Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Will Fresno Supervisor Be Drawn Out of His Own Electoral District? See What's Proposed.
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
October 21, 2021

Share

A Fresno County commission will soon pare down more than 20 redistricting maps to just a few. And, if they don’t make the right choice, one former assemblyman says to expect legal action.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the Equitable Map Coalition — comprising of several civil rights groups including the Dolores Huerta Foundation — presented their map of how voting boundaries for Board of Supervisors seats should be drawn.

“They don’t see themselves in us and they don’t need to.”Fresno County employee Heather Evans

“They don’t see themselves in us and they don’t need to. They’ve drawn themselves comfy seats a decade ago, and that decade has seen our wages stagnate and our county remain at the top of the state’s poverty rate. And until we get an equitable map that reflects the community that is here in Fresno, it will go on this way,” county library employee Heather Evans said.

The 11-member Fresno County Advisory Redistricting Commission meets tonight (Thursday, 6:05 p.m.) at the Fresno County Health and Wellness Center (1925 E. Dakota Avenue, Fresno).

Redistricting map submitted by the Equitable Map Coalition (Fresno County)

Could Legal Action Take Place?

Juan Arambula, a former Fresno supervisor and assemblyman, says if the Board approves a map similar to what is already in place, there will be trouble.

“I don’t even want to contemplate that. I hope that the Board of Supervisors will do their duty and follow the state law. But like any other matter, if there is a failure to follow the law, I’m sure there will be people who are looking to see what their remedies are. And obviously, one remedy is through the courts,” Arambula said.

Former supervisor and assemblyman Juan Arambula warns of legal action if the Board of Supervisors selects an unfair map. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Could Mendes Be Drawn Out?

Supervisor Buddy Mendes

The coalition’s map would split the southern portion of the county east-west near Highway 41. If adopted (and there are several other maps with similar lines), it would mean Supervisor Buddy Mendes would not longer live in District 4.

The seats of Mendes and Brian Pacheco (District 1) are up for election in 2022. They live in Riverdale and near Kerman respectively. Depending on the map picked, they could run against each other if both are in District 1.

“We tend to follow the law. Everyone has the right to their opinion,” Mendes said. He would not comment on whether he would vote himself out of his own district.

Protecting a supervisor’s district or drawing him out cannot be a factor in choosing a map.

The supervisors contracted with National Demographics Corporation, which supplied three draft maps. In all versions, Mendes and Pacheco would represent their respective districts.

The Board of Supervisors ultimately will decide on the maps, with a scheduled vote on Nov. 16.

Lines Will Change

The 2020 U.S. Census counted 1,008,530 residents in Fresno County. Since the goal is to achieve proportional representation among five county supervisorial districts, that means an ideal of 201,706 residents per district.

Three districts are currently under the average and two are above. State and federal law allow for a 10% deviation. Overall, 21.75% of the population is unevenly distributed among districts, mandating a redrawing of the boundaries.

District 5, the mountain and Clovis area represented by Nathan Magsig, is about 28,000 residents above the limit. Mendes’ District 4, covering the rural communities east and west of Highway 41, are more than 13,000 residents below the population average.

(Fresno County)

 

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart Featured at Breaking the Chains Luncheon

DON'T MISS

Fact Check: No Evidence Chelsea Clinton Took $84 Million From USAID

DON'T MISS

I Miss the Old Kanye, Not This Antisemitic Crashout

DON'T MISS

Heavy Rains From Atmospheric River Poised to Saturate Fresno

DON'T MISS

Private Jets Collide at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, Killing at Least 1 Person, Authorities Say

DON'T MISS

Farmers Caught in Limbo as Trump’s USDA Suspends Program Funding

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Ceasefire Deal Should Be Canceled if Hamas Doesn’t Release All Hostages by Saturday

DON'T MISS

Chavez Defends His Record After Political Attacks by Council Candidates

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Convicted in Shooting Spree, Faces Life in Prison

DON'T MISS

Meet Madera County’s New Director of Behavioral Health Services

UP NEXT

Heavy Rains From Atmospheric River Poised to Saturate Fresno

UP NEXT

Chavez Defends His Record After Political Attacks by Council Candidates

UP NEXT

Tulare County Man Convicted in Shooting Spree, Faces Life in Prison

UP NEXT

Meet Madera County’s New Director of Behavioral Health Services

UP NEXT

53% Approve of Trump’s Job Performance Amid Economic Concerns

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Darius Savuth Chhun

UP NEXT

Social Media Users Troll Trump, Deem Musk as President

UP NEXT

Oakhurst Residents Turn a Pile of Dirt Into a Beloved Landmark

UP NEXT

Fresno Dispensary to Give Free Cannabis to Medical Patients

UP NEXT

USAID Staffers Turned Away From Offices Even After Court Suspends Leave Order

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

Heavy Rains From Atmospheric River Poised to Saturate Fresno

14 hours ago

Private Jets Collide at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, Killing at Least 1 Person, Authorities Say

14 hours ago

Farmers Caught in Limbo as Trump’s USDA Suspends Program Funding

15 hours ago

Trump Says Ceasefire Deal Should Be Canceled if Hamas Doesn’t Release All Hostages by Saturday

15 hours ago

Chavez Defends His Record After Political Attacks by Council Candidates

16 hours ago

Tulare County Man Convicted in Shooting Spree, Faces Life in Prison

16 hours ago

Meet Madera County’s New Director of Behavioral Health Services

17 hours ago

Visalia Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

17 hours ago

53% Approve of Trump’s Job Performance Amid Economic Concerns

18 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Darius Savuth Chhun

18 hours ago

Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart Featured at Breaking the Chains Luncheon

New York Times bestselling author and abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart will share her harrowing experience of abuse and the story of her r...

47 minutes ago

47 minutes ago

Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart Featured at Breaking the Chains Luncheon

There is no evidence that Chelsea Clinton (left) took home $84 million from USAID, as financial records and fact-checking sources refute the claim. (Shutterstock)
2 hours ago

Fact Check: No Evidence Chelsea Clinton Took $84 Million From USAID

14 hours ago

I Miss the Old Kanye, Not This Antisemitic Crashout

14 hours ago

Heavy Rains From Atmospheric River Poised to Saturate Fresno

At least one person was killed and others were injured when private jets collided Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Shutterstock)
14 hours ago

Private Jets Collide at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, Killing at Least 1 Person, Authorities Say

15 hours ago

Farmers Caught in Limbo as Trump’s USDA Suspends Program Funding

President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
15 hours ago

Trump Says Ceasefire Deal Should Be Canceled if Hamas Doesn’t Release All Hostages by Saturday

16 hours ago

Chavez Defends His Record After Political Attacks by Council Candidates

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

Search

Send this to a friend