Magsig, Poochigian in high gear

Supervisor race expensive among June contests.

Published online on Monday, May. 12, 2008

An expensive and intense race is unfolding between the two candidates battling for the only open seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

With incumbent Bob Waterston bowing out after eight years on the board, Nathan Magsig and Deborah Poochigian are tirelessly campaigning for his job to represent District 5 -- which covers 3,000 square miles that includes most of Clovis and the foothill communities.

This is one of the most expensive races in the June election with the two candidates raising more than $1 million between them. Most of the money in both campaigns is coming from people and businesses in Fresno County.

The two candidates agree on most issues, but suggest different ways for dealing with the county's budget woes and the role the county should play in economic development.

They also squabble about who is more qualified for the position.

Magsig, a Clovis City Council member for eight years, touts his political background and vast knowledge of budgeting and government services. Poochigian, a self-employed consultant, points to her business and farming background as well as her ties to a prominent political family -- her late father, Deran Koligian, was a county supervisor and she's married to former state Sen. Chuck Poochigian.

Both candidates describe themselves as fiscally conservative. They want to preserve agricultural land, limit development in areas with water shortages and keep public safety the top priority for funding in the county budget.

They also agree that county departments are going to have to make cuts to keep expenses down. For years, the county hasn't had enough money to keep up with rising expenses.

Said Magsig: "We're going to have to buckle down. There's no other choice."

Poochigian says the county has to control spending: "We have to ask the department heads to become more efficient, to cut costs and consolidate services."

Their approaches for increasing discretionary money -- cash supervisors spend as they please -- offers the most glaring difference between the two.

Magsig said he wants the county to build 1,000-acre or larger business parks to drum up more property taxes and create jobs. Poochigian said the county isn't in the development business and should instead increase reserves, consolidate services and focus on tourism.

Magsig, 31, a nearly 20-year resident of the county who comes from a family of pastors, says county supervisor is a natural progression in his political career. He says he is committed to local government and wants to ensure that Fresno County is a place where young people stay to raise their families.

"I feel I do have the upper hand in this race because I bring that local government experience to the table," said the father of three young sons.

The 55-year-old Poochigian -- who grew up on a family farm speaking only Armenian as a young child -- has never held a public office. But the mother of three grown children says she has more life experiences than Magsig.

"I don't think you need to be a politician to run for office," said Poochigian, who consults for nonprofits and political campaigns. "I have experience in making business decisions."

Waterston hasn't endorsed either candidate. He said Magsig is the only one who has asked for his help. Waterston said he believes Magsig may be more qualified for the job because Poochigian isn't well-versed in government.

"I just think that there's a difference in knowledge between the two," he said. "I don't think Debbie's done her homework at all in the issues that face the county."