candidates. I do know at this point in the race who I won't be voting for. Jerry Duncan gets that dubious distinction. For those of you outside Fresno, you may have heard of the council member who in an email remarked he'd liked to drop an nuclear bomb on the liberals in Fresno.
Other than Duncan I am open to any of the candidates. I am going to try to see if any of them would like to appear on the podcast. Fresno is at the crossroads right now. Despite the slide into recession, the jobs outlook here in town has improved. We are a diverse city with no real unified sense of identity. Undeservedly, Fresno is the butt of jokes. I think the tellers have never spent more than 15 minutes in town. Had they did, they would see that we are a city that has some exciting possibilities. We do have a lovely downtown, but we haven't cultivated it just yet.....but we aren't going to let it die. We have bustling shopping areas, robust entertainment choices, and a small town feel. It takes a ready willingness to step outside your comfort zone to be mayor of Fresno. You have to speak to the needs of the wide multicultural residents, to be able to meet the needs of the affluent and the indigent.
Will the next mayor be able to pull the city together and make us invest our time, money, and sweat in making a city we've dreamed of? I guess I am still an optimist, because I do have the glimmer of hope that we can still do these things. So I am very interested in the mayoral race. I may not have be born in Fresno, but it is my home. It is no longer "the place I ended up", but my destination. I am a part of Fresno....and I vote.
Comments
duncan also floated out an idea of turning n.e. fresno, a district called reaganville. not sure if he actually wanted reaganville to secede from fresno, or just be another district of town (like mayfair, tower, etc).
Posted by: ed | January 17, 2008 04:23 PM
I hate runoff elections. The turnout is almost ALWAYS less, they are expensive, and they eliminate a likely consensus candidate. IRV!!
Posted by: Roger Green | January 17, 2008 08:39 PM
If you are looking for a Mayor who is one of the people, will listen to the people first and foremost and who will remember that he works for the people, then you should look at my website. My name is Jim Boswell and I have released my plans and benefits package on my myspace site. I have detailed my plans to make positive changes for all of Fresno's people. My plans include green technology, public safety, clean air, downtown revitalization, creating a citizen advisory commission and more. Please take a few minutes to read my plans and I believe you will realize that I am the best choice for Mayor. I am a regular person who has taken on this tremendous endeavor in the hopes of making positive changes for us all. I don't just talk about the issues. I have specific plans to address our concerns. I would like the opportunity to speak with anyone who is willing to speak to me and let me know your opinions, ideas and concerns. I would be willing to appear on the podcast as well. My website has my contact information. Please contact me at your convenience.
Thank you
Posted by: Jim Boswell | January 18, 2008 10:55 PM
By the way, if I can get enough support and therefore enough votes to have 50 + 1%, there will not be a run-off election. So, if you would like to join me in making Fresno a greater place, please contact me. I wil not forget that I work for the people.
Thanks again.
Jim Boswell
Posted by: Jim Boswell | January 18, 2008 10:58 PM