Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Construction of $200M Trump Ballroom at the White House to Begin in September

15 hours ago

US Senate Committee Backs $1 Billion for Ukraine in Pentagon Spending Bill

17 hours ago

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

18 hours ago

Wall Street Jumps as Microsoft Enters $4 Trillion Club After Results

19 hours ago

Fresno Unified Trustee Susan Wittrup Responds to $162,000 Payout

1 day ago

Neptune to Launch a Creator-First, Customizable Algorithm Social Platform to Rival TikTok

2 days ago

Kamala Harris Will Not Run for Governor of California in 2026

2 days ago

Trump Pushes for Release of Epstein, Maxwell Grand Jury Testimony

2 days ago
Campaign Contribution Limit Set for Fresno County Races at $30K
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
August 4, 2020

Share

The days of unlimited campaign contributions for candidates running for Fresno County offices are over.

Now, the limit is $30,000 per election cycle (primary and general election), as approved by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, 5-0, at Tuesday’s meeting.

The limits not only apply to individual contributors but to political action committees as well — a fact that rankles unions.

I like level playing fields, and I appreciate the fact that this is more restrictive than what was in place last year,” supervisor Nathan Magsig said.

Labor Union Leader Critical of Limits

“The primary driver of this ordinance is to handicap unions going into the 2022 elections. Unions do not equal one person.”Labor leader Dillon Savory

Dillon Savory, executive director of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council, told Politics 101 via email that supervisors are targeting labor unions’ access to the political process.

“The primary driver of this ordinance is to handicap unions going into the 2022 elections. Unions do not equal one person,” Savory said. “Unions collect voluntary donations each month from our members and use those dollars collectively to support real public officials who aren’t bought by their campaign contributors. If the supervisors are serious about campaign finance reform, they should match the limits of state or federal elections.”

Savory said the supervisors should concentrate on “saving lives” rather than debating campaign limits — a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since Fresno County refuses to accept public comment over the phone or internet, it’s obvious that there is something dishonest about this ordinance,” Savory said. “To set the campaign finance limit at $30,000 is not even setting a limit at-all. That’s a down payment on a house for most Valley families. The only ‘people’ that have that type of cash to throw at elections are the same old money families that already finance most of the supervisors.”

Savory said the limit is 10 times higher than the limit for congressional candidates, even though supervisor districts are smaller. The federal limits are $2,800 for individuals and $5,000 for PAC.

Changes Based on State Law

Last year, state legislators passed AB 571, requiring counties and cities to set limits if none had been there before. If a jurisdiction fails to set limits by the Jan. 1 deadline, maximum contributions revert to state limits for assemblymembers and state senators — $4,700 an election cycle.

The city of Fresno has established limits already tied to the $4,700 maximum.

Current supervisors and recent candidates have raised big money in the past. Steve Brandau received $40,000 in contributions from Granville Homes for the 2019 special election. Darius Assemi, president/CEO of Granville Homes, is the publisher of GV Wire.

In that same contest, SEIU 521 contributed $45,000 to Nasreen Johnson.

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

Trump Sets 10% to 41% ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs on Dozens of Countries’ Exports

DON'T MISS

Fresno Fire Displaces Family of Three, Pets Rescued

DON'T MISS

Measure C Advisory Group Still Squabbling but Agrees on Mission Statement

DON'T MISS

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms and Drugs in Fowler

DON'T MISS

Countries With No Trade Deal Will Hear From US by Midnight, White House Says

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Envoy Meets Netanyahu for Gaza Aid, Ceasefire Push

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s $100M Warehouse Project Means Big Things for City: Dyer

DON'T MISS

Construction of $200M Trump Ballroom at the White House to Begin in September

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Fire Responds to Three-Alarm Fire at Commercial Building Near Tipton

UP NEXT

Measure C Advisory Group Still Squabbling but Agrees on Mission Statement

UP NEXT

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms and Drugs in Fowler

UP NEXT

Fresno’s $100M Warehouse Project Means Big Things for City: Dyer

UP NEXT

Tulare County Fire Responds to Three-Alarm Fire at Commercial Building Near Tipton

UP NEXT

Yosemite’s Largest Campground Reopens Friday After $26.2 Million Renovation

UP NEXT

US Navy Jet Crashes in Fresno County Field. Pilot ‘Safe’ After Ejecting

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Nathaniel Smith

UP NEXT

Fresno Illustrator Debuts as Author With Gamer’s ‘100 First Words’ Children’s Book

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, Suspect Vehicle Located

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

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

13 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms and Drugs in Fowler

13 hours ago

Countries With No Trade Deal Will Hear From US by Midnight, White House Says

14 hours ago

Trump’s Envoy Meets Netanyahu for Gaza Aid, Ceasefire Push

14 hours ago

Fresno’s $100M Warehouse Project Means Big Things for City: Dyer

15 hours ago

Construction of $200M Trump Ballroom at the White House to Begin in September

15 hours ago

Tulare County Fire Responds to Three-Alarm Fire at Commercial Building Near Tipton

16 hours ago

If Texas Gerrymanders Its House Districts, Costa Says California Must Follow Suit

16 hours ago

Yosemite’s Largest Campground Reopens Friday After $26.2 Million Renovation

17 hours ago

Two Men Shot During Fight at Tulare Apartment Complex

17 hours ago

Trump Sets 10% to 41% ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs on Dozens of Countries’ Exports

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday imposing reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on U.S. imports from dozens...

10 hours ago

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 8, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
10 hours ago

Trump Sets 10% to 41% ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs on Dozens of Countries’ Exports

A fire sparked by oily rags displaced a Fresno family and damaged their home Thursday, July 31, 2025, but firefighters rescued three dogs, a chameleon, and a turtle with no injuries reported. (Fresno FD)
12 hours ago

Fresno Fire Displaces Family of Three, Pets Rescued

Measure C MeasureC Highway 41 HWY41 Transportation tax (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)
13 hours ago

Measure C Advisory Group Still Squabbling but Agrees on Mission Statement

Eevee Is GV Wire's Adoptable Cat of the Week, July 31, 2025
13 hours ago

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

Fresno County authorities helped Fowler police arrest a suspect on Thursday, July 31, 2025, and seize stolen firearms, drugs, ammunition, and cash following a grand theft investigation. (Fowler PD)
13 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms and Drugs in Fowler

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 31, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
14 hours ago

Countries With No Trade Deal Will Hear From US by Midnight, White House Says

Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, July 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

Trump’s Envoy Meets Netanyahu for Gaza Aid, Ceasefire Push

15 hours ago

Fresno’s $100M Warehouse Project Means Big Things for City: Dyer

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

Search

Send this to a friend