Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
Who's Next to Take on Nunes? 3 Democrats Enter the Ring.
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
June 7, 2019

Share

Three Democrats have lined up to take the next shot at Republican Congressman Devin Nunes in 2020.
It’s an interesting trio. One runs a Fresno auto repair shop. Another bounced in and out of a Fresno City Council race before deciding to throw in for California’s District 22 seat. The third was unable to surpass single digits in the District 22 primary in 2018.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
David Taub
Politics 101
And one of the three has the endorsement of Andrew Janz, the Fresno County prosecutor who took on the Tulare congressman in 2018. Nunes won his eighth term with 52.7% of the vote to Janz’s 47.3% in a nationally scrutinized contest.
Janz, who now is running for Fresno mayor, went on Twitter to endorse Phil Arballo, who up until last week was a candidate for the Fresno council’s District 2 seat.


Another candidate, Dary Rezvani, owns Mid Valley Auto Repair and has no prior experience in running for public office. He spent part of his childhood in Fresno and attended Fresno State before working as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Jose. He returned recently to the Valley to run the auto shop founded by his late father.
The third Democratic opponent is Bobby Bliatout, who ran against Nunes in 2018 and finished third in the June primary with 4.9% of the vote. Bliatout, a health care industry administrator, raised $310,000 for that effort, with nearly two-thirds ($205,831) coming from him.
Arballo, a financial planner, played hokey pokey with a run for the District 2 council seat that came open when Steve Brandau was elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
He initially said he would run in both the August special election for the seat and in next year’s regularly scheduled election. He subsequently withdrew, then said he was back in. Last week, he withdrew again. His name, however, will be on the August ballot because it was too late for the county clerk’s office to remove it.
Speaking of names, some are taking issue with Arballo using “Phil” on his campaign signs and Twitter account, where his bio describes him as “Father, Husband, Latino, Small Business Owner, Democrat. Candidate for Congress CA-22.” His personal Facebook page and professional LinkedIn page list his first name as “Felipe.”

Garcia No-Shows Chamber

Portrait of Lawrence Garcia
Lawrence Garcia
The Fresno Chamber of Commerce held endorsement interviews this week for the District 2 special election.
Four of the five active candidates appeared at the group interview. Lawrence Garcia did not.
The candidate says he double-booked himself and couldn’t make it to the interview. He hopes the Chamber gives him a second chance.
Per its policy, the Chamber would not say whether they would grant Garcia’s request. The group has yet to announce its endorsement for the Aug. 13 race.

Fresno Mayoral Race

A fifth entrant into the mayor’s race filed this week with a lot less fanfare than the other four.
Richard Renteria is taking a second run at the job. In 2016, he finished fifth in a five-person primary in 2016, winning 2.5% of the vote. At the time, he listed his occupation as businessman and insurance broker.

Arias Wants Police Audit Results

During day 2 of the Fresno budget hearings, councilmember Miguel Arias urged city leaders to release a pending audit of the police department.
Arias pushed controller Michael Lima to release the audit, which is believed to deal with officers double-dipping while teaching classes at local colleges.
Arias wants the audit results before any council votes on the police department’s budget requests. He set a deadline of June 13. If the city does not comply, Arias said the council could pass a motion forcing the audit’s release.
Assistant City Manager Jane Sumpter said an update on the audit’s release will happen before June 13. That answer appeared to satisfy Arias.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

UP NEXT

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

UP NEXT

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

UP NEXT

CIA Review Finds Flaws but Does Not Dispute Finding Putin Sought to Sway 2016 Vote to Trump

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

UP NEXT

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

UP NEXT

Zohran Mamdani Officially Wins Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

9 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

15 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

15 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

15 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

15 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

16 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

16 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

16 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

2 days ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

2 days ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The I...

9 hours ago

A logo is displayed over a door at the U.S. headquarters of the social media company TikTok in Culver City, California, U.S. January 17, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

Boxes of aid are stacked as Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it has commenced operations to begin distribution of aid, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

A volunteer searches for flood victims after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
9 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC, U.S. on November 13, 2024. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
15 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
15 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
15 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
15 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend