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Questions Remain from Borgeas' Hawai'i Trip. He's Not Talking.
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
November 25, 2020

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State Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) said he went to a conference in Hawai’i last week to discuss how to reopen California.

But he’s been silent on other details, and still doesn’t want to talk about.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

David Taub

Politics 101

Politics 101 reached out to Borgeas and his spokesman who said they will not offer a new statement other than what was released last week.

Borgeas, and several other state lawmakers, attended the Independent Voter Project conference, at a time when the state called for limited travel, more restrictions on businesses, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s French Laundry dinner party controversy.

On social media, Borgeas has posted his letter to Newsom about COVID-19 shutdowns, his fight against AB 5, and where to find assistance for victims of the wildfires.

But, he has been silent on the details of his trip.

His office said no taxpayer funds were used, but did not say who did pay — whether it was from his campaign funds, a lobbyist, or out of his own pocket.

A Borgeas spokesman said that the senator’s next campaign filing reports might shed some light on how the trip was paid for without offering more details. However, those reports aren’t due until Feb. 1.

Borgeas hasn’t answered if he traveled alone or had guest, who he met at the conference and what they discussed, or why teleconferencing wasn’t an option.

There has been frustration on social media over Borgeas’ trip. Former Fresno City Councilman Jerry Duncan said voters will remember when Borgeas runs for re-election in 2022.


Also in Politics 101: 

  • Congressman TJ Cox still holding out hope for an election turnaround.
  • City of Fresno approves filing another suit against the federal government.

Cox Seeking a Cure to Turn Around Election Numbers

As of Wednesday morning, Congressman TJ Cox (D-Fresno) trails by more than 1,800 votes in his yet-to-be-officially-called race against the once and possibly future congressman David Valadao (R-Hanford).

At this point, Cox may need a Patrick Mahomes-style comeback among the 3,000-plus ballots remaining.

His current strategy is to reach out to those voters who need to fix ballot signature problems. Ballots can be “cured” if the signatures did not match the voter registration file, or no signature was present at all.

Cox’s campaign is hosting phone banking events today and this weekend, to call those voters who need to cure ballots that have been rejected for mismatched signatures. Such lists are publicly available. The exact number of ballots to be cured, though, is not known.

But, time is running out. Ballots must be cured two days prior to the date a county certifies their election. Fresno County plans to certify Friday, which means the deadline is today. Kings and Tulare counties have targeted next Monday to certify, meaning a Saturday deadline to cure.

Photo combination of Rep. Tj Cox and David Valadao
Congressman TJ Cox (left) is holding phone banking events to help cure ballots. He is trailing David Valadao (right) in their congressional race. (GV Wire File)

Fresno Suing Federal Government Over Water

The Fresno City Council voted to file a second lawsuit against the federal government over water deliveries. The 3-1 vote was decided in closed session at last week’s council meeting.

In 2016, the city and 17 other plaintiffs — mostly Central Valley water and irrigation districts — sued the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington D.C.

Thirteen other water districts, including the Westland Water District, entered the lawsuit as defendants.

The original suit, still in litigation, accuses the federal government of breach of contract for a shortage of water deliveries from the Central Valley Project, Friant Division in 2014. The plaintiffs are seeking $350 million in damages.

The approved new suit from the city would claim a breach of contract for 2015 delivery shortages. The timing allows the city to meet the six year statute of limitation. It has not been filed yet, but will be soon.

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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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