Another Fresno city councilmember jumps into crowded Board of Supervisors race

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias announced plans to run for the Board of Supervisor District 3 seat held by Sal Quintero and said Fresno County leaders must step up to deal with the issues of the unhoused, affordable housing and the Fresno County Jail.

Quintero is also being challenged in the 2024 election by Arias’ fellow council member Luiz Chavez.

“I’m sure there will be more; maybe some will drop out,” Arias said of the crowded race. “It’s during the presidential cycle; it will get the most attention.”

He called the position “the only urban seat” on the board because it includes neighborhoods in Clovis, near Jensen, along Blackstone Avenue and near Shields Avenue.

Arias said supervisors have not used their $4.5 billion budget to address homelessness. He said the county, not the city of Fresno, should be the primary social services agency. He said that over the next 24 months, 10 shelters operated by the city will be converted to permanent housing.

The county’s one shelter, the former Smuggler’s Inn on Blackstone and Dakota, has already been converted to permanent housing, he said, and without the county increasing its effort, more people will return to city streets and freeway embankments.

“We cannot do the county’s job,” said Arias. “Even though (supervisors) know there are 4,500 homeless, they don’t provide emergency shelters.”

He also accused supervisors of neglecting neighborhoods.

“If you live in Mayfair or Calwa, don’t expect (them) to build curbs and gutters,” he said. “The only place (you see) a concerted effort is in Fig Garden.”

Arias also called the county jail one of “the deadliest in the country.”

He blamed the county for mismanagement, which he said led to a federal court order requiring an early release of inmates, which means more dangerous individuals were thrown back into Fresno’s streets and neighborhoods.

Sal Quintero will run for re-election

Quintero said it was too early in the potential race to say much, adding that will change after the deadline later this year to file to run for a seat.

“The only thing I know for sure is I’m running for re-election,” he said. “A lot of candidates will jump in and jump out. That’s why I’m waiting for December.”

Luis Chavez issues statement

Chavez, Arias’ peer on the Fresno City Council and opponent in the supervisor’s race, said he can be the force to bring the city and county leaders together.

“I’m 100% committed to running and all in for the supervisor race,” he said Tuesday in a statement. “The stakes are too high and we need someone that can bridge the divide between the board of supervisors and the city to help bring our communities together.”

He said the pandemic showed the leaders in the region must be better at cooperation to overcome challenges, particularly public health, social services and the foster care system for children.

“Residents are tired of bickering, sensationalist rhetoric and divisive politics,” he said.

This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 9:23 AM.