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Xiong 'leaning toward' congressional run

By John Ellis - The Fresno Bee

Friday, Feb. 03, 2012 | 10:45 PM

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Fresno City Council Member Blong Xiong said Friday he is "leaning toward" a congressional run in the newly created 21st District.

Last month, Xiong said he was being encouraged to seek the seat, which covers rural parts of western Fresno County, all of Kings and parts of Tulare and Kern counties.

At that time, Xiong said he was "looking at the information." Friday, he said he's been collecting endorsements and gauging how much money he could raise if he decided to get into the race.

Among the endorsements Xiong mentioned are former Fresno County Supervisor and Assembly Member Juan Arambula, current Fresno City Council Member Sal Quintero and John Hutson, a Fresno Democrat who is active in the building trades, but who is also tight with several prominent Republicans in town.

Xiong also noted he has been "working close" with state Sen. Michael Rubio's office. Rubio, a first-term Democratic state senator from Bakersfield, pulled out of the congressional race for family reasons.

"Everything is pretty positive," Xiong said.

A final decision should come sometime in the next month, Xiong said.

If he gets in the race, he will face Hanford Republican David Valadao, a first-term Assembly member, as well as fellow Democrat John Hernandez, chief executive officer of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.


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  • Assembly District 23 race draws 5 candidates

  • Dinuba native Cruz Bustamante decides against run for Congress

  • Political notebook: Hanford's Valadao emerges as a Republican 'Young Gun'

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