Fresno’s first-ever youth commissioners appointed by council
Sixteen high school and college students from across Fresno were formally appointed and sworn in Thursday afternoon as the first members of the city’s Youth Commission.
Mayor Ashley Swearengin and each of the seven Fresno City Council members selected one voting and one non-voting member to be on the commission for a two-year term. Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria, who sponsored legislation last year to include funding for the commission in the city’s budget, described the appointments as historic because while Fresno had previously attempted to establish a youth council, “that never came to fruition.”
The commission will be the voice of young people to City Hall.
The appointees are:
▪ Neng Thao, Edison High School (voting), and Jason Phillips, Central East High School (non-voting), appointed by Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
▪ Diana Gallardo, Central East High School (voting), and Chance Lau, Central West High School (non-voting), appointed by Soria for District 1.
▪ Nina Narahari, University High School (voting), and Chandler Baladjanian, University High School (non-voting), appointed by Councilman Steve Brandau for District 2.
▪ Jovan Mendez, Edison High School (voting), and Ivette Marquez, Fresno State (non-voting), appointed by Councilman Oliver Baines for District 3.
▪ Marissa Vang, Edison High School (voting), and Lady Abangan, University High School (non-voting), appointed by Councilman Paul Caprioglio for District 4.
▪ Yvette Flores (voting) and Karina Reyes (non-voting), both of Fresno Pacific University, appointed by Councilman Sal Quintero for District 5.
▪ Matthew Saavedra (voting) and Brianna Stanley (non-voting), both of Clovis North High School, appointed by Councilman Lee Brand for District 6.
▪ Gabriel Murillo, Edison High School (voting), and Miranda Lara, University High School (non-voting), appointed by Councilman Clint Olivier for District 7.
This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Fresno’s first-ever youth commissioners appointed by council."