Published
3 years agoon
State Center Community College District Trustee Eric Payne will have competition for reelection.
Payne, a two-term trustee, said he intends to run again on the November 2020 ballot.
Sevag Tateosian, a longtime Fresno County employee, filed his intention to run for the District 2 seat, which covers much of Fresno County west of Highway 99, as well as parts of the city of Fresno. Northern Fresno neighborhoods between highways 99 and 41 (north of Barstow Avenue) are included in the area’s borders.
Recent years have been rocky for the two-term trustee. He was fined $54,000 by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for various campaign finance violations. He has had accusations in the past of misusing a district credit card, and more recently, not properly using a rental car — paid for by the district — while attending an educational conference. His actual attendance at those conferences also came into question.
Related Story: State Center: Payne Rented Cars Early, Was Tardy to Conferences in Tahoe, SF
Payne’s colleagues on the SCCCD trustee board have declined to investigate the latest allegations.Related Story: Requested Probe of Trustee Payne Falls One Vote Short
Last June, the FPPC fined Payne after a lengthy investigation. The state’s campaign finance enforcement agency accused Payne of failing to file numerous documents, as well as spending campaign money on clothes for himself.
Payne has yet to pay off the fine. He said he is “working with FPPC now.”
“It’s with the state at this point,” Payne said. “You work through the process.”
Related Story: State Watchdog Drops Hammer on Fresno-Area Politicians
Payne continues to advocate on education and housing issues.David Taub has spent most of his career in journalism behind the scenes working as a TV assignment editor and radio producer. For more than a decade, he has worked in the Fresno market with such stops at KSEE-24, KMJ and Power Talk 96.7. Taub also worked the production and support side of some of TV sports biggest events including the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals and NASCAR to name a few. Taub graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email
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