FCGG endorses mayoral candidate Ashley Swearengin

Last month, Fresno Citizens for Good Government announced its endorsement of Ashley Swearengin for Fresno mayor. FCGG board members James Hallowell and Kathy Bray cited Swearengin’s “leadership and hands-on engagement” as defining characteristics for the next mayor of Fresno.

Swearengin and her opponent, Councilman Henry T. Perea, both support public safety, reduction of concentrated poverty, air quality improvement, and the cultural arts. However, they are different in three distinct ways:

Experience: Swearengin has more than ten years experience at the executive level, the level at which the next mayor of Fresno must manage the City’s 4,000 plus employees at $1 billion budget. Swearengin’s experience includes executive director of the Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI), chief operating officer of the Regional Jobs Initiative (RJI) and lead executive for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (Partnership). Because of this experience and leadership, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Swearengin to the California Commission on Economic Development.

Demonstrated Tangible Outcomes: The above programs have experienced much success under Swearengin’s leadership. She led and revived CVBI from 1998 to 2000 resulting in business assistance provided to approximately 3,800 entrepreneurs. The RJI’s targeted industry clusters account for more than 75% of the non-farm/non-government job growth in Fresno County since 2004. The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, a public-private partnership to align the eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley, has helped generate more than $2 billion in new investments in the Valley.

Independence: Swearengin has raised funds not from special interests that are looking for something in return but from individuals who believe Swearengin is the right person for Fresno. She is running for mayor not because of political ambitions but because of a passion for the city and a desire to see it succeed. This is the type of mayor Fresno needs; someone who is focused on today, not the next election.

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FCGG is endorsing Ashley Swearengin for Fresno’s next mayor because she has the skills, experience, track record and character to succeed. FCGG believes that Ashley has the ability to capitalize on the opportunities Mayor Alan Autry has opened for Fresno and turn them into reality.

To learn more about Swearengin’s campaign, visit www.Ashley4Mayor.com.

FCGG partners with ‘Choosing our Future’ authors to launch ‘Save Fresno Unified’ Web site

Earlier this month, Fresno Citizens for Good Government partnered with the Fresno Unified Citizens Advisory Task Force that produced the “Choosing our Future” report to launch www.SaveFresnoUnified.org. The Web site is dedicated to monitoring FUSD’s progress from one of the worst school districts in the country to becoming one of the best.

“We want to provide the community with convenient access to updates and reports on Fresno Unified’s transformation,” said Pete Weber, FCGG board member. “We also want to encourage community support and participation in this extraordinary effort.”

The Web site includes a subscription opportunity for community members who want to receive regular content updates and other important announcements about the district’s turnaround effort.

For more information or to subscribe to email updates, visit www.SaveFresnoUnified.org.

Meet FCGG: Bobby Vang, advocating for a better Fresno

Bobby Vang may not be from Fresno originally—he came here with his parents at an early age—but he has made Fresno his home, and, as a result, has become passionate about the community.

Bobby joined Fresno Citizens for Good Government because he appreciated the people and felt the goals of the organization were similar to his for Fresno. “There is a high level of quality in the people involved in FCGG,” said Bobby. “I wanted to join an organization where that quality can be put to work towards a better city.”

His commitment to the community of Fresno stems from his belief that citizens need to advocate for what they believe in: “There is always room for improvement; there are always opportunities to advocate for important issues.”

In addition to FCGG, Bobby is currently involved with local business development in the Asian community. In the past, he was a Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce board member, a board member of Fresno County Workforce Investment Board, as well as on a plan advisory committee for southeast Fresno.

Currently, Bobby is in commercial real estate investment and management, further contributing to his passion to build a better Fresno.