Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang is on the radar of the state agency in charge of campaign finance enforcement.

The Fair Political Practices Commission confirmed it received an anonymous complaint last month, alleging Vang voted on a budget item in June involving an issue near his southeast Fresno home.

The complaint said Vang made a motion for a $100,000 traffic study on California Avenue, between Clovis and Fowler avenues. Vang lives approximately 200 feet from California Avenue, in the proposed study area.

FPPC regulations consider voting on an issue affecting a government official’s property within 500 feet as a “reasonably foreseeable” financial interest, “unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the decision will not have any measurable impact on the official’s property.”

Such votes are not allowed under conflict-of-interest regulations.

“Vang’s decision to initiate and approve the budget motion for a road diet study will have a material effect on his property value as it reduces traffic along a South Fresno arterial road by eliminating lanes of vehicle traffic,” the complaint said.

“Based on the limited number of budget motions (relative to the Body) there is clear intent Vang sought to utilize the budget item to benefit his own domicile,” according to the complaint.

In a letter sent to Vang, the FPPC wrote, “at this time, we have not made any determination about the allegations made in the complaint.”

FPPC asked for information and a response, which Vang provided.

Vang’s Response

Vang told the FPPC that he never voted on his budget motion individually, just as the budget as a whole.

“These ‘motions’ have no legal basis in the City Charter or municipal code. The mayor has no obligation to include these ‘motions’ in his proposed budget and there is no vote taken on these motions,” Vang wrote.

However, the council minutes show a vote on June 10 to approve the motions made, including Vang’s motion for a “road diet” study on the street near his house.

Vang said since voting on the budget as a whole “benefits the public generally,” it would be an exception to any conflict rules. He also said he is unaware of the ability to vote on the budget while excluding the specific item on the road study.

Sloan Returning to Central California

Former Fresno City Attorney Doug Sloan is headed back to Central California. He has served as the city of Santa Monica’s top legal advisor since 2022.

Politics 101 briefly spoke with Sloan, who would only reveal he is returning to “Central California.” He said things are still being finalized, and more information might be available next week.

Last week, Sloan announced his resignation from Santa Monica as of Aug. 31.

Sloan served as Fresno City Attorney from 2006 to 2022. He left after accusing City Councilmember Nelson Esparza of extortion. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office later dropped the charges.

Esparza allegedly told Sloan that if he didn’t work only for the council majority, he would be fired.

In court, Esparza read a statement acknowledging that he said he would vote to terminate Sloan, but only if the City Attorney did not comply with council policies. He denied that he told Sloan only to work for the council majority.

SJV Sun first reported the Sloan news.

Newsom Signs Tangipa HSR Oversight Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill authored by Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, calling for the beleaguered High-Speed Rail to formulate a spending plan for the initial Merced-to-Bakersfield segment.

“After years of mismanagement, delays, and ballooning costs, it’s no surprise that the High-Speed Rail has become a nationally recognized failure,” Tangipa said in a news release. “After 15 years without a legal funding plan, AB 377 will finally put an end to the endless spending.”

Tangipa said the bill will provide “real accountability.”

“My bill is an important step to make sure Fresno and the Central Valley are not left with an unfinished monument of wasted taxpayer dollars, leaving us as a modern day Stonehenge,” Tangipa said.

In a signing statement, Newsom called HSR “a critical investment in our future.”

“I encourage the Legislature to prioritize measures that are additive and help advance project delivery,” Newsom said.

Newsom Appoints Fresno County Health Official to State Board

Newsom appointed Trinidad Solis to the state Medical Board. The board oversees licensing and regulations of physicians and surgeons.

Solis, a Democrat and medical doctor, is the Fresno County deputy public health officer.

The position requires state Senate confirmation, and members are paid $100 per diem.