Swearengin Named to State Committee on Housing, Econ
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
October 11, 2019
Former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin appears at last year's California Economic Summit (Image: California Economic Summit)

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Ashley Swearengin, Fresno’s former mayor and current president/CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, will serve on a new state economic committee.
Organized by California Treasurer Fiona Ma, Swearengin is part of the 12-member Housing, Economic Development, Jobs and Opportunity Zone Ad Hoc Committee.


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David Taub
Politics 101
“I sought creative people who are not interested in the status quo,” said Ma said in a news release. “These are thoughtful leaders who will come up with innovative solutions.”
The top goal of the committee is to increase housing production.
Next month, Swearengin is one of many state political power players speaking at the California Economic Summit, Nov. 7-8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Fresno.
They keynote speaker is Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Anti-Dyer Group Forms

Dee Barnes
Dee Barnes has worked for more than 20 years for the city of Fresno. Currently an account technician, Barnes is a past president of the employees’ union and no stranger to insider politics.
This week, she filed paperwork, establishing a political group opposed to Jerry Dyer’s run for mayor in 2020.
“We don’t think Jerry Dyer is the right person for mayor for Fresno,” Barnes told Politics 101. “I have seen how many decisions get made at the department and the city. The amount of cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism is bad. I think we need new leadership and new vision.”
While she said she liked him as a person, Barnes and Dyer have been on opposite sides of a political issue before. In 2013, Dyer supported Measure G, which would have privatized home garbage service. Barnes opposed it. Voters rejected the measure.  Barnes also supported last year’s Measure P parks sales tax ballot proposal, while Dyer opposed it.
Barnes wasn’t ready to reveal how exactly the group, called “Rising Together, No on Dyer for Mayor 2020,” plans to involve itself in the March 3 election.
By filing paperwork with the city clerk, the group can raise and spend money on the election.

City Approves Time Off for Organ Donors

The Fresno City Council unanimously approved a policy to allow city employees paid time off to donate organs and/or bone marrow.
Employees will be granted up to 30 days paid leave in order to donate. The act is named for Toni Hunter, a city employee who donated bone marrow to her husband.
The act is the first major piece of legislation authored by councilman Mike Karbassi, who took office after winning an August special election.

Slatic Fined Over Paperwork

The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state agency in charge of enforcing campaign finance compliance, fined Fresno Unified Trustee Terry Slatic for failing to file paperwork on time.
Slatic was late completing his economic interests statement upon assuming office in December 2018. His penalty — $200. FPPC found no evidence to conceal. Slatic has since filed all necessary forms.

Local Wine in London

Madera County winery Ficklin Vineyards has a diplomatic fan abroad. They recently received a request for their port from Gerry Kaufman, of the U.S. Embassy’s cultural division in London.
“The UK has a long and valued history in the development and traditions of Port wine,” Peter Ficklin, the vineyard’s winemaker and president, said in a news release. “We consider this a special acknowledgment of our premium quality.”
Ficklin says his company is meeting with UK distributors this month to export their wines. Meanwhile, the winery is working with federal authorities and wine industry representatives to legally ship the requested vintage to the embassy overseas.

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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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