Let me tell you about a Political Action Committee out of Los Angeles that is heavily invested in trying to defeat Nav Gurm in the race for the Fresno City Council District 7 seat.

The PAC is CA Youth Power and its declared intention is to build “the political power of young people of color to pass legislation that advances a progressive economic agenda in California that will transform our communities.”

And how is this PAC, led by young people of color, carrying out its mission statement?

By engaging in despicable, racist, and allegedly illegal behavior as it attempts to shoot down Gurm while simultaneously promoting Ariana Martinez Lott to succeed the termed-out Nelson Esparza, who represents a large swath of central Fresno.

Related Story: Fresno District 7 Finalists Gurm, Martinez Lott Set for GV Wire Forum

‘Nav Isn’t One of Us’

Understand: the CA Youth Power PAC is running ads saying “Nav isn’t one of us.”

Now I’ve come to expect that type of street-gutter campaigning from the MAGA acolytes running for Congress and statehouses.

But the fact that progressives would mimic the dog whistles of Donald Trump against a centrist Democrat is particularly disheartening.

Who exactly is “us?”

Do you have to be Brown or Black to qualify as “us,” according to CA Youth Power’s definition? And, aren’t most Sikhs considered Brown?

Can someone white be one of “us”? Perhaps if that voter promises to support Martinez Lott, he or she can join the party. As long as they come through a side door and don’t call attention to themselves.

Mysterious Push Poll Calling Attention to Gurm’s Turban

There’s a strong suspicion that CA Youth Power PAC was also behind a push poll earlier in the campaign asking whether a candidate’s turban or being age 26 would influence their vote. Gurm wears a turban and is 26.

The question — under the guise of polling research — served no purpose other than to fan the flames of racism and ageism. And that is quite rich when you consider that this PAC has “youth” in its title and purports to support young people.

Why do I and many other Fresno political observers believe that CA Youth Power or one of its allied benefactors was behind the push poll?

Because CA Youth Power hasn’t filed campaign disclosure forms since July 31. And, as we all know, the best way to keep secrets is to flout campaign finance laws until after an election and then pay any fines that might be levied. Morally bankrupt political operations view such fines as the cost of doing business.

The cost of doing business also could explain CA Youth Power’s five alleged campaign violations involving unlawful coordination with the Martinez Lott campaign, the failure to file required forms with the Fresno city clerk and Fair Political Practices Commission, and filing false and incomplete campaign disclosures.

Defunding the Police

Power California, which is aligned with CA Youth Power, supports defunding police. So does California Working Families Party, which is based in Brooklyn, New York, and is also backing Martinez Lott.

And that, perhaps, explains why Martinez Lott, after recently being asked the best place to cut $1 million from the city budget, identified the police department. Of course, she attempted to reframe the situation by saying that her answer shouldn’t be construed as “defunding police.”

Cutting $1 million from Fresno PD is a defunding. It would cost the department seven or eight entry-level cops. Martinez Lott’s illogical explanation of her position was typical politician-speak. She served up a gristle sandwich and told us it was filet mignon.

Martinez Lott said it. She should own it. Even if she was just checking a box for her outside backers.

Most disappointing is Martinez Lott’s tacit endorsement of CA Youth Power’s blatant racism.

Where’s the denunciation? Where’s her statement demanding that the PAC apologize and stop doing it? Why aren’t Fresno progressives demanding an end to this racist campaigning?

I close with this. The best indicator of how a politician will govern is how he or she campaigns.

Judge accordingly.