Pressed for time but want to vote smart? Here’s The Bee’s endorsement roundup | Opinion
The Fresno Bee Editorial Board has made endorsements in local races ranging from Congress to school boards on the November ballot. Here are summaries of those endorsements plus links to the specific editorials that go into detail on the board’s views:
U.S. CONGRESS
District 13: One of the most watched races in the nation pits Republican incumbent John Duarte against Democratic challenger Adam Gray. Duarte’s campaign ads portray him as a moderate, yet he stayed loyal to his party’s goals in this Congress, such as the GOP-backed Parents Bill of Rights, which would out a transgender student to their parents against the student’s wishes. Gray, a former state Assemblymember, is a moderate Democrat who has worked to get water deliveries for Valley farmers. The Bee’s endorsement: Gray.
District 21: Democrat incumbent Jim Costa faces a challenger from Republican Michael Maher. Costa has delivered millions in federal funding for his district’s needs since he first won election in 2004. Maher has no elected experience and faces long odds in a district with the party registration favoring the Democrat. The Bee’s endorsement: Costa
District 22: One of the key races in the House that is being watched nationally. Republican incumbent David Valadao faces off against former California Assemblymember Rudy Salas. While Valadao has taken exception at times to what his party wants, he generally votes along GOP lines. For example, he supported an impeachment investigation against President Biden despite any lack of evidence warranting such a step; the investigation ultimately fizzled out. Salas backs a woman’s right to choose abortion, supports the Affordable Care Act and wants to expand access to generic drugs to control the costs of medication. The Bee’s endorsement: Salas.
STATE ASSEMBLY
District 8: Former congressman George Radanovich is hoping to re-enter politics with this seat. Running against him is David Tangipa of Fresno, a newcomer to elections. Both are Republicans. Radanovich wants to challenge Democratic control of the statehouse. Tangipa is more willing to work with Democrats. That will be the more successful strategy given that Democrats hold a supermajority in the Legislature. The Bee’s endorsement: Tangipa.
District 27: First-term Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Joanna Garcia Rose. Soria, a former Fresno City Councilmember, teamed with state Sen. Anna Caballero to secure millions in funding to reopen the shuttered Madera Community Hospital. She has proven adept at winning state monies for other projects in her district as well. The Bee’s endorsement: Soria.
FRESNO COUNTY SUPERVISOR
District 2: Incumbent Steve Brandau is being challenged by Garry Bredefeld, currently a Fresno City Councilmember. Bredefeld accuses Brandau of being part of a “good ol’ boy” network and ineffectiveness. But Brandau has experience working with state officials and agencies, a key part of serving in county government. Both are conservative in their politics. The Bee’s endorsement: Brandau.
District 3: Longtime Supervisor Sal Quintero is being challenged by his former aide, Luis Chavez, who is also on the Fresno City Council. Chavez represents new energy, vision and purpose to improve south Fresno. The Bee’s endorsement: Chavez.
FRESNO CITY COUNCIL
District 6: Roger Bonakdar and Nick Richardson emerged from the March primary to vie for this seat that represents northeast Fresno. Bonakdar is an attorney while Richardson is a Marine reservist and pilot. The Bee’s endorsement: Bonakdar.
FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD
Three seats on the seven-member board are up for election:
▪ Area 2, incumbent trustee Elizabeth “Rosas” Jonasson is challenged by student Joseph Aquino.
▪ Area 5, incumbent trustee Andy Levine is challenged by James Martinez, currently a member of the Fresno County Board of Education, and teacher/mother Emma Villa.
▪ Area 6, incumbent trustee Claudia Cazares is challenged by retired educator Daniel Bordona.
The Bee’s endorsements: Jonasson, Levine and Cazares.
CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD
Two incumbents are unchallenged and thus will return to office. Two other seats are being contested:
▪ Area 2: With no incumbent in the race, the candidates are mother and author Molly DeFrank, educator and executive director Wilma Tom Hashimoto, and educator Janet S. Kardashian.
▪ Area 4: Incumbent trustee Hugh Awtrey is challenged by behavior analyst Gina Vue.
The Bee’s endorsement: Hashimoto. No endorsement was made in the Area 4 race.
CENTRAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD
Two seats are being contested, with incumbents facing challengers:
▪ Area 3: Incumbent Phillip Cervantes is challenged by educator Natalie Chávez.
▪ Area 5: Incumbent Richard A. Solis is challenged by Jaspreet Sidhu, a registered nurse.
The Bee’s endorsements: Chávez and Solis.
FRESNO UNIFIED/CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL BONDS
Both districts are asking voters to support big bond issues to renovate older campuses and build new facilities. For Fresno Unified, the bond issue is set at $500 million. Clovis Unified seeks $400 million in bonds.
The Bee’s endorsements: The facility needs are real, and voters should back Measure A (Clovis Unified) and Measure H (Fresno Unified).
CLOVIS SALES TAX MEASURE
Measure Y asks voters to back a 1% sales tax hike to generate $28 million that the city could spend as it deems best. The most pressing issue highlighted by the Yes on Y campaign is hiring new police officers and firefighters.
Bee opinion writer Tad Weber backs Measure Y. Read why.
MADERA MAYORAL
Incumbent Mayor Santos García is being challenged by former Madera finance director Wayne Padilla, council colleague Cece Gallegos, and Madera school board member Lucy Salazar.
All bring good local government experience to their candidacies and make a strong field. García has made a positive difference in his four years as mayor by making sure the needs of neglected neighborhoods have been addressed. The Bee’s endorsement: García.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS
The Sacramento Bee opinion team, in concert with McClatchy California opinion editors, offers endorsements in the many propositions on the ballot.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 5:30 AM.