When Politicians suddenly turn nice they want something.
I agree with the guest.
But it wont work.
Nobody really believes Sterling is sincere.
She just wants a county seat and it will never happen.
People are not that blind.

Rob,

I agree that nastiness is not necessary to communicate ones position against politicians. While I do not excuse such remarks, we can at least understand some of the frustration and anti-hypocritical sentiment they are expressing.

With regard to her visit to you: The best way to deal with a critic can be exactly what she did with her visit to you. Your comments have obviously not gone unnoticed by her and her camp. In the PR/political world she tried to preempt any further negative comments or opposition by you. This is a common PR/political strategy I have advised my clients to use in the past. She may not have gained a news spot, but that's not what she was after. Her goal was to hush one of her staunches critics. Why are you a concern to her? Because she has stated to friends and past colleagues, including my husband, she is aiming for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors.

She truly may have meant well, and I am glad she paid you a visit. Perhaps, just perhaps, it may have been done out of sincere wish to make herself available to you--but more than likely there was another agenda, a motive guiding her actions. Given her poor performance and her inability to truly stand up for the poor and disenfranchised in Fresno, she cannot be given too much credit.

Rob DeFrees

The whole world knows what I have said about Councilwoman Sterling in the past.

We are a country that believes in second chances. We forgive a president for using the Oval Office for a "a little on the side", we forgive tax cheats, we forgive crooks, we give chances to many who deserve.

Councilwoman Sterling came to my home with no cameras, no aides and rang my door bell. She had no clue if I would invite in or push her down the stairs. That impressed me. We had a long chat.

Councilwoman Sterling knew of my love of Classical music, and thought it would be grand to have at the event planned. With one telephone call, she got Sunnyside High School Band to agree to come and play. That will provide 'Pomp & Circumstance' and 'America the Beautiful' as we hold hands with our neighbors. Even more brilliant as that band will be joined by a choir.

Councilwoman Sterling did not ask to climb the stage, she told me that it was my event and I called the shots. If there ever was an 'angel of music', along with Lee Brand, it is she.

I called Councilwoman Sterling to task for past actions. She did not slam the door on my like a 'public employee'. I respect that.

There have been some who have done nothing and want to get on the stage and get 'photo op'. Councilwoman Sterling is an honoured guest and I will be very proud to hold her hand at the 'Evening of Music - Hands Across Fresno'.

One has to remember that being harsh with an elected official is not a license to be nasty.

And Ms Sterling will show up and do her Oprah act.

"Look at me".

"All Eyes on Me!"

"Look what I'm doing for all the little people."

"Let Me Pass out Food!"

"Where's a dirty child I can hand food to?"

"Take My Picture!"

"Take My Picture!"

"Nooooooooo!"

"No Pictures with Gail Allowed!"

"Save Me a few plates of that Food!"

"Mama's gotta eat too!"

"Joanne get wiley, Slip some of these frozen turkey in your Escalade."

Maybe HP Jr will do Liza and lead the crowd in a show tune sing-a-long.

"Life is a cabaret my friend, So come to the Calaverass Cabaret."

It's better then hearing them sing, "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to mess up things at City Hall we go!"

The article posted by We The People is, let me be polite in saying; the post is interesting. Appearently that poster didn't attend the Mayor's Forum. Jim Boswell wasn't there; Barbara Hunt and Ignacio Garabay spoke in a manner that was clearly seen by anyone in attendence that there needs to be no additional comments made from their preformance.

Rob DeFrees

Actually, folks on road will have beverages for sale. That is permitted as it is in a sealed container.

Strawberry Lemonade from the Buck's

Rob DeFrees

Now YOU are a cheeky one! I always get a right good giggle from your posts. And I do get some good thoughts as well. I do hope you will come onto the road for the big event. I can not serve food, thanks to Councilman 'dwarf extraordinaire' AND HIS HORRID COFFEE, but you will have lovely music to listen to.

