■Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz could get a raise.

■Mayor Dyer hires a new Latino liaison.

■Gov. Newsom appoints Clovis doctor to state board.

The Fresno City Council wants to give its attorney a raise after 14-plus months on the job.

Andrew Janz started as the city attorney in December 2022. His contract called for a base salary of $240,000. A proposal from City Council President Annalisa Perea and Councilmember Tyler Maxwell would bump Janz’s salary by $15,000. The item is on Thursday’s city council agenda.

“It’s evidence that the council trusts in my ability to provide legal advice to the city in an effective and collaborative manner, working with the administration,” Janz told Politics 101.

Janz would not say if he asked for the raise, but says he isn’t going anywhere.

“I’m not threatening to go anywhere. I’m happy where I’m at. I wake up every day, come to work, and try to do what’s in the best interests for the city,” Janz said.

In his time in office, Janz has worked with the state Attorney General’s office to crack down on illegal pot shops. He also announced a recent campaign to go after employers stealing their workers wages.

Transparency has been a mixed bag with Janz. He has communicated with the media more than his predecessor Douglas Sloan. However, the city council continues to make decisions in closed session — away from public scrutiny and perhaps afoul of open meeting laws — under Janz’s watch without reporting results publicly.

Neither Perea nor Maxwell responded to messages for comment.

New Liaison in Dyer’s OCA

Mayor Jerry Dyer added to his Office of Community Affairs team.

Nicolas Madrigal will serve as the liaison for the Latino community.

“My objective is to become the voice of the Latino community within the City (La Voz Del Pueblo) to voice their concerns and make the Latino community feel part of our city. I hope that our Latino Fresno Community truly believes that our city leaders work every day towards creating a better community,” Madrigal said in a city news release.

Dyer started the OCA in 2021, as a way to connect to minority groups in the city. There are also liaisons for the Asian/Pacific Islander, BIPOC, Indian, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Madrigal, 35, comes from a background in radio sales, where he worked for several groups — most recently at Cumulus Media. He is also a licensed Realtor and serves as vice president for the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Madrigal replaces Alma Martinez, who left last year to become executive director for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative.

Governor Appoints Clovis Doctor to State Medical Board

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Clovis doctor Hemant Dhingra to the Medical Board of California.

Dhingra, a nephrologist (kidneys), has been chief of medical staff at Saint Agnes Medical Center since 2023. He also has been president of the Nephrology Group.

The 15-member state medical board licenses and disciplines doctors.

Dhingra, 55, is a registered Democrat. The position pays $100 per diem.