Andrew Janz made it clear on Day One he would use the power of the City Attorney’s Office to the fullest extent of the law to clean up Fresno and make it a better city.

The city attorney has done a remarkable job of going after illegal cannabis and gambling operations while performing the position’s customary duty of advising the city council on legal matters.

Now, Janz has a duty to get to the bottom of the political attack ad sent to the homes of District 5 voters, who already are marking their ballots in the special election to decide who will succeed Luis Chavez as the southeast representative on the city council.

It would be inaccurate to call the attack on candidate Brandon Vang anonymous because it was sent out by an independent expenditure group hiding behind the name “Fresno Future Forward.”

For the record: Vang said the allegation of a crime committed 30 years ago, is “completely false.”

Janz, who came to the city attorney’s office after years as an aggressive criminal prosecutor, has both the skills and the power to unmask the cowards hiding behind curtains and trying to pull the strings of voters. However, he needs to move quickly. The clock is ticking with the election on March 18.

As the mailer clearly cost more than $1,000 to produce, state law requires Fresno Future Forward to identify its contributors. And while mailers are subject to the state Political Reform Act, the city of Fresno is responsible for enforcing the act at the local level.

In the best-case scenario, Janz not only would identify the financial backers of this malicious attack piece but he also would determine if Fresno Future Forward coordinated with any of the other candidates in the race or acted at their behest — both of which are illegal.

For too long, Fresno politics has been a slimy sinkhole of behind-the-door deals, elected officials perpetually seeking higher office, and campaign dirty tricks. This documented history of ugly politics is not only a stain on our city, but one of the reasons Fresno has failed to prosper to a degree commensurate with its potential.

The people of District 5 deserve better than this. An entire city deserves better than this.

— Written by Bill McEwen