Keep up the Good Work on your street.
Im sure we know who and who's IP most of the name changes come from.
What was that I said about missing the sewer queen and her crew?
I guess they are never really to far away.
LOL

Rob DeFrees

There are lots of folks about these days who seem to think me a bit shrill. I do tend to bang on a bit, but I do that from my own website www.calaverasstreet.com and I let the whole world know it s MOI.

Me thinks there is a game afoot with these post. As for IP adresses, I have to take care with requests for members as there are unkind folks who try to join just to cause harm. Is right odd how they change name but the IP address show they are one and the same. Talk about 'phantom' voices of the people.

If you want a good giggle do read MOI. It cost bugger all to join and the folks who are members (now 182 strong are right lovely, bit cheeky, but I do tend to admire cheeky folks). Now that was a shameless advert if there ever was one.

Just in case anyone wanted to verify that these "anonymous" posts of support are from unique (real) individuals, the system that powers this website logs the IP address that each comment is submitted from. I'm not saying anyone would ever look into that sort of thing...but if they did, it could be interesting information...not that they would, though...

I'll echo Rob's comments.
I find it particularly interesting that many "anonymous" paragraphs have been posted around local websites - each is verbose, has a distinct tone and reference to "Mr. Boswell" who stands for "we the people" and usually links to his MySpace or MeetUp pages. The MeetUp group had 12 members when I checked the other day - perhaps this is because these anonymous supporters refuse to offer their name (if we're to rally behind someone, we're much more likely to connect with people who we know are real...).
I work for a nonprofit, own a for-profit business, and donate to several charities. Oh, and I'm not supported by special interests. I guess all I need now to run for mayor is a group of supporters willing to actively launch a campaign of guilt on local websites.

Rob DeFrees

I would pay more attention to this advert if it came from someone who told the entire world who they really were. Bit hard to support one if you hide.

I think any one who runs for public office is to be commended. That does not mean that all who run are capable. Good intentions are not enough. No doubt the gentleman mentioned has done much good, that does not mean is is qualified to be Mayor. Nor does it mean that others running in the same race are all bad. The voter gets to pick. That take political smarts! To get the voter to vote and to pick YOU. Politics is a rough business and it take one who understands how the system works to get elected.

My dears, every person on earth has a special interest. I find it hard to see how taxes can be lowered in these hard times. Unless the gentleman in question has buckets of cash, cutting the salary of Mayor is NOT the answer. That is grand standing.

I find it difficult to believe that we finally have someone who is a regular working person who has taken on a huge endeavor by running for mayor and he simply wants to work for the people. This is what we, the people of Fresno have been wanting and now Mr. Boswell is getting told that he is not good enough? What is wrong with our people when we have a person running for mayor who has founded a non profit that helps many kids throughout our valley, he donates money to Childrens Hospital, he donates to schools and the Boys and Girls club and he has worked so hard, and for no pay, in order to make our city a better place. We have people actually wanting to elect council members who have proven that they will do nothing for the people, but they will give themselves big raises. We have other candidates who are only interested in the big money people in Fresno. Every single candidate except for Jim Boswell, Barbara Hunt and Ignacio Garabay is being backed by special interests groups and the people who want to build a nuclear power plant in Fresno, yet Jim Boswell, the ONLY candidate who has developed plans that will give the people more control of the decisions made in our city, plans that will lower taxes and actually create money for the city and Mr. Boswell is being put down for wanting to work for the people? If ANYONE has earned a place on ANY stage, it should be Mr. Boswell. I have read about and researched the candidates and sent several questions to each one. Mr. Boswell answered the questions in full and I thought, Wow! This is great! We finally have someone running for office who wants to change Fresno and put the people before anyone or anything else. We finally have a candidate who is not afraid to stand up for our rights. If we, the people of our wonderful city do not immediately begin helping Mr. Boswell, donating as much as we can to his campaign and putting on as many fundraising events as we can in order to get Jim Boswell elected, then shame on us!
Mr. Boswell is not a politician and he is sick of how our politicians have hung us ALL out to dry while they take advantage of the people. We have the unique opportunity to elect a person who will truly make a difference and who will stop the politics we are used to and we should be rallying behind Mr. Boswell in force. We can show the politicians in our city and even our state that the people are ready and will work for change by electing the only person who can make these changes. I have not been an avid volunteer in politics but I am so excited to finally have someone worth voting for and I am ashamed of the people who want to support the people who have lied to us many times before. If the people elect any candidate other than Mr. Boswell then you deserve the destruction and corruption the other candidates will cause.
One other note is that the other candidates are indeed breaking the law when the are putting up their signs and it is just shameful that our city has not done one thing about it. I guess that is because our city is being run by the same people who are breaking the laws.

