Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
'Cap' Strikes Back. Councilman Rejects Call to Resign.
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
September 2, 2020

Share

Weeks after a highly critical column about him in The Bee, Fresno City Councilman Paul Caprioglio struck back.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

David Taub

Politics 101

Last month, columnist Marek Warszawski suggested Caprioglio should step aside before his term expires in January.

“Caprioglio seems to have gotten ‘lame duck’ confused with the old high school malady, ‘senioritis.’ Because by most indications, the 74-year-old has almost completely checked out,” Warszawski wrote.

‘Cap’ didn’t take kindly to the insult.

“He’s very, very naive. He doesn’t do his homework. He hasn’t looked at my history,” Caprioglio told Politics 101. “Rather than think of the negatives, let’s think of the positives.”

Caprioglio cited his work to bring a water treatment plant in southeast Fresno online, improve parking around the Fresno State campus, and this week’s start of an airport expansion project as examples of his contributions.

“So from half a billion (dollars), to a neighborhood and everything in between, I’ve touched,” Caprioglio said. “Even though I may not be an elected official, I will continue that commitment. I love my district. I’ve been here 44 years. I’m not giving up ever, ever.”


Also in Politics 101: 

  • Caprioglio explains “phoning it in.”
  • His thoughts on successor Tyler Maxwell.
  • Dems Vote to Oust a Central Committee member.
  • Fresno EOC seeking board candidates.

No Webcams For Caprioglio

Caprioglio has been criticized about the way he participates at city council meetings. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, City Hall chambers have been closed. Six of the council members participate via video teleconferencing.

Only one does not. Caprioglio phones it in, literally. And, he doesn’t plan to change.

“I’m very comfortable in my skin. I don’t need to be on screen. I don’t need to talk about every single issue. I don’t need to toot my own horn. I let my action speak much louder than anyone’s word on this council or previous council,” Caprioglio said.

Wishes Successor Well

After two terms and eight-plus years on the council — including an appointment as interim member in 2008, filling in during Larry Westerlund’s military duty — Caprioglio will be termed out in 2021.

Tyler Maxwell won election last March to succeed Caprioglio.

Even though he endorsed Nathan Alonzo in the race, Cap wished Maxwell well.

“I wish Tyler the best of luck. I’m willing to work with him and share the experiences I’ve had. Not (only) on the council, (but) just in life, just in life and how to handle things in people. To kind of get to where you want to go and the best way to do that,” Caprioglio said.

Day of Reckoning for Democratic Activist

Emily Cameron

Update, 9/02/2020, 9:50 p.m.: The Fresno County Democratic Party central committee voted to remove Emily Cameron from the board. The vote was made in closed session. No vote total was announced.

In reacting to the vote, Cameron on her Twitter page wrote “prepare for war, the tea will be spilled.”

Image preview

Original story:

The Fresno County Democratic Party holds it central committee meeting on tonight. On the agenda is a recommendation to expel board member Emily Cameron.

Cameron faces 25 counts of violating party bylaws. She is accused of using her position for personal gain, as well as disparaging fellow members of the committee.

Cameron has taken to the internet defending herself. She believes the removal proceedings are in retaliation for her effort to ban the local party organization from taking political contributions from police unions.

The central committee says her complaints of “libel, slander, defamation, invasion of privacy, and other claims of wrongdoing … are false.”

The committee is composed of members elected by registered Democrats in a vote conducted by the county clerk during the 2020 primary. Cameron won a seat in the March election.

Cameron has set up a legal defense fund on GoFundMe, raising $346 of her $5,000 goal. She also has a petition of more than 70 supporters opposing her removal.

In order to be removed, two-thirds of the central committee members in attendance must support the motion. Cameron will have up to 30 minutes to plead her case.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Zoom registration can be found here.

Emily Cameron Documents

The following are documents regarding Emily Cameron’s removal proceedings.

Resolution of Removal

Letter from Cameron supporters, opposing removal

Rebuttal from Cameron

Fresno EOC Seeking Board Candidates

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, the regional non-profit with its $131 million budget, is seeking candidates to run for seats on its board of directors.

