Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Despite Last-Minute Changes, Senate Bill Deals Big Blow to Renewable Energy

6 hours ago

Trump-Backed Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Passes US Senate

8 hours ago

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

8 hours ago

Israeli Officials to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Washington Amid Military Escalation in Gaza

9 hours ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support

9 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 day ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

1 day ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

1 day ago
Chavez, Jonasson Rosas Investigated Over FUSD Votes
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
April 27, 2021

Share

Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez and his wife, Fresno Unified trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, are being investigated for alleged improper votes while on the school board.

An anonymous complaint on Oct. 17, 2019, to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, alleges that Chavez and Jonasson Rosas, by approving improvements for Roosevelt High School, benefited themselves because they live close to the school.

An additional complaint was filed a month later.

Advocating for Roosevelt ‘Is Part of My Job’

Chavez and Jonasson Rosas say they did nothing wrong.

“I ran on the platform of improving schools at Roosevelt and the Roosevelt region. Should a school board member not vote to support what he was elected to do? That’s a simple question,” Chavez said.

Jonasson Rosas says advocating for her area is “part of my job.”

“I do believe that we’re going to get cleared because, it does not directly affect our property value. It is indistinguishable. The improvements were to existing structures. And moreover, as an elected official, you’re supposed to advocate for your schools and your institutions,” Jonasson Rosas said.

The couple lives on Huntington Boulevard, less than 500 feet from the school.

“They each voted on agenda items/contracts directly benefitting Roosevelt High School — millions of dollars worth of improvements to that school, which positively impacted their personal residence and neighborhood. These votes were throughout their tenure on the school board,” the complaint alleges.

Chavez served on the FUSD board from 2012-2016 before winning election to the Fresno City Council. Jonasson Rosas won election for the seat in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020.

The case is listed as “opened and pending,” according to the FPPC complaint and case information portal.

“I will be getting a letter of clearance here pretty soon,” Chavez said.

FPPC Codes: Properties Within 500 Feet Affected

Whether Chavez or Jonasson Rosas is in violation could hinge on whether their votes had a measurable financial impact on their property.

The relevant FPPC code is Section 18702.2 which determines when a voting decision may be considered “material” on a property owned by the elected official.

“The reasonably foreseeable financial effect of a governmental decision on a parcel of real property in which an official has a financial interest, other than a leasehold interest, is material whenever the governmental decision involves property located 500 feet or less from the property line of the parcel unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the decision will not have any measurable impact on the official’s property,” the code states.

FPPC spokesman Jay Wierenga declined to comment on the cases involving Chavez and Jonasson Rosas. Wierenga said similar cases (in general) may depend on how many people benefited from the votes.

“For example, maybe a zoning decision may improve a public officials home value, but if it also improves half the town’s value then it’s not necessarily different from a significant number or even majority of people. But if it just affects her/his home and three neighbors, that might be something different,” Wierenga said via email.

Several FPPC advice letters from February 2021 answer similar questions. The general advice is voting on items within 500 feet of property depends on whether there is a material financial effect.

[Update, 4/28/21: the wording in this section has been updated. FPPC spokesman Jay Wierenga was speaking in general terms and not on any specific case.]

Votes at School Board

Minutes on Fresno Unified’s website date back to 2015. There are several examples of Chavez and later Jonasson Rosas voting on items affecting Roosevelt High School.

For example, Chavez voted on March 11, 2015, for lighting and a chiller.

At the June 13, 2018, meeting, Jonasson Rosas voted for improvements to the athletic fields.

Jonasson Rosas started abstaining from Roosevelt items at the April 1, 2020, meeting — after the FPPC complaint was filed.

She explained why, according to the meeting minutes.

“My residence is located within 500 feet of the baseball fields that are at the southwest edge of the property comprising the Roosevelt High School site. Despite this proximity Bid 20-27 will have no measurable financial impact on my property because it funds replacement of bleachers, drinking fountains or walkways already in place. Moreover, Bid 20-27 is indistinguishable to other properties within my Trustee area that are part of the Roosevelt High School attendance area. Not withstanding the absence of any financial impact on my property, I abstain from this vote on Bid 20-27 pursuant to Board Bylaw 9270 in the express purpose of avoiding any appearance of any conflict,” she said.

Jonasson Rosas said the FPPC complaint influenced her statements before her recusals.

“It was a consideration, just to be clear for the public,” she said.

Former Trustee Hit With $4,000 Fine in Similar Case

Former Bullard High region trustee Brooke Ashjian paid a $4,000 fine to the state’s political watchdog in 2019 after he left office to settle a similar conflict of interest. That case involved Ashjian’s vote for $5.2 million in improvements at Rata High School.

According to state law, Ashjian should have abstained from the vote because he owned property within 500 feet of the special education school.

Ashjian told GV Wire that the district’s lawyers never advised that he was forbidden from voting on the contract because of his property’s proximity to the school.

He paid a total of $23,500 in fines for failure to disclose conflicts. The FPPC said it found no evidence that Ashjian “intended to conceal, deceive, or mislead the public.”

FPPC Complaint

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 Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

DON'T MISS

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

DON'T MISS

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

DON'T MISS

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

DON'T MISS

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

UP NEXT

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

UP NEXT

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

UP NEXT

The Chainsmokers to Headline Dog Daze Festival at Chukchansi Park

UP NEXT

Sex Abuse Scandal Forces Fresno’s Catholic Diocese to Declare Bankruptcy

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Intoxicated Employee Following Morning Disturbance

UP NEXT

Fresno Police, CHP Crack Down on Impaired Driving for July 4th

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Amaury Fernandez

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Investigate Deadly Shooting Near Bethlehem Center

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

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

1 hour ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

2 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

2 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

2 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

2 hours ago

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

3 hours ago

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

3 hours ago

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

3 hours ago

Jury Reaches Verdict on Some Counts at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

3 hours ago

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

3 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration released about 150 National Guard troops on Tuesday in the first pullback since it dispatched a milit...

2 minutes ago

2 minutes ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

An Israeli military convoy manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
39 minutes ago

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, was arrested Sunday, June, 30, 2025, in Madera County on suspicion of starting a wildfire just hours after crews responded to a separate blaze sparked by farm equipment. (Madera County SO)
56 minutes ago

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

1 hour ago

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERSStringerFile Photo
2 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

2 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

Lara Trump looks on during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

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

Search

Send this to a friend