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

4 days ago

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

4 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
A Look at Fresno's Judiciary as Mangano Takes His Robe
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
June 17, 2019

Share

Even though he was sworn in last January, Robert Mangano took his black robe at a ceremony Friday, joining his brethren as a Fresno County judge.
Dozens of his colleagues descended upon the event at the Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium officially welcome Mangano into the fold. He won election to the bench in June 2018, and is assigned to family law. Formerly a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office, Mangano joked he had no family law experience.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
David Taub
Politics 101
The judiciary, like the legislative branch of county government, is directly elected by the people. According to the court’s judicial roster, the terms of 18 judges expire next year and they would be up for reelection.
However, it is extremely rare that a sitting judge is challenged in an election. Mangano won his seat in an open election to replace the retiring Dennis Peterson.
Judicial experts tell Politics 101 they expect all 18 judges to run again. If no challengers emerge, the judges keep their jobs without a formal election.
Fresno County judges gather at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium for the enrobing ceremony of Robert Mangano on June 14, 2019 (GV Wire/David Taub)

Nasreen Johnson’s Future

Nasreen Johnson
Nasreen Johnson, who unsuccessfully ran for two separate offices in the last year, is thinking about it again — for Fresno County Board of Supervisors in 2024!
Johnson ran for the open supervisor seat in April, falling to eventual winner Steve Brandau. That seat is open again next March for the full term.
Why file for 2024? Johnson said “she is keeping her options open.”

Cox’s Local PAC Money

Congressman TJ Cox (D-Fresno) pledged not to take corporate PAC money when he won office in 2018. That doesn’t mean he isn’t taking any PAC money.
He’s collected $131,000 from various committees, including agriculture groups (rice, almonds, dairy), other members of Congress (Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Lee, and Jim Clyburn, for example), and union interests (carpenters, postal workers).
Only two of those political action committees are based in Fresno — the Friant Water PAC which has contributed $1,000 so far in 2019; and the Valley First Leadership PAC, which has donated $2,500.
Friant Water PAC contributed $21,950 to six federal candidates in the 2018 cycle, four of them from California. It donated to Republicans and Democrats.
Valley First is run by Steven Diebert, a man GV Wire featured in a 2016 story for serving as an elector to the Electoral College. He is probate referee, helping determine the values of property that the probate court deals with.
In 2018, Valley First contributed $32,100 to 15 Democrats, including $2,000 to Jim Costa (D-Fresno), according to Open Secrets.

Free Trump Swag at Local GOP Event

Fresno County Republicans will gather Tuesday night to celebrate President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.
The local GOP group will gather at the High Sierra Grill House (2003 W. Bullard in Fresno) to watch Trump announce his kick off his 2020 campaign from Florida.
The county party says the first 45 people through the door will receive free Trump swag.

Will Warren, Harris Visit Fresno?

On the Democratic Party side, Politics 101 is hearing of potential Fresno visits by presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) later this summer.

It’s Never Too Early

District attorney Lisa Smittcamp held a fundraiser for her 2022 reelection campaign last week.
Recently reported donations included $5,000 each from Valley Wide Beverage Company, Triple B Ranch, Donghy Sales, Inc., and her father-in-law Robert Smittcamp.
She won her second term unopposed.
 

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

After Record Democratic Speech, House Republicans Begin Final Vote on Trump Tax-Cut Bill

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

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

UP NEXT

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

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

UP NEXT

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

UP NEXT

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

UP NEXT

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

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 Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents

2 hours ago

Dollar rises after Trump announces Japan, South Korea tariffs

2 hours ago

Merced Man Gets More Than 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, High-Speed Chase

2 hours ago

Man Dead After Firing at US Border Patrol Station in Texas

4 hours ago

Tulare County Flume Fire Burns 65 Acres in Sequoia National Forest, Evacuation Order Issued

4 hours ago

Fresno County Fish Fire Burns 15 Acres Near Avocado Lake, 50% Contained

5 hours ago

Wanted Fugitive Found Hiding in Attic Arrested in Chowchilla

5 hours ago

Trump Says US Will Impose 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea

5 hours ago

Wall Street Knocked Lower by Tariff Jitters, Musk’s Political Plan Hurts Tesla

5 hours ago

Trial Over Free Speech on Campus, and Trump’s Student Crackdown, Begins

6 hours ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

How busy were Fresno-area fire departments on July 4 weekend? Some local departments that GV Wire spoke with were still compiling numbers, b...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

Tulare County fire investigators seized about 300 pounds of illegal fireworks and issued multiple citations during a Fourth of July enforcement operation with the sheriff’s office. (Tulare County SO)
1 hour ago

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July

Model of natural gas pipeline and U.S. flag, July 18, 2022. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Proposes Rules That Could Boost Oil, Gas Output in US West

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington, June 27, 2025. For months, Bondi promised the release of documents on the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that could reveal damaging details, drumming up anticipation over the files, long a source of speculation and conspiracy theories — but on Monday, July 7, a memo by the Justice Department undercut her own statements. (Pete Marovich/The New York Times)
2 hours ago

Trump Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken May 4, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Dollar rises after Trump announces Japan, South Korea tariffs

A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Merced Man Gets More Than 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, High-Speed Chase

Photo of caution tape
4 hours ago

Man Dead After Firing at US Border Patrol Station in Texas

The Flume Fire in Sequoia National Forest has burned 65 acres near Highway 190 with no containment as of Monday, July 7, 2025, prompting evacuations in Tulare County. (CalFire)
4 hours ago

Tulare County Flume Fire Burns 65 Acres in Sequoia National Forest, Evacuation Order Issued

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

Search

Send this to a friend