In This Newsletter:

Engage Now GOTV Under Way

We’re down to the wire. Ballots are dropping. Connect with voters now. See opportunities to engage and tools to assist with those efforts below. For more info, contact Krista De La Torre at 559-313-4345 or [email protected]. Your assistance is essential to our success.

Voting in This Critical Election

This is one of the most important elections in the history of our democracy. We are still dealing with the impacts and reality of this pandemic and, as such, are moving to an entirely vote-by-mail system, per instructions from our Governor and Secretary of State.

 The Fresno County Democratic Party believes it is essential that as many eligible voters as possible get out to vote as soon and as safely as possible.

Ballots will be mailed out by the Registrar of Voters starting on Oct. 5. We are encouraging all voters to fill out, sign the return envelope with DMV signature properly, and turn in ballots in person at the Registrar’s Office or at a nearby drop box location as soon as possible after you receive your ballot. All should wear masks and socially distance throughout this process.

If you do not receive your vote-by-mail ballot by Oct. 12, contact the Registrar of Voters at 559-600-8683 and ensure that you can get your ballot ASAP.

Our party will continue to support and assist all our voters who might need any help. If we vote together and stay safe, we will get through this and be stronger than ever.

Local Candidate Focus: Part 1

Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Area 3

Daren Miller is the incumbent, appointed in February 2019. He has campaigned on his desire to continue impacting educational policy and practices throughout the county to benefit all students. Moreover, he is working to create a “new normal” for educational delivery systems.

Prior to COVID-19, Area 3 was already plagued with underperforming academic performance by most students. As a trustee, Miller has been working to ensure that citizens have the necessary information to make the best decision for themselves, their families, school sites and districts.

As part of these efforts, Miller has reached out to further tie education into the Greater Fresno D.R.I.V.E. Initiative (Developing the Region’s Inclusive and Vibrant Economy), a well-organized 10-year Community Investment Plan that has identified a portfolio of investable initiatives aimed at increasing economic mobility, addressing racial disparities and supporting a sustainable environment in our region.

Fresno Unified School District Trustee Area 5

David Paredes served as a California Democratic Party elected delegate and an elected delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention prior to running for trustee. After working with Fresno Unified students in south Fresno, he became convinced that they should be better represented at the school board level.

He has identified language barrier outreach to Spanish-speaking households as a major priority, especially during the pandemic when a faltering school system could leave many children hungry. Equity of experience for all children in Fresno is his highest priority.

Fresno Unified School District Trustee Area 6

Claudia Cazares has served on the school board for the last four years, enacting many changes aimed at improving the overall education and livelihood of our students and families, such as auditing Special Education and adding vice principals to all schools, adding psychologists and social workers, adding nurses, reducing class sizes and providing better benefits for our workers.

However, she feels that there is more to be done including expanding English learner programs, giving assistance to non-English-speaking parents, overhauling the Special Education Department and improving fiscal accountability.

Over the past four years, her key project has been establishing a strong magnet program in her own Hoover area to prevent brain drain to outside areas, including providing stronger ties with Fresno State; CTE funds for new buildings/programs; and involving students in identifying what will keep them in our neighborhood.

Central Unified School District Trustee Area 4

Shawn M. Brooks would be the first African American woman elected to serve Central Unified. Brooks is working to bridge the gap in communications between government and the community, restoring public trust in the district.

She believes that equality of opportunity for people of all skin colors and backgrounds can only come when the education system adequately protects safety of not just the many students but also the parents, teacher and staff. Her children have come up through this district, giving her a full picture from the perspectives of both a parent and a member of the board.

Your Democratic Party Endorsements

Visit https://cadem.org/vote/endorsements/ for the endorsements specific to your address. For more information, contact 559-495-0606 or [email protected].

Candidates

Congress District 4                                                               Brynne Kennedy
Congress District 16                                                             Rep. Jim Costa
Congress District 21                                                             Rep. TJ Cox
Congress District 22                                                             Phil Arballo
Assembly District 31                                                             Dr. Joaquin Aramula
Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Area 3              Daren Miller
State Center Community College District Trustee Area 2     Nasreen Johnson
State Center Community College District Trustee Area 3     Dary Rezvani
State Center Community College District Trustee Area 7     Abena Cruise
Mayor of Kerman                                                                   Espi Sandoval
Mayor of Selma                                                                      Louie Franco
Fowler City Council                                                                Alexander Grimaldi
Fowler City Council                                                                Patric Jones
San Joaquin City Council                                                       Eva Luna
San Joaquin City Council                                           Maria “Cristina” Covarrubia
Sanger City Council District 1                                                Esmeralda Hurtado
Sanger City Council DIstrict 3                                                Daniel Martinez
Fresno Unified School District Trustee Area 5                       David Paredes
Fresno Unified School District Trustee Area 6                       Claudia Cazares
Central Unified School District Trustee Area 4                       Shawn M. Brooks
Clovis Unified School District Trustee Area 4                         Noha Elbaz
Clovis Unified School District Trustee Area 7                        Christopher Casado
Mendota Unified School District                                       Kevin G. Arias-Romero
Sanger Unified School District Trustee Area 1                   Sebastian Ardemagni
Sanger Unified School District Trustee Area 4                       Vao Pa Her
Selma Unified School District Trustee Area 2                        Jaspreet Nagra
Calwa Recreation and Park District Director                          Laura Garcia 

YES   Prop 14 issues bonds to fund and support stem cell research in California, to be spent on research, trials and programs, as well as start-up costs for now facilities. The UCSF branch operation in Fresno County is on the list of places that could receive this aid. 

