Members of the Fresno City Council and mayor’s administration are incensed that Measure C executives removed a Fresno resident from an advisory committee.

During a presentation on the countywide transportation tax at Thursday’s council meeting, Fresno Council of Governments Executive Director Robert Phipps and consultant Kendall Flint revealed they had removed businessman Brooke Ashjian from the group.

The steering committee, with up to 38 members, will advise other government agencies on what a 2026 Measure C renewal spending plan might look like.

“(Ashjian) violated ground rules that were established back in April at the formation of the committee with regard to decorum in terms of speaking to the media,” Phipps said after the presentation.

Phipps and Flint said Ashjian made “derogatory” comments about elected officials, the measure and the process, running afoul of rules previously established by the committee.

Voters first approved Measure C, the half-cent Fresno County sales tax for transportation projects, in 1986, and renewed it for 20 years in 2006. It expires June 30, 2027.

Measure C has collected $2 billion in sales taxes and generated $8 billion in state and federal funds since its inception. This money has been used for roads, highways, freeway improvements, bus systems, bike trails, and other transportation upgrades.

Ashjian, a former Fresno Unified School District trustee, is the founder and CEO of Fresno-based Seal Rite Paving and Grading.

“You can’t carve dead wood,” Ashjian said, after this story first published.

Related Story: Are Former Measure C Execs Pushing Their Own Ballot Measure?

City Unhappy

Councilmembers Mike Karbassi and Tyler Maxwell did not like what they heard.

“You’re telling me it’s because he exercised his right to an opinion and to be critical? It’s ironic, though, because Transportation for All, a lot of their members often are very opinionated and critical. They’ve criticized our process and been able to muscle their way into this. It’s very frustrating for me,” Karbassi said.

The Measure C Steering Committee was initially composed of 26 members: the city of Fresno receiving three, the other cities in the county getting one each, Fresno County one, and the remainder representing several interest groups. The committee started meeting in April.

Transportation for All, a coalition of several social justice organizations, wanted a say in Measure C planning. The group floated the idea of writing its own measure and presenting it to voters — a concept that several experts said would tank both measures if they appeared on the same 2026 ballot.

In a compromise, the Fresno COG Policy Board — including Mayor Jerry Dyer — expanded the steering committee, allowing 12 Transportation for All reps to join. The first meeting of the expanded group is this afternoon.

“It worries me that we have allowed one-third of the steering committee to be commandeered by folks who have previously opposed (Measure C) financially, on the ground, on social media,” Maxwell said.

Some of the 12 additional members campaigned against a 2022 version of the Measure C renewal — which although receiving 58% of the vote, failed because it needed two-thirds.

Karbassi and Maxwell demanded Phipps and Flint reinstate Ashjian. Karbassi even suggested the other Fresno representatives — Karen Musson and Chuck Riojas —boycott the meeting.

“He has First Amendment rights,” Karbassi said. “That’s not OK. It’s completely wrong.”

Phipps said it is “to be determined” whether Ashjian returns.

‘Unacceptable to the Mayor’

City Manager Georgeanne White said Dyer was disappointed upon learning of Ashjian’s ouster.

“This is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to the mayor,” White said. “Clearly this is a problem.”

Asked if the Ashjian controversy undermines the steering committee, Phipps said “That’s going to be for others to decide.”

The final say on what voters may see on the ballot will be determined by the several city councils and the county Board of Supervisors.

“This is already combative enough. And so that’s all we’re trying to do is make sure that the temperature came down,” Flint said of committee rules.

What Did Ashjian Say?

Ashjian is known as an outspoken critic of government policies.

During an appearance on GV Wire digital talk show “Unfiltered,” on Tuesday, July 15, Ashjian criticized money for public transportation.

“Nobody rides the bus,” Ashjian said. He also wrote an opinion piece published by GV Wire.

In addition, he criticized the inclusion of the Transportation for All members to the steering committee.

“Here comes the 12 crazies from Ashley’s NGO,” Ashjian said. He referred to Ashley Swearengin, CEO of nonprofit Central Valley Community Foundation.

CVCF is supporting a compromise measure shaped by Transportation for All.

Ashjian criticized former Supervisor Steve Brandau — who is working on behalf of CVCF to broker a deal — calling him “some crazy kook.”

Even Ashjian’s successor drew controversy. On his recommendation as an alternate, Flint selected Matthew Casarez, a Republican Party activist. However, Casarez is from Reedley. The representative needs to be from Fresno. Flint said Casarez would be removed before he could even serve.

Who Appoints? Who Removes?

Although Flint and Phipps said the Fresno representatives were appointed by Dyer, they are just recommended by the city. Flint has the final call on who serves. Because the members are selected by Flint and staff from Fresno COG, it is not considered an open meeting under the Brown Act.

“We’re definitely looking for people that are going to be collaborative, completely cool to disagree,” Flint said.

Several government agencies and committees oversee Measure C, and its renewal process.

One recently formed group is the “facilitation/synthesis team.” The group includes Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran — who chairs the Fresno COG Policy Board — and Fresno County Transportation Authority Vice Chairperson Lynne Ashbeck, who serves on the Clovis City Council. Beltran also serves on the FCTA board.

Beltran made the decision on Ashjian’s removal, Phipps and Flint told the city council.

Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes, also chair of the FCTA board, sent a memo questioning whether Beltran and Ashbeck could serve as members of their respective boards.

“I have no plans to form an Ad-Hoc Committee and FCTA is not part of the Facilitation/Syntheses Team. If you choose to sit on the Facilitation/Syntheses Team, you will sit either a representative of FCOG or as a private citizen and not the Transportation Authority,” Mendes wrote.

Flint and Phipps have been making similar presentations at city councils throughout Fresno County in the last few months. Phipps said he was caught off guard where the conversation turned. Flint said she expected this reaction.