Mike Dages aims to serve, to lead

Fresno council member believes he is ready to become mayor.

Published online on Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2008

Mike Dages said he has spent his life learning to serve, and to lead.

He joined the Navy during Vietnam, then worked his way through school and later sold real estate and antiques.

In 1995 he began working as an assistant to then-Council Member Sal Quintero, before replacing Quintero in 2002.

Now, after six years on the City Council, Dages believes he is ready to take the next step and become mayor of Fresno.

"Our city faces tough economic times," Dages said. "We need experienced leadership to help get us through it."

Dages said he will focus on public safety, attracting new businesses and jobs to Fresno -- and changing negative perceptions of the city.

"I will put a stop to ... this perception that Fresno is not a great city," Dages said.

His goals include improving collaboration among city and county law enforcement agencies to crack down on crime. His ultimate objective: "We will eliminate crime in our city."

As he campaigns for mayor, Dages has spent time walking the city, visiting with residents. Dages said what he's learned has reinforced what he already knew about Fresno.

"Public safety is always the number one issue for people," Dages said. "People are worried about the economy, and about air quality. They want a mayor who is responsive to their concerns and interested in the entire city."

Tom Holyoke, an assistant professor of political science at California State University, Fresno, said Dages will face challenges in his effort to move from the council to the mayor's office.

"The legislative body tends to be reactive, where the mayor has to be a leader," Holyoke said. "The job comes with much more responsibility. If you're going to survive you need a thick skin because people will go after you."

Holyoke said that of the three council members in the race, Dages has the least name recognition.

"Nothing about him strikes me yet," Holyoke said. "Nothing stands out. To get elected, he's going to have to stand out."

Dages is known on the council as an advocate for new parking rules downtown. He believes that free parking after-hours would encourage people to visit downtown at night and on weekends. He also supported the Fancher Creek project, a proposed master-plan community of businesses and houses near Tulare and Clovis avenues.

Dages said his relationship with Mayor Alan Autry has been strained because of what he considers a lack of communication between the mayor and the City Council, and Autry's tendency to announce initiatives to reporters before discussing them with council members.

As mayor, Dages said, he will improve communication between the mayor and the City Council.

"I would go to the council and find out their positions on issues before holding press conferences to announce ideas," Dages said. "The council needs to know what is going on."

Dages also plans to streamline operations at City Hall, finding where efforts are duplicated and making sure the right priorities are set.

"Nobody takes care of the pennies at City Hall," Dages said. "We have a lot of amazing workers, but there is waste."

Dages said, for example, that some workers arrive late and leave early.

"All I want is the honest day's work. That's what residents deserve," he said.