Rob DeFrees

I was brought up to believe that it is quite rude to say horrid thing and do it in manner that hides who you are.

The Rotary Club members are not being fed! I am not allowed to do that. As to ignoring the folks on the road, that was so very mean and will not even honour that with a comment.

What ever the cost of the event it is being met by folks who do it with no thought of getting a tax deduction. They do it because they care and it is the right thing to do. Another rude thing to say.

Elected officials, 'public employees' and 'good folks' who see no evil have ignored my road and my neighbors. To be true, folks on my road have been lacking in Civic Pride as well.

The chap who is running for MAYOR can come onto the road, he just is not going to be allowed to get onto the stage and beg for votes. He can do that from the road, along with any other person running for office. My honoured guests have earned their place on MY STAGE, and that is just the way of it.

Have a brilliant day and if you ever get the courage to come out of hiding and tell the world who you be in being so very rude to folks you do not know, let me know. Until then, mind your manners.

Mr. Defrees complains that no mayor candidate is stepping up to the plate to help on his road. Someone does, and then he is totally blasted? Gee, I wonder why no one is coming down. How much is this thing costing anyway? Why not put some of the money into a fund for the menighbors to paint/fix up houses instead of feeding all of rich fresno rotary club members who will probably just mingle and ignore the very people this event is planned for? These groups that are funding this event have ignored and will continue to ignore our part of town after this big block party for ALL of Fresno. Jim, I guess your not invited!

I grew up in this neighborhood and the places that you speak of are spots that I spent a lot of time in. For while, M and R market had a great taco shop, cheap sodas, candy and the video game, "1941." Bought my first set of Garbage Pail Kids cards there.

Boss Liquor was the first store to have "Street Fighter" the video game in neighborhood.

Fresno Supermarket has been mention in a rap song.

The bad memories come from all the friends that
got caught up in the neighborhood social structure. The lack of a quality education and the lack of outlets for the youth other than gangs and drugs.

Hi Andy,
Thank you for the question and for saying you were looking foward to hearing me speak.
Unfortunately, I was in quite a bad accident and have cracked both ball joints in my hips. I have been putting off surgery for quite some time and was hoping to continue to do so until the end of the mayoral race, (and my swearing in as Mayor :), but my right ball joint broke in half and although I made one more forum and several meetings, I was advised by my doctor to get this hip fully replaced or the damage could worsen. So, I couldn't make the forum as I had a full hip replacement. I did leave the hospital in only two days though so I could continue to keep working with the wonderful volunteers on my campaign. There are many more forums that are scheduled and some will be televised, so I will attend those. Meanwhile, if you ever want to ask me questions, discuss any concerns you have or simply let met know what your thoughts are on our city's needs, please contact me any time. You can find my email and phone number on my website www.jimboswellformayor.com or you can also find some great information on our meetup group at http://localpolitics.com/181
I will also have more information posted soon. We are planning some events soon and I would love to meet you and as many people as possible as I believe I can only know what the people want by listening to them. And lastly, I would ALWAYS welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help with my campaign and help us all make a positive difference for Fresno.
Thank you and again please contact me at any time.
Jim

