Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Texas Governor Vows to Replace Democrats Absent at Monday Redistricting Vote

17 hours ago

US Links $1.9 Billion in State Disaster Funds to Israel Boycott Stance

19 hours ago

More Than 3,000 Boeing Fighter Jet Workers Go on Strike After Rejecting Contract Offer

19 hours ago

Trump Says He Will ‘Substantially’ Raise Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Purchases

20 hours ago

More Gazans Die Seeking Aid and From Hunger, as Burial Shrouds in Short Supply

20 hours ago

Fresno Man Who Drowned in Kings River Identified

20 hours ago

White House Backs Away From IVF Coverage Mandate Despite Trump’s Campaign Pledge, Washington Post Reports

2 days ago

‘Freedom Week’: California Gun Owners Rush to Buy Ammo After Court Ruling

4 days ago
Radio Ad Slams Arambula Over Run-in with Supervisors
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
July 23, 2020

Share

Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula’s confrontation last week with members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors has made him the target of conservative activist and campaign consultant Tal Cloud.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

David Taub

Politics 101


Also in Politics 101:

  • Will there be a City-County workshop next week?
  • Groups concerned over access to meeting.
  • Two more candidates running for SCCCD school board.
  • Who is not running against Lisa Smittcamp for DA.

Sixty-second radio ads voiced by Cloud and paid for by Common Sense Information, accuse Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, of personal motives for last Friday’s verbal spat over COVID-19 mitigation spending.

Cloud formed Common Sense Information, an independent political committee, in 2010 and it has a history of attacking politicians, groups, and causes that Cloud opposes via radio ads airing throughout the state.

Ominous music plays underneath a narration touching on Arambula’s 2019 child abuse trial in which he was acquitted and speculating on his motivation for confronting the supervisors.

The ad can be heard below:

“Joaquin Arambula only cares about his own interests. That’s why he’s taken to grandstanding at the expense of our Fresno County supervisors. And why wouldn’t he? Grandstanding appears to be the only way he will bully Fresno County to cut a $5 million check to his brother’s nonprofit and other social justice groups,” the ad says.

The commercial references a spending plan proposed by local nonprofits to the county and city on how to spend some of the CARES Act dollars, as reported on by Alex Tavlian of the San Joaquin Valley Sun.

According to an updated proposal (can be viewed here and here), the plan would allocate $653,285 to Go Public Schools Fresno. Arambula’s brother Diego Arambula serves on the group’s leadership council.

“I will not engage in a back-and-forth about last week’s encounters, nor will I engage in other people’s attempts to politicize events or deflect from the COVID-19 crisis while the virus continues to spread throughout Fresno County,” Arambula told Politics 101 in an email statement.

Arambula said he wants to focus on COVID-19 and the county’s plan to spend $81 million in federal CARES Act funds.

“I am asking questions because these are the questions I’ve heard from the community regarding transparency and an inability to participate in public discussions. We believe there is a lack of urgency from Fresno County Supervisors to fight this pandemic. In particular, this lack of urgency is impacting essential workers, from the fields to packing houses to health care facilities and other jobs deemed ‘essential.’  Specifically, it is harming our most vulnerable people who live in our rural communities.”

His full statement can be read here.

Arambula is running for his fourth term in November. He will face Republican businessman Fernando Banuelos.

City-County Meeting Next Week?

The county and city are supposed to meet next Tuesday for a public workshop discussing federal stimulus spending. The county sent a news release about the event, and it’s on the official agenda website.

But, Board of Supervisors Chairman Buddy Mendes says not so fast.

“If it’s not set by Friday afternoon, what the concept this workshops will be, then we’re going to have to say ‘thank you very much.’ We can’t even agree to what the hell the table even looks like,” Mendes said.

Earlier this week, Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias sent Mendes a letter detailing plans for regional collaboration to combat COVID-19. It includes frequent and detailed testing data, contact tracing, and a breakdown of CARES Act expenditures.

I think they have a completely different concept of what the meeting is,” Mendes said.

Mendes said many of Arias’ points were addressed in prior correspondence with Fresno councilman Luis Chavez.

Format of Meeting Not Finalized

The amount of interaction between the public and the county/city is still being determined. It could be an official meeting — falling under the state’s open meeting laws — or just a meeting with the public invited, but no policy decisions made.

The main factor is how many members of the Board of Supervisors and/or the Fresno City Council attend. If it is a majority of either board, it has to be an official meeting. That means the public will have time to make comments.

While the county plans to air the meeting live on its Facebook page, a group of civil rights organizations is asking the county to guarantee online interactivity like Zoom or a call-in line.

“Public participation is a crucial part of our democratic process. All residents must have the opportunity to have their voices heard in local, regional and state decision-making processes, in an inclusive and transparent manner, especially in times of crisis,” the letter, signed by 17 groups, said.

“I’m not even going to address that,” Mendes said.

If the meeting happens, the public can attend at the Fresno County Plaza Building ballroom (2220 Tulare Street) Tuesday, July 28, at 9 a.m.

Two More Running for SCCCD Races

Danielle Parra

There may be at least three competitive races for seats on the State Center Community College District board.