YES   Prop 15 would legislate that commercial and industrial properties, exempting agriculture, should have their taxes based on what the property is worth, and not based on whatever it was originally purchased for.

YES   Prop 16 seeks to end California’s existing ban on affirmative action. The current law states California “cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.” Scientific studies show that the greatest indicator of income potential in America is still your parent’s income, which is still heavily tied to all those factors. The imposition of legal equality alone cannot remedy generations of past inequality.

YES   Prop 17 would allow Californians on parole for felony convictions to vote. Currently, the state constitution requires that felons complete both their prison sentence and the entirety of their parole before they are allowed to vote. It is unclear to what degree removing voting rights benefits the public as a deterrent against crime. There is a fundamental moral benefit to civil liberties gained by allowing citizens who are trusted to live among society to vote on how that society is governed.

YES   Prop 18 allows any 17-year-old who will be 18 in time to be eligible for the general election to be allowed to vote in the primary for that election. California’s recent adoption of the Top Two Open Primary makes this additional change more needed, as the primaries are not simply for the political party endorsements, but in fact decide who is listed on the real ballot.

YES   Prop 19 would require that inherited homes that are not used as principal residences, such as second homes or rentals, be reassessed at market value when transferred. In addition, the proposition would increase the number of times that persons over 55 years old or with severe disabilities can transfer their tax assessments from one to three and allow eligible homeowners who are over 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster, to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, anywhere in the state. The measure also expands tax benefits for transferring family farms. 

NO   Prop 20 seeks to expand the list of felonies for which early parole is restricted and allow additional types of crime including credit card fraud, firearm theft and organized retail theft to be charged as felonies. It would also add 51 crimes to the list for which early parole is restricted and mandate parole boards to consider a parolee’s marketable skills and “attitudes on crime” before allowing a release. The proposition would institute mandatory DNA registrations for a wide range of convictions including shoplifting, grand theft, domestic violence and drug possession. California already imprisons an exceptional percentage of its population in a prison system that is extremely expensive and often life-threatening to its inhabitants. 

YES   Prop 21 will allow local governments to enact rent control on housing that was first occupied more than 15 years ago, with an exception for landlords who own no more than two homes. Current housing costs are unsustainable in California and are still rising faster than the rate of new construction, so communities need every tool available to help the public during this new depression we are plummeting into. 

NO   Prop 22, sponsored by Uber and Lyft, aims to undo a law that passed last year and closed the loophole that allows those companies to employ their fleet of drivers without giving them rights and protections as employees. Uber and Lyft’s abuse of independent contractor designations has created a toxic labor market where drivers can end up losing money by working due to wear on their vehicle, their liability for damage and lack of health coverage.  

YES   Prop 23 establishes state requirements for kidney dialysis clinics. Necessary kidney dialysis treatments for end-stage renal disease are typically covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal with fixed rates, while private insurance is accepted with often exceptionally higher rates than these government programs. This proposition requires that rates be kept consistent and that the same level of care is provided for all individuals regardless of insurance. Requires that a physician, nurse practitioner or nurse’s assistant be available at all times.

No Position   Prop 24

YES   Prop 25 would replace cash bail with risk assessments for detained suspects awaiting trials. The risk assessment system is already in place; it is just called the decision over whether to grant bail. A cash bail system ensures only the wealthy walk free while the destitute stay in jail. This proposition is vigorously opposed by the bail bond industry. 
 

CVPPAC Proposition Voters Guide

Democratic Registration Way Up Since 2016

The Central Valley was considered a Republican stronghold for years, but Democrats are rising as a Blue Wave. In 2016, there were 165,000 registered Democrats in Fresno County but by September of this year that number had climbed to 190,000. That is 25,000 new Democrats ready to push the tide higher in this election.

Over the same time period, the Republican Party managed to increase their registration roll by fewer than 5,000 people. Today, Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 32,000 registered voters countywide.

The key now is to ensure that every Democrat votes. Traditionally, Republicans have a higher turnout rate than Democrats. This year needs to be different.

All the great work our Democratic legislature and Governor have done to expand mail-in voting has the potential to reshape the Central Valley’s political landscape by activating everyone to take that step to ensure their voice is heard.

Democratic Women’s Club
Welcomes New President
 

Kimberly Tapscott-Munson has been elected as the new president of the Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club, the oldest continuously operating Democratic club in California. The organization participates in the activities of the Democratic Party, including registering voters, campaigning, getting out the vote, staffing the Big Fresno Fair booth and participating on the California Democratic Council. 

For more information, contact 559-486-5422 or www.facebook.com/FresnoCountyDemocraticWomensClub.
 

2020 Fresno County Democratic Women's Club
Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Fundraiser

Vote By Mail
 

 

Fresno County Ballot Drop Box
and Vote Center Information

Democratic Party HQ

Contact the Democratic Party HQ ([email protected] or 559-495-0606) today for your Biden-Harris yard sign. You can donate to support the local Democratic Party via ActBlue or by mailing a check to Fresno County Democratic Party, P.O. Box 5795, Fresno, CA 93755.

Our newsletter is prepared by Francis Horan.

Democratic Party Headquarters: 1033 U Street, Fresno, CA 93721

[email protected]
559-495-0606

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