Fresno City Council Should Give Janz the Power to Be a Real Campaign Sheriff

Voters are told to “follow the money” before casting ballots if they want to know who is funding and potentially influencing candidates or benefiting from ballot measures.

But following the money often isn’t easy. This is especially true with the rise of political action committees, some of which don’t comply with the rules and refuse to reveal their true selves.

Fortunately, something can be done about it locally. All it takes is the Fresno City Council empowering the City Attorney’s Office to clean things up.

Andrew Janz has tried to sort through the political campaign shenanigans since becoming city attorney in late 2022. However, his hands are mostly tied. While he might condemn malicious mailers sent by PACs whose funders remain anonymous, the powers of the office limit the weight of his hammer.

How About a $1,000-a-Day Fine for Noncompliance?

Right now, he can levy a $1,000 fine for noncompliance, which is a speck on the butt of an elephant for many political campaigns. For those determined to remain behind the curtain, it’s the mere cost of doing business.

What if the fine was $1,000 a day until the PAC or campaign came into compliance?

I bet that would make a difference. Those involved in promoting candidates would sign up for campaign rules seminars offered by Fresno County and the state. Campaign managers would frequently ask about deadlines and reporting requirements. Those who skirt the rules would pay a heavy price.

My $1,000-a-day figure is merely a conversation starter. It’s intended to prod the council to discuss with Janz what he and future city attorneys need to force campaign cheaters the hell out of Dodge.

I do have one request, however. Add to the city’s political finance reporting website a list of every campaign and PAC involved in Fresno races. Next to each name indicate if they are in or out of compliance with reporting requirements.

Every member of the city council has spoken about promoting transparency and weeding out corruption. It’s time for them to back up that talk.

It Wasn’t Illegal, but Shame on Brandon Vang

Fresno District 5 Councilmember Brandon Vang knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a malicious campaign mailer. He overcame one to win a special election for the southeast seat in March 2025.

Thus I was surprised when his re-election campaign sent a mailer built around the lie that the council was pushing to defund the city’s eviction protection program. As about half of all Fresno residents are renters, you can imagine the fear — and the motivation to vote for Vang — that the mailer prompted.

Fellow councilmember Tyler Maxwell shot down the lie, saying no one on the council had said a word about defunding the program, “Not even by a dollar!”

For the record, funding for the Eviction Protection Program in this year’s budget rose from $1.5 million to $1.8 million at the request of councilmember Annalisa Perea.

Why do politicians lie and needlessly scare voters?

Sometimes, it works. Vang won his June race outright, overcoming Mayor Jerry Dyer’s endorsement of Danielle Parra.

We’ll see if Vang continues to engage in such deceits as his political career continues.

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