Terance Frazier isn’t refuting rumors he is considering a run for public office.

Frazier, a Fresno developer, philanthropist, and husband of Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, kept things coy in a statement to Politics 101.

“I’m not ruling it out,” Frazier said.

He did not say which seat he is considering.

Frazier has thwarted city efforts to evict his nonprofit, the Central Valley Community Sports Foundation, from operating the Granite Park sports complex. He recently hired a general manager to take over day-to-day operations at the park.

The contentious relationship between Frazier and the city remains. Frazier filed a civil rights lawsuit in 2020 against the city and several leaders over the Granite Park lease. The next hearing to consider the city’s request to dismiss the lawsuit is scheduled for March 2026.

The hearing has been scheduled and delayed several times over the years.

Frazier is also involved in a lawsuit against the city and a company affiliated with Club One Casino over parking at Granite Park.

Why Hurtado is Running for Senate

Esmeralda Hurtado says she’s running for state Senate because otherwise her opponent would go unopposed.

“The lack of investments have been kind of a top priority for me to jump in this race and really truly give the voters an option,” Hurtado told Politics 101.

Hurtado, a Sanger city councilmember since 2019, filed to run for state Assembly, but changed her mind last week. She is now running for Senate District 14, which covers parts of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.

Soria has already filed to run. State Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, is term-limited.

Hurtado said running for Senate gives voters a choice. Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza initially filed to run but exited the race once Soria joined. He is now running for a community college board seat.

“Rural communities are often left behind, and that’s something that I really want to bring to Sacramento — to make sure our issues are just as important as the urban areas and vice versa,” said Hurtado, who works at the nonprofit Self-Help Enterprises.

State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, is Esmeralda Hurtado’s sister. If both win, they would be the first sisters to serve in the state Senate at the same time, according to state historian Alex Vassar. The last siblings in the state Senate were the McCarthy brothers in 1958.

“That would be amazing,” Esmeralda Hurtado said. “Seeing my sister move up from local office to state office has kind of impacted me and really motivated me to do more for my community and step up.”

Soria’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

You Can Be a Fresno Artist

Fresno wants to beautify the dull gray electrical boxes on the side of the road.

On Wednesday, Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell announced the city is taking submissions from artists to turn the boxes into mini-murals.

“We can come together to showcase not only our local talent and our love for art, but our love for community and our love for Fresno,” Dyer said.

The city budgeted $100,000 for the project. Artists of all levels and ages will be paid a $1,000 stipend.

The first 20 boxes will be located along Shaw and Cedar avenues (Fresno State theme) and McKinley Avenue (airport theme).

“This is about the community taking ownership of their city and the city continuing its efforts to beautify and inspire Fresno along the way,” Maxwell said.

A city selection committee will determine the winners. The art, in any medium, will be printed on a vinyl sleeve to go over the electrical cabinets.

Dyer set some parameters.

“We don’t want to provide any type of murals that bring any type of negative connotation against an individual or the community — anything that’s going to stir up dissension or debate,” Dyer said.

Artist can apply here. The deadline is Dec. 5.

Measure C Update

The committees discussing the future of Fresno County’s sales tax for transportation — Measure C — continue to slog their way through a proposal for renewal.

The half-cent sales tax, on the books since 1987, expires in 2027. It would need to be renewed by voters in 2026.

Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, who sits on the Fresno Council of Governments Policy Board, called a Measure C advisory committee a “s—show” during an Oct. 30 meeting.

He called a proposal to renew the tax for 30 years “stupid and not going to be bought by the voters.” He also disagreed with a proposal to allow noncitizens to serve on a citizen oversight committee.

“I’m very discouraged by what’s been done or not done or not accomplished. And I think this body’s abdicated its responsibility as elected officials and punted it to people who are unelected and allowed (social justice group) Transportation for All to hijack the whole process,” Bredefeld said.

The mayors of the 15 incorporated cities in the county, plus a member of the Board of Supervisors, compose the Fresno Council of Governments (COG). They oversee the advisory committee — also known as the Measure C Steering Committee — made up of 38 community members.

Dyer addressed anxiety over timelines and how the money will be spent. He called for patience.

“We’re going to be fine,” Dyer said.

The steering committee meets Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Fresno COG office. A vote on a plan to allocate Measure C dollars is on the agenda.