Mr. DeFrees,
I did not address your concerns regarding drugs, etc. and EVERYTHING on the list of what should be done in Fresno for ALL of our people because it would have been a novel. If you have listened to ANY of my debates, speeches or interviews, you would have already known that I cover ALL of these issues in my public service plans. Sometimes, we are unable to write all of the information we would like to despite the fact that we have much more to say. I have to say that I am very proud of WHY I received the awards I have been honored with. That is to say, that the non-profit I founded in order to help kids and our community, I am very proud of. I am well aware of the fact that there are many people in our community who I humbly call our unsung heroes and this is one of the many reasons I will be an active and visible mayor. I have also created a plan to form a citizens advisory commission in order to hear directly from the people who live in each district and address their concerns. As a matter of fact, someone like you would be great for this as I would like to hear and address your concerns. I am a native Fresnan who has never had a silver spoon and to tell the truth, I have had to overcome many adversities throughout my life and I am WELL AWARE of the gangs, drug dealers and the many plagues of our city that must be dealt with in an immediate and uncompromising manner in order for the good people of our city to enjoy a safe and secure city. This is another plan that I have released and discussed in depth throughout my campaign. I have also spoken about the rights of the law abiding citixens and much more, but I don't believe that writing a novel is the best way to inform the people. I am very approachable and although I have not earned a place of honor on your stage, I believe that if you actually contacted me so I could at least have the opportunity to discuss my plans and your concerns, I truly believe you may feel different after that discussion. I thank you for your honesty and commend you again for your passion for your road and our city, but I do want to let you know that I am a regular working person who will make extraordinary and positive changes for the wonderful people of our city. I hope that after I win this election, we can further discuss even more and I can assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised at how hard I will work for the people and how I will make the changes, including those you have discussed, that will make our city the great city we can be.
Of course, I certainly do not wish to offend you, but I just want to make it very clear that I have indeed created distinct plans and discussed ALL of these issues and more as I truly wish to work for the people and not for any special interest or other source. Remember, this is my city too and I am just as proud of our city as anyone. Together, we can all make Fresno safe, economically sound and wonderful.
By the way, I have an uncle who live close to your road and I do know the concerns you have as well as how great the residents are in that area.
Thank you Sir.
Jim

I was looking forward to hearing you speak at the Candidates Mayoral Forum regarding downtown issues last Wednesday evening. It was a decent forum with good questions and some good answers.

Rob DeFrees

The 'EVENING OF MUSIC - HANDS ACROSS FRESNO' is not an event being staged to help any one running for the high office of Mayor. The only personages I have invited to take the stage are elected officials I have personally asked to attend. Most are coming because they too believe in my road and my neighbors and wish to honour the efforts being made to make the road more brilliant.

I have invited all in FRESNO to attend the event. It is hoped that my neighbors will meet folks on other roads who are their neighbors as well. By joining hands with one another we hope to show that we, where ever the road lived on, are united in the fight to rid ourselves of drug dealers, the "poison" they sell, gangs and neglect. I could hardly prevent you from being a part of this event. I would urge you to be there.

In all that you wrote, I did not see mention of crime, drug dealers, 'poison', gangs or lack of civic pride or moral responsibility. That is what I have banged on these many months. It is the reason my road, my neighbors, and other roads and neighbors are in such a state these days. To be true, there are other reasons, but I am dealing with the
the root of evil first, the other matters can be dealt with later.

You have had a brilliant life, and you have had many grand folks give you certificates to show to the world just how brilliant you are. The folks on my road have never had folks honour them, no one believes them to be brilliant, and until the event have had no certificates honouring them for their efforts.

Unlike you, I do not feel that the sitting Mayor has been lacking in his duty to serve the folks of Fresno. He has a style a bit different, but the years of his service have not been without merit. As for the members of the present City Council who are running for office of Mayor, my feelings are well known. I do not understand how a DWARF become a GIANT, if elected Mayor. It is right daft to me that folks in Fresno would consider these DWARFS seriously. Much of what is wrong can be nailed to the doors of the DWARFS running for MAYOR. It will be up to the good folks of Fresno to decide, if they VOTE.

I applaud any person who runs for public office, it is what makes government work. I am not impressed with your total lack of understanding of just what ails FRESNO. If folks in Fresno are not free to attend school without fear, walk roads, ride a bicycle, shop or enjoy their roads due to DRUG DEALERS, 'POISON', CRIME, GANGS, GRAFFITI, they will soon be as DEAD as DOWNTOWN, the folks killed by 'poison' and the City of FRESNO.

