Buddy Mendes has tenure on Fresno County board, but it is time for a Latino representative

When it came time to redraw the political boundaries that govern Fresno County’s supervisorial districts, incumbent Ernest “Buddy” Mendes said a little tinkering was all that was needed.

Nevermind the fact that Fresno County is a majority-Latino area in terms of population, at 53.6%. Only one of the five county supervisors is a Latino — Sal Quintero.

Despite extensive public involvement and testimony for a redistricting map that would have opened up more possibilities for Latinos to get elected to the Board of Supervisors, it kept in place districts that largely look like they have for the last decade. It will be another 10 years before the map can get changed again.

Mendes represents sprawling District 4 — a territory that starts at Orange Cove in the Sierra foothills and runs 100 miles west to Coalinga, on the far west side of the Valley.

In between are nine small cities and nine towns, most all of them tied to farming. That is how Mendes, a lifelong farmer and dairyman from Riverdale, defined communities of interest when it came to redistricting.

That might make sense for farmers like him. But it was clear from testimony during the redistricting process that farm workers, and other Latinos living in those small cities and towns, do not feel they get much attention from Mendes.

“I have gone through intimidation, humiliation, insults ... because I am a Latina. I have been discriminated against; Mr. Mendes makes fun of us,” said an unidentified Spanish-speaking woman to the board during a redistricting hearing.

Voters have a chance to make a change in the June primary, as two Latinos are running against Mendes for supervisor. One of them has faced him before — Daniel Parra, a member of the Fowler City Council. Also running is José Ramírez, a Selma resident and former city manager for Orange Cove, Firebaugh and Livingston.

The challengers face long odds. Mendes convincingly beat Parra in 2014, then was unopposed in 2018. He has high name recognition and lots of public service — first, long service on the Riverdale school board, and now on a multitude of countywide and regional agencies.

Mendes also has a folksy, direct way of speaking that some find endearing, but others see as arrogant and stubborn.

To be sure, Mendes is never afraid to speak his mind.

Glaring positions

Certain positions taken by Mendes seem stuck in another time:

▪ In an April interview with The Bee Editorial Board, Mendes reiterated his call for construction of a new dam on the San Joaquin River, upstream from Millerton Lake. Mendes said it is one of the most important ways to develop more water for farmers in the central San Joaquin Valley.

But Democratic state officials — both elected and those leading key agencies — have made it abundantly clear that such a dam, known as Temperance Flat, will never be a priority for funding and probably will never happen. As a sign of its low priority, the state Water Commission awarded Temperance Flat just $171 million in funding. It’s overall price: $3.8 billion.

▪ In a March discussion about expanding oil production, Mendes noted the potential for development near Coalinga, which has working fields. “We should be exploring fracking in the whole west side of Fresno County,” Mendes said.

But fracking is a highly disruptive form of oil extraction, and California is working hard to end fossil fuel production in the time of climate change. Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered an end of permits for fracking. In addition, the central San Joaquin Valley has among the worst air pollution in the nation. More oil production would only make that worse. The board, and Mendes especially, were particularly blind to reality.

Identity politics?

By advocating for a Latino to be the next District 4 supervisor, is The Bee Editorial Board playing identity politics?

Not really. Both Parra and Ramírez bring valuable public-service experience earned in small cities like those in District 4.

Of the two, the Editorial Board favors Ramírez. Though he has not held office, Ramírez has worked as city manager at three different cities in the San Joaquin Valley, gaining valuable perspectives.

Ramírez grew up in a labor camp near Raisin City and attended Washington Union High School before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Fresno State.

Sixty-two percent of District 4’s voting-age citizens are Latino; add in young people and the Latino population becomes 74%.

Ramírez would represent them and county residents well. He has been active with the Fresno Latino Rotary Club, and founded Community Development Inc. in 2015. The company handles project development, affordable housing and consulting. He worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation before he went into public administration.

Mendes has shown strong commitment to public service, and for that he is to be commended.

But Ramírez brings a cultural background that is sorely needed on the county board today. That only one member is Latino is, frankly, unacceptable in 2022. The Bee Editorial Board recommends Ramírez for District 4 supervisor.

This story was originally published May 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.