■Supervisor Steve Brandau spends big on election Super Bowl ad.

■Is Andreas Borgeas gearing for a comeback?

■Hearings for massive new northwest Fresno Costco are set.

A record-setting Super Bowl audience means record prices for ads on the big game. And, one local politician took the plunge.

Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau aired a 30-second ad for his re-election. While CBS charged a reported $7 million for a 30-second national spot, local affiliate CBS 47 charged $25,000, Brandau’s campaign said. Each CBS affiliate across the nation received a few minutes during the game to sell locally.

Brandau’s ad, which aired during halftime, touted his accomplishments.

FCC records show that Brandau and one of his political opponents, Garry Bredefeld, are running TV ads on several news broadcasts.

The most expensive TV ad real estate is KMPH Fox26 10 O’Clock News at $750. ABC 30 Action News early evening broadcasts charge $383. Both are for 30 seconds.

Brandau booked approximately $11,500 on ABC 30 from now until the end of the election period on March 5. Bredefeld plans to spend $14,400 on ABC 30.

On KMPH, Brandau is slated to spend $13,825; Bredefeld booked $18,260 in ads there. KSEE 24 and CBS 47, both owned by Nexstar, have not posted figures.

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Borgeas in 2028?

Is Andreas Borgeas interested in returning to politics?

Borgeas, who declined to run for a second state Senate term in 2022, filed paperwork to run for Fresno County Supervisor … in 2028. Borgeas served as a supervisor from 2013 to 2018, and on the Fresno City Council before that.

In campaign financial maneuvering, Borgeas transferred $677,619 from his Borgeas for Senate 2026 account to his county account on Jan. 31.

Redistricting affected Borgeas’s decision not to run again for state Senate. The Fresno Republican found himself in the same district as state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. Facing a decision of running against another senator, or moving to an adjoining district, Borgeas bowed out.

What’s interesting is that Grove is term-limited, and cannot run again in 2026. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has no term limits.

New Costco Public Hearing Dates Set

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is excited about Costco potentially moving locations in northwest Fresno.

“I anticipate that that’s going to occur. I do believe that there will be … not just the Costco development, but the largest Costco in the world will be right here in Fresno,” Dyer said on Tuesday.

The city set dates for public hearings for the 219,000-square-foot warehouse, to be located at Herndon Avenue and Riverside Drive. The new Costco will also feature a 13,000-square-foot gas station with 32 pumps, and a new for the area 4,800-square-foot car wash.

The planning commission will consider the application on Wednesday, Feb. 21. It is set to go to the city council on March 7. Both will decide on land use issues for the retailer, including changing roadway classifications, conditional use permits, and the environmental impact report.

The current Costco in northwest Fresno is at Shaw Avenue and Golden State Boulevard.

Schiff Returns to Fresno

Congressmember Adam Schiff, running for U.S. Senate, is planning a Fresno visit next month. Schiff, D-Burbank, will campaign in Fresno on March 2.

It will be an ambitious weekend — the last before voting ends on March 5. Schiff has events for Orange County and Palm Springs, before his 2:15 p.m. Fresno appearance. The campaign did not reveal the exact location.

He has an event in Sacramento after Fresno. Based on his itinerary, it appears Schiff will travel by air.

Those interested in going are asked to RSVP here.