You do not require a special invite to attend the 'EVENING OF MUSIC - HANDS ACROSS FRESNO', you do not need an invite to visit the road and see for yourself what some folks have done to make Calaveras more brilliant.

You have not earned a place of honour on the stage, nor has any other person running for the office of MAYOR.

Mr. DeFrees,
First, I would like to say that I applaud your passion for downtown. I have not been contacted by anyone requesting me to see what you are talking about or to listen to your ideas and concerns. Otherwise, I would have gladly made it to your road and listened to your concerns and ideas. That is actually what my "platform" is mostly about...Listening to the people, addressing the concerns of the people and most of all, perform the one duty that has been completely absent from our mayor and every council member running for mayor...WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
If you would like to contact me, I would appreciate the opportunity to see what you are talking about. As I am the only candidate for mayor who actually has plans that address the issues important to the people, (and I am always willing to listen to the people in order to improve the plans in order to make the plans better for the people)I have created plans to revitalize downtown without using taxpayers money as well as address and complete my plans to increase public safety, end the homeless problem, implement a plan that will save our people (the taxpayers) over $32,000,000 annually and at the same time make Fresno THE LEADER in green technology use. As mayor, I will also be able to lower taxes, considerably lower government interference and give the people their rights back. I realize you do not wish to have a candidate on stage to simply spout how great they are, but I believe if you give me the opportunity, you will find that I too believe that we are in need of a dramatic change in our government and this can only be accomplished by a person who is one of the people, who refuses ANY special interest funding, (which I have refused)and by a candidate who will put the public service back into the mayor's office and work for the people. I have taken on this tremendous endeavor because I too have become sick and tired of how the people have been ignored as well as the corrupt politics as usual behavior by seemingly every candidate out there. Yes, I have a large group of grassroots volunteers and yes, I will need to raise funds, but that is to combat my opponents who will continue the downward spiral they have our city in. I would love to attend your event, unless you simply do not want any candidates at all, but our volunteers and I are thinking along the same lines as your event. I believe we need a mayor who will provide a transparent government, open to the people and who will be an enthusiastic participant in these events throughout Fresno and year round.
Thank you and again, please contact me at your convenience if you wish to speak to a candidate who will ALWAYS remember that working to benefit the people is the most important issue.

Rob DeFrees

My website is www.calaverasstreet.com I will be posting about the Evening of Music tomorrow. "When you want something, the entire universe conspires to make it happen." And there will be no chance for folks running for office to take the stage to bang on about how grand they are.

Rob DeFrees

I am passionate about my road in downtown Fresno. So passionate that I started a website to bang on about my road. I also got my neighbors to start being civic minded. I have had two folks running for city council visit my rad to learn what can be done for my road and downtown. Bloody brilliant.

I have also got in touch with folks running for mayor, and asked them to visit my road and see what needs to be done. So far not a one has come to visit my road or learn what downtown could use to make it better. I am not the burning bush with the devine revelation and my view or opinion might not matter, but it one opinion that seems to be working with the folks in my neighborhood.

I received confirmation today that "Evening of Music" will happen. It was planned to honour my road, my neighbors, downtown, and folks all over Fresno. To show that ordinary folks can do extraordinary things to bring about change in Fresno. Folks in Fresno will have opportunity to see for themselves that what they believe about my road, my neighbors and downtown might not be correct.

May 10 2008 starting at 2pm the concert will unfold. There will be Fresno High School Jazz Band, a brilliant accomplished violinist and others performing. It cost bugger all to come and the sense of pride will be priceless. I hope all in Fresno will give it a look in.

And if the folks running for mayor are daft enough to see how brilliant it is for folks to come together, they deserve not to be boted for.

Is that the conspiracy lady? If so that would be interesting. Wouldn't it even be crazier if she was right all along ;-) Wouldn't all of us feel dorky then.

Now that would be interesting.

The Only Choice.

I think that most anyone who is able to become a mayoral candidate is odds are qualified to become the mayor. I think it just really depends on what you are personally looking for.

