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Dyer is Money Leader in 2020 Fresno Mayoral Race
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
August 1, 2019

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Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer has amassed more money for his 2020 mayoral run than the rest of the field combined.
In numbers released Wednesday that cover the first six months of 2019, Dyer raised $262,834. His closest fundraising competitor, Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz, collected $70,109.
Elliott Balch, the COO of philanthropy group Central Valley Community Foundation, raised $44,314.
Dyer, Janz and Balch remain the three main candidates. Councilman Luis Chavez filed to run, but has now withdrawn from the race.
Two others, Brian Jefferson and Richard Renteria, did not file financial data. Renteria ran in the 2016 mayor’s race. Jefferson frequently attends city council meetings, giving his name as Jay Justice Lima when addressing the council.

More Max Support for Dyer

Dyer has drawn his large money haul from fewer contributors than Janz.
In the first six months of 2019, Dyer picked up 28 contributions of $4,700 apiece, the maximum allowed from individuals or companies. He logged a total of 132 contributions of $100 or more (the minimum donation that must be reported).
Janz received support from more contributors, though individual donations were smaller. He reported 262 donations, with only one — from state Treasurer Fiona Ma — coming in at the maximum. Janz’s financial supporters generally have given a few hundred dollars each. Many contributions have notations that they were raised through ActBlue California, an online fundraising service.
Janz raised $9.2 million in his unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) in 2018. That was the eighth-highest fundraising total for all congressional candidates that year, according to federal records.
Of Balch’s 115 donors, none gave the maximum. Balch loaned his campaign $10,700.

Name Raised Spent Cash on hand
Jerry Dyer $262,844 $23,201 $239,633
Andrew Janz $70,109 $23,765 $45,244
Elliott Balch $44,314 $1,504 $43,108
(debt: $10,648)
Luis Chavez* $0 $0 $0
Richard Renteria Did not report
Brian Jefferson Did not report

*Chavez did not file a financial form for his mayoral run, but did file for activity in his 2018 city council election account.

Chavez Drops Out

Chavez fundraising figures reflect the fact he is no longer seeking the city’s top elected job.
“After speaking with my family over the summer, I’ve decided to not run for mayor this time. I was entrusted to represent the great residents of southeast Fresno and I intend to fulfill that promise I made to them,” Chavez said in a statement.
He is not planning to endorse another candidate at this time, he said.

Brand’s Big Numbers

Though Mayor Lee Brand has opted not to run for reelection, he still reported raising $19,600 for the year. In 2018, he secured more than $400,000 in contributions. He spent nearly $31,000, but still has $434,547 in the bank with only a few hundred dollars in unpaid bills.
Brand has considerable leeway on how he can spend his campaign war chest. He could give to other candidates, subject to individual contribution limits. Brand made one such contribution of $1,000 to Nathan Alonzo for his 2020 city council race in east-central Fresno.
He also could use the funds to support independent expenditure campaigns on behalf of candidates or issues.
In addition, Brand can donate campaign funds to charity, as he did with a $1,000 contribution to the Fresno State Foundation for its student food cupboard project.
Brand’s spending in this reporting cycle went primarily to pay for accrued campaign debts of the usual variety (signs, accounting, legal). But there is one interesting expenditure: $11,200 to Moore Information, a firm based in Portland, Oregon, for a voter survey.
A spokesman for Brand would not specify what that survey was about, or when it took place.

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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

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