WASHINGTON -- An organization now headed by former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry has pumped $3,000 into a long-shot campaign to defeat Autry's fellow Republican, Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa.
Autry, though, still supports Radanovich's re-election.
The June 3 contribution to Radanovich's Democratic opponent came before Autry joined the group, called Families Protecting the Valley, as a part-time executive director.
The seemingly mixed signals reflect some turbulence in San Joaquin Valley politics.
"There's a lot of frustration about water in the Valley, and people are expressing that in various ways," Radanovich said Monday.
With more than a year to go before the 2010 general election, Radanovich appears comfortably situated to retain the job he has held since 1995. Republicans enjoy a 44% to 37% voter registration advantage in the 19th Congressional District, which stretches from Modesto to Fresno via the Sierra Nevada.
Radanovich reports having $124,752 in available campaign cash. This is less than his Valley colleagues. It is considerably more, though, than his sole declared Democrat challenger, musician and Mariposa County Planning Commissioner Les Marsden.
Last week, Marsden reported having $11,083 in available campaign cash.
Madera-based Families Protecting the Valley provided Marsden his largest campaign contribution. Madera County farmers formed the group years ago to fight an underground water bank proposed by the energy company Enron.
Families Protecting the Valley has since shifted focus to encompass opposition to a San Joaquin River restoration plan supported by Radanovich.
"It's an educational deal, and we're going to create pressure on the politicians to do the right thing," almond farmer and Families Protecting the Valley board member Denis Prosperi said Monday.
Prosperi is a Republican, as are other board members including Autry and businessman Robert Smittcamp. Prosperi, Smittcamp and prominent Madera County farmer Kole Upton were all vocal critics of Radanovich's San Joaquin River restoration legislation, which has passed Congress.
Prosperi, though he is not supporting Radanovich personally, stressed Monday that the $3,000 contribution made in June was a decision made by a "previous board of directors" and not by Autry or the current leadership. He said that the revamped organization will not be endorsing candidates.
"George Radanovich, I feel, has done a good job fighting for the water," Autry said, "but everybody has got to step it up."
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