Big government and as much outside interests being served even if that means using eminent domain to accomplish it OR to allow the citizens of fresno to KEEP their property as should be their right.

Why should I lose my land so YOU can go play golf? and when did that become ok to be able to do so?

I think people need to wake up and realize what some of this "change" will mean locally and who it will actually affect.

Just because it sounds like a great idea does not mean it should be done at the cost of local tax payers or even taking their land for the so called "Greater Good".

As far as Perea being too young? that just all really depends on his exact stance on issues and if he actually knows what he is doing AND can accomplish it. Personally I think he is only for advancing his career and nothing more and will say almost anything to get to the next step up the political food chain and its sad.

I hope a local resident is able to become mayor and then imagine this, asking US what we think should be top priority and NOT what any local or state special interest THINKS should be done.

Homless camps with drunk and drugged up perverts roaming alleys to steal from peoples yards.

2nd and Lorena.
Butler and Walker.
Archie and Kings Canyon(They cam in the vacant lot and in back yard of the drug house next to it 712.

All the drunks hanging around the liqour Stores

Fresno Supermarket (Orange and Hamilton
Latino Liquor (Butler and Hazelwood)
M and R Market Butler and 4th)
Fiesta Market (Kings Canyon and Chance)

The drunks hanging out in the M and R Laundrymat owned by the liquor store.

Yes Mike Dages will do wonders for the City as Mayor

He can't even keep his district safe.

Two terms on Council and nothing has changed.

Long as we don't get Mike Dages as Mayor

Will he start by painting his Mayor Parking spot pink?

Maybe bring in some fashionistas to redecorate and add color to the City Hall Spaceship?

Out with the cold metal in with the pastels!

Maybe Savannah Diamond can redecorate.

I post nothing without my signature.

Your first CEO job cannot be Mayor. If you've never made more than 60k in your life, and never supervised anyone, you cannot be Mayor. It's plain and simple. He's governed nothing. He's run nothing. He has no signficant accomplisments on the council. He has no private sector experience. Maybe he could be Obama's running mate. The chamber made a grave error and they are hearing about it from their members, including me.

This isn't personal. I am quite sure he is a nice kid.

Mike

Rob DeFrees

Is there any doubt that Mr. Perea is going to climb to higher office on our backs??? When you set your sights on being a life long holder of public office you tend to make sure that your past does not come back to haunt you. Right safe to do just the politically correct things, bit hard to leave a trail that could make you open to lose an election.

He can be the brightest "kid" on the block, means bugger all to me, to really come out and be different is with risk but it says volumes of the "kid" you would be willing to do.

There is a chap running for president who has never tried to always to the politically right thing. When he was offered a chance to get home from Vietnam due to his father's position in the Navy, he refused. He has continued to support the President of the United States in unpopular war. Got to admire a chap like that. Hillary and Barack are not unlike Mr. Perea, better safe than sorry. Come to think on Mr. Perea will fit right in when he gets to Washington.

OK, I guess need to clarify a few things here, which I'll do post-by-post.

In response to your first post: I'm all for open debates and exchanges of ideas. It was my impression that your calls for debate were more like disguised promotion. If I was wrong in that, my bad, I apologize. I have no problem with candidates using the Web to promote themselves. I think that accountability and communication should be congratulated. Swearengin and other candidates post as themselves on the Beehive opinion blog, politicians post on Mindhub, a city council candidate posts here. I'm all for that -- if they're saying who they are. Maybe I'm totally wrong about your intentions. I'd read all your posts and I was skeptical. But if I'm wrong, I apologize.

As for your second post: What I was wrote was in response to the person above who challenge my statements as biased, not some sort of ego-thumping. I wasn't trying to endorse a certain candidate or even voice my opinion on the issues above. When I say I have a better place, I mean that if I want to talk about those things, I'm going to do it in a space that's mine -- be it my blog or my column -- not in response to someone's post on Fresno Famous. That's not a slam on Famous. I love Famous. I've been posting here for a long time. Read my blog, I link here a lot. It's just that I have my own space. And if I'm going to come out as a member of the media and say that I support one candidate or anything, that's where I'd do it.

