Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and a Los Angeles County official offended a San Francisco resident earlier this year. Now the issue will head to small claims court.

Lorena Caldera said Soria and Angeles Zaragoza — a one-time Los Angeles County public defender who is a board member with the Board of State and Community Corrections  — “verbally, mentally, and emotionally abused and physically assaulted while I attended the University of California, Berkeley.”

The hand-written complaint did not detail the exact nature of the incident or the location. Caldera listed an incident date of July 8, 2024.

Soria’s campaign blasted the lawsuit.

“Ms. Caldera was an acquaintance of Assemblymember Soria’s over 20 years ago during her time at UC Berkeley. She has not spoken to or interacted with Ms. Caldera in over 20 years. Her claim of an interaction with Assemblymember Soria on July 8, 2024, is a complete fabrication as are all the other claims made.  There is zero merit or truth to any claims made by Ms. Caldera,” senior campaign adviser Pat Dennis told Politics 101.

When Politics 101 reached out to Caldera — who says she is a law student — for more information, she inquired if she could be paid for her story. GV Wire does not pay for tips or stories, she was told.

Caldera, 42, is seeking $2,500 for treatment with a therapist “to help with healing from this traumatic experience.”

The lawsuit is scheduled for Fresno County Superior Court small claims on Nov. 7.

Did Brandau Accept Too Much Money?

Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau is in a tight race against Garry Bredefeld. Campaign finance records show Brandau may have exceeded contribution limits.

Developer Richard Spencer contributed $35,000 during the primary election. The county limit is $30,000.

Brandau told Politics 101, “I will check into it.”

Spencer also contributed another $10,000 for the general election. The contribution limit law considers the primary and general as separate elections.

Bredefeld said he is “too busy and focused walking precincts and running my campaign” to file a formal complaint with either the county, or the state agency in charge of enforcing campaign laws, the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Clovis Takes Step Toward District Elections

The Clovis City Council reluctantly approved the next step to voting by district for the 2026 election.

Attorney Kevin Shenkman, representing the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, sent the city a demand letter in August, arguing that the current at-large system violated state voting laws. Latino voters do not have their voices clearly heard in elections, he argued.

City staff told the city council that fighting a possible lawsuit would be costly and time-consuming.

City councilmembers criticized the state law, the lawyer, and changes to the election system. But, spending of millions to likely lose in court would be “irresponsible,” councilmember Drew Bessinger said.

All councilmembers will complete their four-year terms — including incumbents Vong Mouanoutoua and Lynne Ashbeck, who are the only candidates running this November.

“Should the city goes to district, we will lose the Clovis Way of Life,” resident Don Watnick told the city council. Watnick is also on the board of directors of the publicly elected Clovis Veterans Memorial District. He thinks they will be next.

“That will ruin the district,” Watnick said.

Ashbeck said the evidence of Clovis’ voting problems is weak, but fighting a possible lawsuit is a “Catch-22.”

Councilmember Diane Pearce — who is up for re-election in 2026 — said she took offense to a passage in Shenkman’s letter about a lack of Latino representation. Jose Flores, a Latino, served more than 20 years on the council. He didn’t seek re-election in 2022.

“We are between a rock and a hard place,” Pearce said about the prospect of fighting back.

Mouanoutoua had the harshest words.

“This law is a racist law,” he said.

The “most distasteful motion ever made” as described by Ashebck passed 4-1, with Asbheck, Bessinger, Pearce and Matt Basgall voting in favor. Mouanoutoua voted no.

The next step is to develop district maps, with the city hiring a demographer. The deadline to complete the process is in January, but that likely will be extended to April 5, 2025.

Related Story: Major Clovis City Council Election Change Coming Soon?

State Supreme Court Holds Special Session in Fresno

The California Supreme Court will hold a special session in Fresno on Wednesday. It is the first time the High Court will hold an oral argument in Fresno since 2010, the court said in a news release.

Several high school students are expected to attend the session, as part of the court’s outreach program. Students will be allowed to ask the justices questions prior to the hearing.

Four cases are on the docket, with sessions at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Among the cases — disclosing hospital ER fees; retail leases; when can certain criminal court rulings be appealed; and reviewing a murder conviction.

Arguments will be heard at the Fifth District Court of Appeal in downtown Fresno, 2424 Cesar Chavez Blvd. (formerly Ventura Street).