Andrew Janz invites residents to attend the announcement of his 2020 Fresno mayoral campaign 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Radio Park.

“Fresno needs someone who is attuned to the needs of its people. Throughout my campaign for Congress and my time as a local prosecutor, I have met thousands of Fresnans who have expressed the need for change in city management,” Janz said in a news release.

“Together, we can work towards ending widespread poverty and the other drivers of homelessness and crime. I’m willing to work with anyone and everyone to ensure a better and brighter future for Fresno.”

Janz, a Democrat, says that another one of his top priorities is expanding funding for parks and open spaces.

Brand’s First Announced Challenger

Janz, 35, is the first announced challenger to incumbent mayor Lee Brand, 70. Brand, a Republican, edged Democrat Henry R. Perea in a run-off for the nonpartisan post in 2016.

On Monday, when word broke that Janz, a Fresno County prosecutor, had filed his candidacy papers, Brand said:

“I welcome the opportunity to have voters compare my well-earned experience and record of accomplishment, highlighted by creating over 5,000 good-paying jobs with benefits, to his complete lack of experience and a track record that consists of saying ‘I’m not Devin Nunes.’ Will his new campaign be ‘I’m not Lee Brand’? To which I reply, “Yes, young man, you’re right. You’re not Lee Brand. You aren’t even close.”

Janz lost to incumbent Rep. Devin Nunes in 2018.