■Fresno County Supervisorial candidate Dion Bordase escorted out of City Hall by police.

■Bourdase took campaign signs with stakes attached to Thursday’s city council meeting.

■Code enforcement previously took the signs, saying they were illegally placed.

Police cited a candidate for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and escorted him out of a Fresno City Council meeting on Thursday morning.

How incident of supervisor candidate Dion Bourdase getting escorted out of Fresno City Council meeting started. He bright in campaign signs with stakes. Stakes not allowed, could be considered weapon. pic.twitter.com/dhekPn4Gl3

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) February 22, 2024

Dion Bourdase attended the meeting carrying 39 of his campaign signs with the metal stakes attached.

Stakes apparently are not allowed in council chambers, as they can be considered a weapon.

Bourdase said he picked up the signs from the code enforcement office at City Hall.

Officers with code enforcement had previously confiscated the signs as they were allegedly placed on public property illegally. Bourdase said that code enforcement also gave him an $800 bill. Bourdase could be heard accusing the city of “selective code enforcement.”

Bourdase, 38, was cited for PC 403, misdemeanor disturbing a public assembly or meeting. He is scheduled to appear in a Fresno County Superior Court room on June 10.

#Fresno County Supervisor candidate Dion Bourdase escorted out of Fresno City Council meeting by police. Not cuffed. pic.twitter.com/GgRwFGj8r0

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) February 22, 2024

City Cracks Down on Illegal Signs

Earlier this year, City Attorney Andrew Janz, who heads code enforcement, said the city was cracking down on illegal campaign and business signs. Candidates, he said, could pick up their property at City Hall.

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City Council President Annalisa Perea called for a five-minute recess before Bourdase’s removal.

City Manager Georgeanne White met with Bourdase, who was sitting in the gallery. He refused to move his signs. After city officials huddled, Fresno police and security officers escorted Bourdase out of the meeting into the lobby. Bourdase protested, telling officers not to touch him or his signs.

Police detained Bourdase, holding his hands behind his back but did not apply handcuffs.

After about 15 minutes, police informed Bourdase that he would be cited for the disruption. An officer told Bourdase that if he did not leave the building with the police to complete the citation, he would be handcuffed.

Bourdase is running for the Supervisor District 2 seat, which covers much of north Fresno and parts of Clovis.

Other candidates in the race include incumbent Steve Brandau, Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos, and businessman Bryce Herrera.

After he was ejected, Bourdase found a place for his campaign signs — he placed the in front of City Hall.

After getting kicked out of the Fresno City council meeting, supervisor candidate Dion Bourdase found a place for his signs. Also a close-up of the citation received. pic.twitter.com/NnNvG9oWUL

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) February 22, 2024