Another Democrat says he’ll try to unseat Devin Nunes

Another Democrat is hoping to unseat Congressman Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, in the 2018 election for the 22nd Congressional District.

Ricardo Franco, 33, of Fresno said he will make his announcement at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

Franco holds a degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

He said he is a businessman who most recently worked in sales and operations for a Silicon Valley company specializing in refurbished computer servers.

He said he speaks Spanish and his family has lived in Fresno and Tulare counties going back to 1912.

Also seeking election to the seat is Democrat Andrew Janz, a violent crimes prosecutor at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. The primary election will be in June and the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will face each other in the general election.

Franco said residents of the district are being hurt by the tone of political debate in the country.

“I’ve always had a compassion for people,” he said. “The divisive rhetoric doesn’t represent the people I know and love here.”

Too many middle class families can’t afford health care, and the cost of child care is so high that some couples talk about one of them quitting work, he said. Environmental issues such as air quality are also important to the district, he said.

He said he supports helping so-called “Dreamers” – undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children – obtain legal status.

He criticized Nunes as “an embarrassment” because of his actions defending President Donald Trump from allegations of Russian meddling in the presidential election last year, he said.

“When elected officials become out of touch with the concerns and needs of common citizens, it is time for a new path,” Franco said.

The district includes Clovis, Visalia, Tulare and part of Fresno. Voter registration is 43 percent Republican to 33 percent Democrat.

This story was originally published September 5, 2017 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Another Democrat says he’ll try to unseat Devin Nunes."