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Selma Mayor Responds to Criminal Charge
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 months ago on
April 28, 2025

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson, center, presides at the Jan. 21, 2025 Selma City Council meeting. He denied wrongdoing in a recently filed criminal charge. (GV Wire/David Taub)

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Selma Mayor Scott Robertson says he is innocent of an electioneering charge filed last week by Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

Smittcamp filed the charge against Robertson Friday, accusing him of approaching voters in line at a polling place during the Nov. 5, 2024 election.

“While holding a sign advocating for his reelection, Robertson spoke with some of the prospective voters about his campaign,” Smittcamp’s office said.

Robertson denied the allegations in a Friday Facebook post.

“The DA’s office filed one misdemeanor charge against me today. I believe I am completely innocent of the charge,” Robertson said.

He received support in the comments, including from fellow councilmember and sister-in-law Sarah Guerra.

“This is all harassment and retaliation against Mayor Scott Robertson because someone can’t beat him in an election so they keep trying to attack his character. But the citizens know better that’s why you continue to get re-elected. A Mayor for the people and fights for the people of Selma. We stand with you Mayor Robertson!!! Selma Strong,” Guerra wrote.

The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail. Robertson is scheduled to be arraigned June 5.

Prior Tensions Between Selma and the DA’s Office

Although the DA’s office previously clashed with Selma officials, prosecutors insist the new charge is unrelated.

In December 2024, Victor Lai of the DA’s Public Integrity Unit wrote a letter to the city, questioning the legality of seating a new city council. Lai said the city did not follow correct procedures to allow the newly elected council to conduct business.

The city ignored Lai’s advice and moved forward with seating the new council and changing city attorneys.

New City Attorney Neal Costanzo issued a sharp rebuke to Lai on Dec. 17, 2024, accusing him of taking sides despite Lai’s assertion of neutrality.

Costanzo also called Lai’s analysis “plainly contrary to law.”

“The actions taken … were perfectly legitimate; but even if it were not, your office has no jurisdiction whatsoever to offer gratuitous comments about its view of procedures,” Costanzo wrote.

Smittcamp’s office said the previous back-and-forth had nothing to do with the filings against Robertson.

“Any implication that this office’s filing decisions are based on anything other than the evidence and the law is categorically false and inappropriate. We will not entertain or respond to baseless speculation,” spokesperson Taylor Long said.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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