Clovis official says mayor was ‘used’ by Fresno’s Bredefeld. Mayor says it’s not true
Clovis Mayor Drew Bessinger faced criticism this week over his participation in a recent news conference in Fresno that was critical of the coronavirus-related shutdown of local schools.
Lynn Ashbeck, Clovis councilwoman, used time at the end of the council’s meeting earlier this week to publicly state her disapproval of Mayor Drew Bessinger attending the news conference on the topic of school reopenings.
Bessinger said he was invited by Fresno councilman Garry Bredefeld. He said he did not criticize Fresno Unified schools or anyone else.
But Ashbeck, criticizing Bessinger’s participation, said it wasn’t the right time or place for a Clovis official to join Fresno leaders on the topic. She said elected leaders should promote ways to reducing the virus.
“I felt like you were used by Garry Bredefeld in that way,” Ashbeck said. “I felt like it was an inappropriate use of the city’s political and social capital. That’s what I thought.”
Garry Bredefeld said Wednesday that he wants parents to have a choice in returning their children to school rather than state officials deciding for them. He criticized Ashbeck for her stances on keeping businesses and schools closed.
“Because Mayor Bessinger and other local leaders support similar positions, she chose to attack him and others she disagrees with,” Bredefeld said. “We need more dialogue on this critical issue impacting our children, parents, and teachers, not less. In the meantime, she needs to remember children are suffering, and she works for her constituents, not Sacramento.”
As the new school year approaches, authorities have wrestled with the prospect of returning students to classrooms as the pandemic spreads.
Reopening schools has become a contentious debate. As such, hospitals like Valley Children’s are urging officials to take preventative measures to help slow the spread of the virus.
Bredefeld’s news conference cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and outlined the concerns and potential consequences of keeping children away from campuses, like social, emotional, and academic effects. Several speakers at the conference slammed state officials for the decision to keep schools shuttered.
Fresno Unified late last week released some of its plans for digital learning. Clovis Unified previously had voted to return students in August. But those plans were stopped by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said schools could not reopen in counties on the state’s coronavirus watch list, including Fresno County.
Bessinger said he apologized, but at least two other councilmen said they had no issue with Bessinger attending the news conference.
Bessinger defended his participation, arguing there could be unintended consequences with children not being in school, like high school kids choosing to drop out. He said anger has permeated in the city among parents growing desperate.
“If I had to stay at home for six months when I was in high school with the home environment that I lived in, I would have run away or ... potentially would have hurt myself,” Bessinger said. “I understand the position that people, especially from the medical end of this take, and I’m looking at the other side of this.”
Jose Flores, the longest-serving current councilman, said councilmembers have typically taken part in events on different issues on their own time. But the council is not used to having those issues debated on the dais.
He said Ashbeck was acting like a “queen” of Clovis.
“Yes, things have changed. But the only person that has changed, Lynn, is you,” Flores said.
Ashbeck also suggested that the council take part in a workshop that could address the council’s roles.
Monday was the council’s last meeting until Sept. 6.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 3:08 PM.
