SPECIAL ELECTION:
13
Nasreen Johnson Is Your Progressive Choice for the Board of Supervisors
By Mike Rhodes
There will be a special election on March
5 that will determine the balance of power
on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors
(BOS). The choice could not be more obvi-
ous: If you want the homeless treated with
dignity and respect, if you care about the
environment and want an advocate for social
and economic justice, vote for Nasreen John-
son, who is endorsed by the Central Valley
Progressive PAC.
Michael D. Evans, who is on the CVP-
PAC executive board, supports Johnson. He
said that “last November, we made progres-
sive advances in the State Senate and on the
Fresno City Council. Now we have an op-
portunity to turn the Board of Supervisors
leftward as well. Nasreen Johnson will pro-
vide true leadership that delivers for Fresno
County residents. Her strongest opponent,
Steve Brandau, is a self-described Tea Partier
with little interest in the role of government
in the success of our community.”
This special election is the outcome of
Andreas Borgeas winning his race for the
State Senate last November. He was the
representative in BOS District 2, which cov-
ers much of the northern part of Fresno (see
map).
In preparation for this special election, the
CVPPAC sent out questionnaires to all of the
candidates to determine their positions on
issues progressives care about. Johnson was
the only candidate to return a questionnaire.
Here is what she said about her positions on
important community issues:
CVPPAC: Tell us about your positions on
the environmental problems facing
Fresno County. For example, what actions
should the Board of Supervisors take to be
The content in this section is paid for by the Central Valley Progressive PAC
more proactive in addressing air-
quality issues in the Central Valley?
Do you support “fracking” regula-
tions or a ban on “fracking” in Fresno
County? etc.
FEBRUARY 2019
Johnson: We must make choices
that will leave our community and
environment healthy for our future
generations. I am supportive of doing
what we can to improve air quality.
One thing we can do is promote better
planning of development. I oppose
fracking.
CVPPAC: What is your posi-
tion on high-speed rail? What else
could be done to improve accessible
and affordable public transportation
throughout the county?
Johnson: I support high-speed
rail and further investment in public
transportation.
CVPPAC: Given the national
debate on immigration, what steps, if
If you want a more progressive future in Fresno
any, should the Board of Supervisors
County, vote for Nasreen Johnson in the March 5
take to support and defend our immi-
special election. She has been endorsed by the
grant community? In particular, what
CVPPAC.
should the Board do to defend our
undocumented neighbors and Johnson: I will support investment in af-
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals fordable housing. We need to set housing goals
(DACA) recipients? to encourage smart growth.
Johnson: I support DACA. It is not the job Johnson also indicated in the question-
of local law enforcement to enforce immigra- naire that she believes climate change is an
tion laws. environmental crisis that must be addressed
by decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels
CVPPAC: What specifically do you plan to and increasing solar, wind and other alternative
do to ensure Fresno County’s stock of energy sources. She is opposed to President
affordable, safe and decent housing increases Trump’s wall and supports a woman’s right to
significantly? reproductive freedom and will do what is in her
power to keep abortion affordable and legal.
Pam Whalen, the immediate past presi-
dent of the CVPPAC, said that “this is a very
important race and an opportunity for progres-
sives to make a huge difference in the political
landscape in Fresno. All progressives should
pitch in to help Nasreen either financially, by
canvassing, phone banking or all of the above.
We’re on a roll, let’s keep it up.”
For more information about Nasreen John-
son’s campaign, visit https://johnsonforsupervi-
sor.com.
*****
Mike Rhodes is an independent journalist and a
member of the CVPPAC. Contact him at miker-
hodes@comcast.net.
The next meeting of the Central Valley
Progressive PAC will be Saturday,
February 9, at 3:30 p.m. at the Fresno Center
for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave.
On the agenda will be the Board of
Supervisors race on March 5, an update on
the changes to the CVPPAC endorsement
process and more discussion about how to
stop voter suppression in Fresno County.
For more information, visit
www.cvppac.org.