Blong Xiong has done such a good job consulting for the city of Fresno that two Fresno city councilmembers say they want him to do more.

Xiong, a former city councilmember, signed a $48,000, one-year contract July 2025 to provide outreach services, including helping Hmong businesses access city resources, assisting Hmong farmers with public programs, and developing an urban garden within city boundaries. The agreement also called for weekly meetings with Councilmember Miguel Arias and monthly reports.

Now, Arias and Councilmember Mike Karbassi want to add $62,000 to the deal, bringing the total to $110,000 for “additional business outreach services.” A vote is scheduled at the Fresno City Council meeting on Thursday.

Although details of the expanded agreement have not been publicly released, both Karbassi and Xiong tell Politics 101 it involves additional negotiation work on behalf of the city. Specifically, Xiong would represent city council interests in the future of the city-owned Riverside Golf Course in Karbassi’s district.

“We need to expand programming,” Karbassi said. The city is also looking to negotiate a deal extension with the course operator, Course Co.

Karbassi said the city council wants to hire someone to negotiate the best possible deal on its behalf. Success, he said, could lead to increased revenue for the city.

Xiong also has a background in agriculture, having worked for the Biden administration in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Given his history with the city and his standing within Southeast Asian communities, particularly the Hmong community, that’s something we can’t replicate,” Karbassi said.

Xiong said he will also work with the Hmong community on the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) project.

“There’s certain expertise that I have that city staff and other consultants don’t have,” Xiong said when asked why city employees could not handle such negotiations.

Original Contract Signed Last Year

The original agreement between Arias and Xiong’s BX Consulting, LLC did not go before the full city council for approval. Because the amended contract exceeds $100,000, it must now be approved in public.

Last week, GV Wire columnist Bill McEwen criticized similar consulting contracts, calling them a “con.”

“I don’t agree with the entirety of the column, but I understand his concerns, and I think he should be happy because this contract is being voted on in the open at a council meeting,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi recently announced he is running for Fresno County supervisor District 1, being vacated by current supervisor Brian Pacheco. Coincidentally, Xiong has also expressed interest in the same position, though he said he has not made a decision.

Janz Wants More Staff Raises

Executive assistants for Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz could soon be earning more than $100,000 annually.

“It’s inappropriate for legal secretaries to make more than executive assistants, since you can’t become an executive assistant without first being a legal secretary. When union employees get raises, adjustments for Unit 2 employees need to be made,” Janz told Politics 101.

Several executive assistants already earn $92,076, according to contracts posted on the city website.

Janz is asking the city council on Thursday to increase the salary range, with a new maximum of $100,080.

Asked how his department could afford the increases, Janz said, “We have healthy salary savings and revenue.”

Politics 101 polled several private attorneys in Fresno. They said executive assistants in the private legal sector generally do not earn between $90,000 and $100,000.

Last November, Janz approved raises and promotions for several staff attorneys ranging from 4% and 29%.

By comparison, some prosecutors in the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office received 3% to 5% raises in base pay in 2025. Staff attorneys for Fresno County received a 1% raise last November.

Election Filing Update

Monte Forkas, a Fresno County Democratic Party supporter and one of the city’s top ushers, pulled papers to run for Fresno City Council District 1. Incumbent Annalisa Perea is not seeking re-election, opting instead to run for state Assembly.

Nickolas Wildstar, an also-ran in Fresno politics, pulled papers to run for Fresno City Council District 5. Incumbent Brandon Vang also filed for re-election.

Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco pulled papers to run for Fresno County Supervisor District 1. She is expected to be one of several candidates in a tight race for the open seat. Incumbent Supervisor Brian Pacheco (no relation) is running for state Assembly.

Lourin Hubbard, Fresno’s water manager, pulled papers to run for Congressional District 21, currently represented by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. Hubbard, also a Democrat, ran in the 2022 special election for Congressional District 22 and has previously considered a run for Fresno mayor.