In Fresno, an assembly seat has opened.
AD-31 encompasses the entire city and some outskirts.
![]("https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0cJAFrVWSI/VvNe8eo1VMI/AAAAAAAACdE/IlsFP6vZKNw5GG8T1CK-BDae4rPpLg0Ew/s1600/California_AD-31_%25282011%2529.svg.png")
Mainly a agricultural region, with an urban core based in Fresno.
Democratic incumbent Henry Perea opted to resign early to work for a pharmaceutical company.
Incredible. A disturbing number of incumbent Democratic lawmakers think it's OK to give up their elected responsibilities to pursue something else! Perhaps the legislature should look into charging incumbents for the special elections they end up creating!
So, who's running to replace Perea?
Three candidates have emerged for the special election, to be held April 5th.
Two Democrats: Joaquin Arambula, an emergency doctor; and Ted Miller, a retired engineer.
One Republican: Clint Olivier.
Clint is a journalist, a family man, and he serves on the Fresno City Council.
His district covers parts of two other Congressional seats: David Valadao (CD-21) and Jim Costa (CD-16)
In spite of a slightly higher registration, Valadao has held onto his Congressional seat for the last two cycles. Despite the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's hardest efforts, they cannot unseat him.
As for Jim Costa, business and agricultural interests have gotten more frustrated with him from year to year. Dairy farmer Johnny Tacherra, who ran on a consitutional conservative platform, came within three thousand votes of unseating the long-time incumbent. Shortly after the polls closed on Election Night 2014, Tacherra was ahead. No one was paying attention to this Congressional district. With a higher voter turnout predicted not just for Democrats, but also Republicans (and a number of Trump supporters registering as Republicans), Tacherra may win the seat this year.
How does all of this play into Clint Olivier's campaign?
He is a down-to-earth professional. He has gathered a great deal of support from diverse interests throughout the state. He wants to end the tax-and-spend, regulate-frustrate cult dominating Sacramento.
He wants to bring water back to Fresno, rather than helping fish at the expense of farmers. The environmental bullies have ignored then rejected the needs of Central Valley families. This big government abuse must end.
![]("https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/709877799985610752/FJYMNAmu.jpg") |
| Fresno Councilman Clint Olivier |
And Clint will make sure of it.
He is a constitutional conservative: fiscally prudent, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-liberty.
His website lists his simple yet essential platform:
1. Fighting for water delivery and storage projects
supporting him have sent voters deceptive mailers like this one.
to import their controversy from outside the 31st Assembly District.