Four of five seats on the Clovis Memorial District board are up for election this year as the district embarks on a $9 million expansion of its meeting facilities in downtown Clovis.
Three seats are four-year terms and one seat will fill a two-year term of a board member who resigned after moving out of the district. Four incumbents are campaigning.
The district's bylaws require that three of five board members be military service veterans.
Three men are seeking two four-year veterans' seats: Incumbents Tom Wright, 60, and Gordon Pickett, 76, both of Clovis, are being challenged by Francis E. Capone, 80, of Clovis. Voters must select two of three candidates seeking those seats.
For the nonveteran seat, incumbent Susan Frantzich, 60, of Academy, is being challenged by Paul Dictos, 63, of Fresno. Frantzich has been on the board for 22 years. Dictos, a Greek army veteran, previously ran for the Fresno County auditor-controller and a State Center Community College District board seat.
The two-year seat, also for veterans, will be filled by appointed incumbent Daral Kennedy, 62, of Fresno, or Mark Kim, 60, of Clovis. Kennedy was appointed after Joan Lassley moved out of the district. Kennedy previously ran for a Fresno City Council seat.
The district's downtown Clovis facilities are available for banquets and smaller gatherings and are supported through a property tax assessment to residents living in Clovis, Fresno and foothill areas. The district stretches across an area similar to that of Clovis Unified School District.
In recent years, the district has turned down people requesting space because rooms are booked. Veterans receive first priority and discounted rates. Discounts also are available to district residents.
The district's building space will double to nearly 60,000 square feet when expansion is done next year. The project is paid for by the district's accumulated savings.
"We are adding two meeting rooms and expanding the banquet room that will grow from a capacity of 480 to 750," said Bruce Thiesen, the district's chief executive officer.
In addition, a 350-seat lecture hall is being added that can be used by small theater groups, for concerts or for employee-training seminars, he said.
Dictos said the district should add facilities in Fresno since a significant portion of revenue is from Fresno.
Wright said the district at one time had facilities in the Pinedale area, but residents successfully petitioned to be removed from the district about 30 years ago.
The district was interested in buying the old Friant school site but lost out when Table Mountain Casino leased it from Clovis Unified School District.
The campaign's tone is expected to be low-key.
Kennedy, who ran unsuccessfully in 2004 for a Fresno City Council seat, said the district will be served well by him or by his opponent, Kim.
Kim has never run for office. He said the district has been run successfully in recent years and that he wants to play a part in its continued success.
"They are doing a good job," Kim said. "This is something I want to try my hand at."
The reporter can be reached at mbenjamin@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6166.
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