First of all, what a slam on Fresno Famous that you have "better places" to express your opinion. I guess since we are not columnists we must post here, right? That is your logic.

Second, if you have better places to offer an opinion like the Fresno Bee what are you doing here???????? By the way, I am a trained journalist, and my journalist friends would beg to differ with your characterization of the Fresno Bee as "better."

I make no secret that I would vote for Tom Boyajian as Mayor. Everyone is entitled to state their opinion. In fact, forums like this thrive on it. But more important than liking a particular candidate, I like civic discourse. My aim was not to dish, but to spur some civic engagement. It is unfortunate that you see this as "blog-slinging." Some would call it a debate.

Contribute to the discussion and tell us what you think about the candidates. Let's get this election moving.

I wasn't offering my opinion on the election. I was merely pointing out that it seems like this person posting was "MakeFresnoGreat" might be an undercover Boyajian lobbyist.

That's all. I consider that more being involved in the community here on Famous, not offering an opinion of the election.

As a columnist, you can be assured that I have better places to express my opinions about who should be our mayor. And once I've developed that opinion, I'll probably share it in those places.

Am I the only one who finds Mike Oz's opinions as a member of the media incredibly biased? No.

Stating a fact like Mr. Perea Jr. is too inexperienced to be mayor is not mudslinging. City council experience does not give you experience to bring change to a city that needs it, it just means during your term(s) you're one of the reasons people are calling for improvements. We need new blood in Fresno politics, not young blood.

Fresno needs a mayor who can bring proven results and credibility to the office. We need someone outside the "old boys club" who isn't riding their father's coattails, someone who has devoted their career towards improving Fresno's economy and someone that brings results not rhetoric.

Tuesday, over 70 business leaders endorsed Mrs. Ashley Swearengin to be the next Mayor of Fresno. These leaders, that have brought jobs and economic prosperity to Fresno, realize that Ashley has the right policies to bring further success to a great city.

I encourage you to visit www.ashley4mayor.com and see what leaders of the Fresno community see in Ashley.

Rob DeFrees

The problem I have with Mr. Perea is that he has sat on the present city council and been more of "one of the seven dwarfs", than a LEADER. The city of Fresno needs folks running for public office who genuinely want to change the city. Mr. Perea has done a brilliant job of "punching his ticket" to climb the ladder of higher office. If he is elected Mayor, it just a pit stop on his march to bigger and better things.

Having reached the point on the city council when he would be made redundant, he runs for an office that is open to stay in power. I have no problem with folks who want to serve the common good, as long as they do something more than jump from office to office.

Remember this, Mr. Perea is one of the council member that allowed YOUR tax dollars, $155,000.00, to be spent to write a report that already tells them what is wrong with the community they want to fix. How odd.

I think 8 years of more of the same is enough. Let him find another path to Washington.

Am I the only one who finds it odd that "MakeFresnoGreat" has two posts that link to Tom Boyajian's Web site and now one that takes a jab at Perea.

"The mud slinging has started."

And the blog-slinging, apparently.

It's unfair to call a duly elected city councilman in his late 20's-early 30's a "kid". And thank God the Founding Fathers never placed making a payroll a prerequisite for government service. If it's such a good idea why don't they put it on a referendum or ballot initiative?

I'm not saying that Perea is the best candidate to become the next Mayor, but I do believe that he is qualified. He's been handeling the city budget for a number of years now. Running a business does not deal with the social issues plaguing this community. Business is about the bottom line. If you aren't happy with an employee, then you fire them. If you don't like dealing with a customer, then you drop them from your account. What business man would keep an unemployed high school drop out on their business account? Not one. This is why the business men that are on the council now are neglecting to deal with the social problems in the City. They simply lack experience in this area. Owning and operating a business is only one part of city council. I believe the numerous "business men" that have done little or nothing to bring Fresno into economic prosperity illustrate my point perfectly.

I think he might have a good point. Does Perea have real world experience. I personally don't trust career politicians. Especially ones that have made it the family business.
I don't see that as mudslinging. He is merely being honest. Nothing malicious about that.