Autry backs Swearengin

Fresno mayor announces his endorsement six days before the election.

Published online on Friday, Oct. 31, 2008

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry announced Wednesday that he will be voting for Ashley Swearengin to succeed him.

Autry made the announcement on his radio show during an 11 a.m. interview with Swearengin. After his show, Autry and Swearengin walked outside the KYNO studios, where the mayor said he believes Swearengin will take the city to new heights.

Autry remains a popular figure after eight years as Fresno mayor, and until now he has stayed neutral in the race to succeed him. His endorsement of Swearengin could inflict political damage on her opponent, Council Member Henry T. Perea.

Perea, in a statement, said that "every vote counts the same. That's true in Fresno whether it's the mayor or any one person across our community. ... It will take more than 50,000 votes to win this election, and I'm confident that the majority of local Fresno residents share my vision for change with a safer city and better jobs."

Autry said he changed his mind and decided to back a candidate for political reasons. He declined to elaborate, but said his support for Swearengin was not a partisan issue.

Autry and Swearengin are Republicans; Perea is a Democrat. The mayor's office is nonpartisan.

Autry was angered this month when Perea and the Fresno Police Officers Association condemned Swearengin for a four-year-old report she helped write that suggested capping general fund spending on police and fire services. The FPOA has endorsed Perea.

The report -- a guiding framework for the Regional Jobs Initiative, a public-private partnership that Swearengin heads -- listed many ways local governments could invest in job creation. Perea joined council colleagues in voting to accept the RJI plan.

Autry said Wednesday that his decision to support Swearengin wasn't meant as a slight to Perea. He said he is willing to assist whoever wins once the election is over.

Asked why he waited until six days before the election to back a candidate, Autry replied: "You don't plan the timing on this."

But Autry said he felt he owed it to people who frequently ask who he is supporting.

"If that opinion will sway someone's decision, that's fine," he said. "If not, that's fine, too."

Swearengin said Autry's efforts to improve Fresno and bring the city to the attention of state and federal officials over the past eight years were a major reason she is running for mayor.

"Mayor Autry has raised the profile of the city and has given Fresno the opportunity to really become a great city. That's why I ran for mayor," she said.

Swearengin said Autry has given her campaign permission to use his support as freely as it would like. She hopes to use his endorsement in her campaign advertising.

"We want to make sure people know about the mayor's support," she said.