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Valadao Skips Swearing In for House Seat Following Positive COVID Test
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
January 5, 2021

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While his colleagues were being sworn in, Congressman David Valadao stayed home in Hanford, waiting out a COVID-19 diagnosis.

“I received a rapid antigen COVID-19 test that showed a positive read. I am now waiting for the results from my PCR test, which takes longer and is more accurate. I will stay home in the meantime,” Valadao tweeted on Friday.

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Politics 101

His office said on Monday that Valadao (R-Hanford) is “doing well and already hard at work by holding continued conversations with local elected officials and health care professionals to learn what challenges they are facing on the ground.”

Because Valadao missed his swearing-in, he could not vote on the selection of Speaker of the House. Regardless, he is still considered an official member of Congress, his staff says.

This is Valadao’s second time serving as congressman. He served three terms before being defeated by Democrat TJ Cox in 2018. Valadao won a rematch last November.

Valadao hired campaign manager Andrew Renteria as his chief of staff. Faith VanderVoorth — whose resume includes working for the Trump/Pence campaign and at the Department of Interior — is Valadao’s communications director.


Also in Politics 101: 

  • Brandau will lead Board of Supervisors.
  • Maxwell steps down from party role, hires staff.

Brandau In Line for Leading Supervisors

Steve Brandau is next in line to chair the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He officially takes over at Tuesday’s meeting.

By county charter, the board chairmanship rotates to the supervisor who has gone the longest without serving as chair. Since the remaining four supervisors have all had a turn at the gavel, it is now Brandau’s turn.

The Fresno City Council will also chose its leaders on Thursday. Even though there is a rotational order in place, the council last month voted to give themselves leeway to change it.

Luis Chavez is scheduled to become president, with Garry Bredefeld as vice president — pending council voting.

Maxwell Steps Down from Local Party Post as He Takes Oath

Tyler Maxwell takes the oath of office tomorrow to become councilman for Fresno’s District 4.

In advance of his new position, he stepped down as president of the Fresno County Young Democrats.

Jewel Hurtado, a Kingsburg councilwoman and the group’s current vice president, will step in as interim president.

Maxwell has announced his office team —Laura Garcia, chief of staff; Carmen Iniguez, district director; Nabil Kherfan, deputy district director, Dayana Jiselle, communications director (to be shared with District 7 Councilman Nelson Esparza); and McKay Duran, intern.

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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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