Ex-Fresno County Political Staffer Sentenced in Financial Conflict of Interest Case

By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist

Published 2 years ago on

February 4, 2022

A former top Fresno County supervisorial staffer pleaded no contest to a conflict of interest charge Thursday and was sentenced to one year of probation and 60 hours of community service, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp announced.

Steven Rapada was serving as chief of staff for Area 5 Supervisor Sal Quintero when investigators learned that he had a personal financial interest and participated in a county-negotiated contract for a project at the old University Medical Center in southeast Fresno.

In addition to serving the sentence of probation and community service, Rapada’s plea forever disqualifies him from holding public office in California. If convicted at trial, he could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison.

Rapada is a former Reedley councilman. He once ran for supervisor himself, finishing fourth in 2014 in the race eventually won by Buddy Mendes.

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Nancy Price,

Multimedia Journalist

Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email