Danielle Parra, of Fowler, has filed to run against incumbent John Leal in Area 3. The seat covers parts of east and southeast Fresno, Clovis, and southward including Kingsburg and Caruthers.

Parra, 22,  graduated from Fresno State last year and is in graduate school. She works part-time as a bookkeeper and in retail. Her father, Daniel Parra, is a Fowler councilman.

This is her first race, but she is a veteran staffer of other campaigns, including her father’s.

“I feel like I know the needs of students right now currently being a student … I know that there’s resources that students depend on heavily. I know that teachers need a voice as well,” Parra said. Her mother is an educator.

Abena Cruise, a community outreach director, has filed to run against Richard Caglia in Area 7. That seat covers much of central Fresno, roughly the area between Herndon and McKinley avenues.

Trustee Eric Payne of Area 2 — covering much of northwest Fresno and western Fresno County — faces challenges from Sevag Tateosian and Nasreen Johnson.

Baly is Not Running for DA

Someone was determined to see attorney Scott Baly of the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office make a splash on Twitter on Sunday.

Creating a fake account, the Twitter user said that Baly was running against District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp in 2022.

Baly told Politics 101 that he is not running for the post.

Smittcamp, first elected in 2014, did not have an opponent in 2018. She has filed paperwork to run again in 2022.

Scott Baly says this Twitter account is fake, and he is not running for district attorney.

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

House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood

DON'T MISS

US DOJ to Open Grand Jury Probe Into Obama Officials, Source Says

DON'T MISS

State Gives Adventist Health OK for $1B in Bonds. Valley Children’s Gets $11M Grant

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to Prison Sentence for Mexican National in Fentanyl Case

DON'T MISS

Statue of Confederate General Albert Pike to Be Reinstalled in Washington

DON'T MISS

Record Number of Senate Democrats Vote to Block Israel Weapons Sales

DON'T MISS

Fresno County House Fire Displaces Two Adults and Injures Dog

DON'T MISS

Should Lyft and Uber Charge More if Your Phone Battery Is Low? California May Ban That

DON'T MISS

US Government Restricts Sports Visas for Transgender Women

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

Fresno County House Fire Displaces Two Adults and Injures Dog

UP NEXT

Tulare County Inmate Dies After Collapsing at Jail

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Investigating Fatal Shooting of 70-Year-Old Man

UP NEXT

California Police Misconduct Records Now Available in Public Database

UP NEXT

Triple-Digit Temps Returning to Fresno. How Long Will They Last?

UP NEXT

Visalia Intersection Near Elementary School to Become All-Way Stop

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Jesus Eduardo Cardenas

UP NEXT

More Than 3,000 Boeing Fighter Jet Workers Go on Strike After Rejecting Contract Offer

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Who Drowned in Kings River Identified

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

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme

13 hours ago

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to Prison Sentence for Mexican National in Fentanyl Case

13 hours ago

Statue of Confederate General Albert Pike to Be Reinstalled in Washington

13 hours ago

Record Number of Senate Democrats Vote to Block Israel Weapons Sales

14 hours ago

Fresno County House Fire Displaces Two Adults and Injures Dog

14 hours ago

Should Lyft and Uber Charge More if Your Phone Battery Is Low? California May Ban That

15 hours ago

US Government Restricts Sports Visas for Transgender Women

15 hours ago

Tulare County Inmate Dies After Collapsing at Jail

17 hours ago

Fresno Police Investigating Fatal Shooting of 70-Year-Old Man

17 hours ago

Israel to Decide Next Steps in Gaza After Ceasefire Talks Collapse

17 hours ago

House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood

More than a dozen House Democrats have signed a draft letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and the leade...

11 hours ago

A Palestinian flag, center, flies at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., April 22, 2024. More than a dozen House Democrats have signed a draft letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and the leader of the effort said on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, that he planned to introduce a resolution to codify the push. (Sophie Park/The New York Times)
11 hours ago

House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood

Former U.S. President Barack Obama attends the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

US DOJ to Open Grand Jury Probe Into Obama Officials, Source Says

Adventist Health and Valley Children's getting clearance for financing
12 hours ago

State Gives Adventist Health OK for $1B in Bonds. Valley Children’s Gets $11M Grant

The crest of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo
13 hours ago

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme

Miguel Obed Romero Reyes was sentenced to over four years in prison after a Fresno County traffic stop uncovered more than 200,000 fentanyl pills in his vehicle. (DOJ)
13 hours ago

Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to Prison Sentence for Mexican National in Fentanyl Case

Messages of protest remain after protesters toppled the statue of Albert Pike, amid a series of racial inequality protests, at the Brigadier General Albert Pike Statue site near Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 7, 2020. (Reuters File)
13 hours ago

Statue of Confederate General Albert Pike to Be Reinstalled in Washington

A general view shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

Record Number of Senate Democrats Vote to Block Israel Weapons Sales

A house fire south of Selma on Monday, August 4, 2025, morning displaced two adults and injured a dog, with the cause under investigation. (CalFire)
14 hours ago

Fresno County House Fire Displaces Two Adults and Injures Dog

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

Search

Send this to a friend