Paul Dictos is trying again.
Dictos, who in June lost his race to unseat Susan Anderson on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, is challenging an incumbent on the Clovis Memorial District, which operates banquet facilities in downtown Clovis.
Dictos, a certified public accountant, is opposing William E. Rice, a Fresno State business professor, for the unpaid post. Dictos ran for a district board seat in 2006 and lost.
The district's downtown Clovis building is used for banquets and other gatherings and is supported through an assessment on property in Clovis, Fresno and foothill areas. The district covers an area similar to that of Clovis Unified School District.
Rice, 62, of Fresno, said he is working with local schools to teach children about sacrifices made by veterans. Rice, who is a veteran, was first elected four years ago.
"We now have to bridge the gap among generations," Rice said. "There are fewer people in the community with a military background, so we need to create awareness of what veterans have done to give us freedom."
As part of the outreach effort, he said, the district will develop material and add to its Web site.
"We want to be very proactive about what we are doing and why we are a memorial district," Rice said.
Besides having run before for the Clovis Memorial District, Dictos has previously run for Fresno County auditor-controller and a State Center Community College District board seat. Dictos, 65, of Fresno, is a Greek army veteran.
He said most taxes paid to the district come from Fresno, which has no district venues.
He also suggested incorporating Fresno in the district's name.
"I want to address the veterans' needs both in Clovis and Fresno and make the district visible in Fresno, where most of the money is from," he said.
He also said the district should serve veterans, not build "state-of-the-art edifices."
He was referring to the new meeting rooms and 350-seat lecture hall for concerts, plays or seminars that nearly doubled the district's building space.
Until the new building was done, the district turned down rental requests because rooms were booked.
Veterans receive first priority and discounted rates. Discounts also are available to district residents.
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