The seats represent four designated areas in the county and candidates must live in that area. Up for election are areas B, C, F and H. A map of those districts can be found here.

The positions are currently held by Rey Leon, Daniel Parra, Misty Franklin and Linda Hayes respectively.

Fresno EOC handles millions in local, state and federal contracts to provide services such as COVID-19 relief, testing and contact tracing, Head Start and schooling options.

The deadline to run is Oct. 1. Fresno EOC handles its own elections, thus it requires a separate registration to vote which must be made by Nov. 18. The election itself ends Dec. 9, with ballots returned via mail or in-person only.

More details on the election and other qualifications to run can be found here.

Fresno EOC will hold a virtual “open house” on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. via video teleconferencing.

[activecampaign form=27]

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

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

DON'T MISS

UnitedHealth Spent $1.7 Million on Executive Security in 2024, Filing Shows

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Obamacare’s Preventive Care Coverage Mandate

DON'T MISS

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

DON'T MISS

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

DON'T MISS

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

DON'T MISS

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman, Tied to Fentanyl ‘M30 King,’ Sentenced to Federal Prison

DON'T MISS

Tesla Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claiming Sudden Acceleration in Ohio Crash

UP NEXT

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

UP NEXT

Trump Is Dismantling the Education Dept. How That Might Harm Special Ed

UP NEXT

Fresno Barbershop Shooting Leaves Man Dead, Two Others Injured

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

UP NEXT

Merced College Breaks Ground on $21 Million Center Geared for Tomorrow’s Ag Jobs

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest 11 for DUI During Weekend Enforcement

UP NEXT

Zakaria Draws Parallels Between Trump’s Tariffs, Failed 1930s Economic Policies

UP NEXT

One Man Dead After Kings River Rescue Attempt in Fresno County

UP NEXT

Fresno County Will Sell Naming Rights for Clovis and Reedley Libraries

UP NEXT

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

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

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

3 hours ago

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

3 hours ago

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

3 hours ago

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

3 hours ago

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

3 hours ago

Fresno Woman, Tied to Fentanyl ‘M30 King,’ Sentenced to Federal Prison

4 hours ago

Tesla Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claiming Sudden Acceleration in Ohio Crash

4 hours ago

Trump Is Dismantling the Education Dept. How That Might Harm Special Ed

4 hours ago

Special Interests Pour More Than Half a Billion Into CA Lobbying

5 hours ago

Texas Walmart Shooter Who Killed 23 Avoids Death Penalty by Pleading Guilty

6 hours ago

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Paul Atkins, who previously served as a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission member from 2002 to 2008 and wa...

1 hour ago

CEO of Patomak Global Partners Paul Atkins takes part in a strategic and policy CEO discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Eisenhower Execution Office Building in Washington, U.S., April 11, 2017. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo)
1 hour ago

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

The corporate logo of the UnitedHealth Group appears on the side of one of their office buildings in Santa Ana, California, U.S., April 13, 2020. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
2 hours ago

UnitedHealth Spent $1.7 Million on Executive Security in 2024, Filing Shows

3 hours ago

US Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Obamacare’s Preventive Care Coverage Mandate

Pilar Rose, 51, formerly of Fresno, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and obstructing an IRS audit, agreeing to forfeit her mansion and BMW after falsifying financial records to evade taxes and secure fraudulent loans. (Zillow)
3 hours ago

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

Nathaniel Ray Diaz, 21, of Greenfield, is a California state prisoner who has been indicted on federal charges on Monday, April 21, 2025, for allegedly directing a minor to send sexually explicit images while serving time for previous offenses against the same child. (Shutterstock)
3 hours ago

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a news conference about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest autism survey in Washington, April 16, 2025. In his first attempt to significantly change the nation’s food supply, Kennedy will direct food manufacturers to phase out eight petroleum-based food dyes that are found in hundreds of thousands of grocery-store staples, the department said on Monday, April 21. (Pete Kiehart/The New York Times)
3 hours ago

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

3 hours ago

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

President Donald Trump attends the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 21, 2025. (REUTERS/Leah Millis)
3 hours ago

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

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

Search

Send this to a friend