On Election Day, GV Wire spoke with voters in downtown, the Fresno High Area, and Woodward Park region about issues that stood out to them.

Top of mind for most was the state’s gubernatorial race, with some saying they don’t want the state to fall into the hands of Republicans while others want a change in direction for state leadership.

Armando Garza, an SEIU 2015 member, said preservation of the the county’s in-home supportive services program was his top issue. Keeping that program funded brought out his vote for Xavier Becerra for governor.

“We need to keep it a blue state,” Garza said.

Arianna Garcia felt the same about the governor’s race, saying that she also wanted to vote for Prop. 40, which would levy a one-time tax on billionaires.

“I feel like it’s not a bad idea at all to tax billionaires,” Garcia said. “I feel that’s kind of reasonable.”

California Needs a Change

Matthew Conlan, however, said California needs a change. He voted for Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.

“I think his message is practical. He wants the same things that we want, lower gas prices, lower taxes, lower government, less restrictions. All those things that actually make our economy and our lives better,” Conlan said.

He voted against new taxes and for propositions preventing new taxes.

Proposition 42, banning taxes on savings, retirement accounts, and 401ks, was a big one for him.

Ken Claassen also supported Hilton.

“It’s a shame that we have to have someone foreign born that comes here and knowns more about the United States than those who are born here and just have completely ignored what this country is, how this country was founded, the principles the country was founded on,” Claassen said. “And now we have people that are naturalized citizens that actually love this country more than people who were born here.”

Claassen and Conlan both said they also opposed any propositions that borrowed money.

Billionaires Need to Pay Their Fair Share

The top issue for Ziad Ibrahim was cost of living. With the cost of living so high for younger generations, the billionaire’s tax in Prop. 40 brought him out to vote.

“I think it’s time for them to pay their portion to help everyone else, especially with the cost of living,” Ibrahim said. “They aren’t really suffering as much or struggling or really understanding the things that common people have to go through. The biggest thing for them is the dollar sign behind their name.”

Frazier Debacle Cost Him At Least One Voter

Educational races also stood out for voters. Without naming names, voter Janet Bray said one politician running to represent State Center Community College District originally stood out to her and appeared highly qualified until news came out about him that was not “positive.”

In October, a video had been circulated of a person who sounded like and appeared to be State Center candidate Terance Frazier, allegedly rifling through the mail of his opponent, Marcos Osorio.

“Since that seat is often a hopping off point to city council, I switched my affiliation,” Bray said.

Bray admired the other candidate, a former student at Fresno City College, for working and rising to his position.

She said she didn’t like how personal the race for Fresno City Council District 1 had become, with accusations traded between the two candidates.

Superintendent of schools was a big race for Claassen. While he didn’t know much about Eimear O’Brien, he said the incumbent “has completely ignored the needs of the students and is pushing a personal agenda.”

Measure S Has Supporters, Detractors

Fresno County voters also weighed Measure S, the countywide half-cent sales tax measure to fund road repair and public transportation.

Garcia said she didn’t like the city’s proposed sales tax, saying she didn’t trust the city to use money as it promised. She did, however, support Measure S, saying that not only does the county need its roads repaired, but she liked funding for public transportation.

“A lot of people rely on bus transportation in general,” Garcia said. “That’s not something I mind, especially allocating it towards the disabled, veterans, students. So, I don’t see why that one would be bad, as long as it’s going to them, I guess.”

Conlan didn’t like the way the tax was structured.

“I think there were so many loopholes in that, special interests,” Conlan said. “It’s slush funds, if you will, that was the big one that stood out for me.”