It was billed as a bipartisan news conference where Republicans and Democrats alike would talk about "leadership issues within the Fresno Teachers Association and how they are adversely affecting the students."

In reality, it was a campaign event, mostly in support of Carol Mills, who is seeking re-election to the Fresno Unified school board, but also for fellow incumbent Janet Ryan, who also is on the ballot.

Standing outside the FTA's northeast Fresno office Friday, Republican activist Michael Der Manouel Jr. looked at Democrat and former Shafter Mayor Fran Florez (mother of longtime state Sen. Dean Florez), Democratic Party activist Matt Rogers, as well as his fellow Republican activist Tal Cloud, and observed: "It's a rare occurrence to see us on the same side of an issue."

Der Manouel, Cloud and Rogers then proceeded to bash Andrew Doris, Mills' FTA-endorsed opponent in the Nov. 6 election. They produced research into the background of both Doris and one of Ryan's opponents, George Whitman.

In Whitman's case, it was a 1998 bankruptcy. For Doris, it was a spotty voting record.

They also once again brought up Doris' arrest for methamphetamine possession, which has been widely reported in the media. Doris -- who didn't return a phone call seeking comment Friday -- had earlier said bringing up the 1996 event was "an attempt by Ms. Mills to get attention away from her record as a school board trustee."

How could the FTA endorse such candidates without doing more research into their background, the group asked.

"That's not the kind of leadership that's going to move the district forward," Cloud said.

Whitman confirmed the bankruptcy.

"Stuff happens," he said. "It is true. I was involved in (a) deal that didn't work out, and it cost me a ton of money. You know what's so sad? Ryan is so afraid of losing that she has to do a last ditch effort like this to keep from losing office."

A statement issued by FTA President Eva Ruiz called the event "a desperate act by the Mills and Ryan Campaign to thwart the will of the teachers in our district. To think that somehow their political operatives think they know more about education than the teachers in the classroom is an insult to all the voters of Fresno Unified."

She said the teachers' union "supports those individuals deemed most likely to act in support of students, teachers and the community."

Although Ryan and her opponent, Whitman, were mentioned, it was clear that Mills was the tie that bound the group.

Der Manouel, a stalwart Republican and chief cheerleader for Superintendent Michael Hanson, has become Mills' main public supporter because of her support for Hanson and his policies.

The district under Hanson and an "improved stock of trustees" has seen significant financial improvement, Der Manouel said.

Rogers, Florez and Democratic activist Billie MacDougall came because of their friendship with Mills.

Mills, Florez said, "has worked hard and gotten results. No amount of money spent on distorting the facts will change that."

One thing seems certain to come out of Friday's event: Bitterness among some Democrats.

As word spread after the event that Florez, Rogers and others stood with Democratic Party haters Cloud and Der Manouel, there were vows that it wouldn't be forgotten.

At one point during the news conference, Democratic Party activist Gail Gaston walked toward the FTA's entrance. "Shame on you, Matt," she said to Rogers.

Later, Gaston said the admonishment was "for standing with Republicans when you're a Democrat."