by David Taub

One week after appearing at a news conference to encourage a no vote on a $225 million school bond measure, two local elected officials have changed their positions. Fresno County Supervisor Andreas Borgeas and Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau now support the passage of Measure X.

At the news conference on October 13, Borgeas said he had reservations with Measure X because of a lack of information of how the money would be spent. “If the powers that be would to be so inclined as to where these dollars would go, I can easily see myself supporting this type of bond initiative,” he said at the time.

The following day on October 14, Fresno Unified released a list of which schools would be on the Measure X list. That was enough to earn Borgeas’ stamp of approval. “In light of these disclosures, despite being frustratingly late, many of my concerns and questions are now satisfied. My objective was only to protect taxpayer dollars and to achieve this by facilitating disclosure. Measure X will be an important investment in our children’s future and we therefore encourage its passage,” Borgeas wrote in a news release.

Brandau’s doubts were also answered. Last week, he lamented the lack of details of how money was being spent. He paraphrased former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , when she said you have to pass the bill (Obamacare), before you see the bill. “With this bond being very unclear of what the projects would pay for, lack of details, is certainly something I can’t support at this time.”

Now Brandau says this: “Representing local taxpayers, I asked for a list of projects that Measure X would secure funding for. I felt this information was extremely important for voters to have. That list has now been provided. I thank the Superintendent for seeing the value of this request.”

Brandau also posted on his Facebook page a video questioning the Measure X spending plan.

The bond on November’s ballot would continue school funding that voters approved of with Measure Q in 2010. Trustee Brooke Ashjian, however, is still encouraging a no vote. Watch an exclusive interview here.