Brian Calhoun
Candidate for Fresno County Supervisor - District 2

It has been an honor and privilege serving as a City Councilmember for the past seven years. However, due to term limits, I am required to leave City service on December 31, 2008. Because I hope to continue to serve you and our community, I have declared my candidacy for County Supervisor - District 2, and if elected I will work to strengthen and improve Fresno. I pledge that during the final months of my City Council term that I will continue providing you with the leadership and fiscal responsibility that you deserve.

I am an experienced, honest, and accessible leader who has served Fresno with integrity. Prior to moving to Fresno in 1988, I also served as a county supervisor in Wisconsin for three terms. Politically independent, I will remain nonpartisan, fair, and accessible as your County Supervisor.

While walking the supervisory district since my June candidacy announcement, I have found that many city residents are unclear about how the Board of Supervisors affects them. The County deals with many issues that affect your quality of life. For example, your property taxes go to Fresno County to pay for restaurant inspections, mental and behavioral health, children and family services, the Public Library, courts, elections/voter registration, the jail, the tax assessor, the coroner, senior citizen services, public defenders, and marriage licenses, as well as many other services. The County Board oversees a $1.7 billion budget. However, the County is in serious financial straits right now. It is the Supervisors' job to manage the County Budget and recently they haven't done a very good job at this. Last year there was a $27 million dollar deficit. They haven't told us how bad it will be this year. During my tenure on the City Council, the City has built a $19 million reserve. It is time for a change in Supervisors!

On June 3rd, you will be voting for a District 2 County Supervisor, and I hope my record as a City Councilmember has demonstrated my commitment to the people of Fresno. That same commitment will continue if you elect me as your County Supervisor. Please take a moment to learn more about my plan to make Fresno's County government more transparent while providing the regional leadership needed to prepare for a 21st Century Fresno by visiting my website, www.fres-yes.com, or by stopping at one of my neighborhood Coffee Stops. I look forward to speaking with you.

As County Supervisor, I will work to:

Cap excessive annual salary increases

Currently supervisors receive automatic raises without citizen input. Salaries are currently in excess of $106,000 for part-time work .

Stop year-round campaign fund raising

Supervisors currently have unlimited fundraising opportunities year-round. I believe this is unfair, unnecessary and potentially dominated by special interests.

Implement term limits for supervisors

Neither the State Legislature nor City of Fresno permits unlimited terms of office. Why should the office of County Supervisor be any different?

Reform Budgeting Procedures

Fresno County faced a $27 million budget deficit last year. One supervisor referred to the budget as the Enron budget and another admitted that the County is broke. A Commission on the Future of Fresno County Governance should be established to make recommendations for improving County government and the budgeting process.

Create Regionalism

In 2002 and 2007 I proposed the creation of a citizen commission to identify areas where the City and County could consolidate services to save taxpayer dollars. Both times, the Board of Supervisors rejected my proposal. I will continue this effort to find cost savings in government.

Establish an Elected County Executive

Based on my experience as a county supervisor in Wisconsin, I believe a county executive, elected by all Fresno County voters and not subject to removal by the Board of Supervisors, would significantly improve the woeful oversight of Fresno County's services, budget and overall governance. I would work to put this on the ballot so all citizens could have a voice in this process.

What should Fresno look like in 10 years? In 20 years?

Our community needs to begin aggressively preparing for the future. We need to ask ourselves what kind of a community we want to leave to our children and grandchildren. Fresno is a wonderful place to live and work, but our region is facing significant issues of safety, economic competitiveness, air quality, transportation, education, health care, and the "brain-drain" of our youth. These issues are particularly important and challenging since they require regional solutions and creative, courageous leadership. As your County Supervisor, I will work to create solutions to these challenges and improve Fresno County.

My promise as a candidate for Fresno County Supervisor is to actively work to strengthen and improve Fresno County today and for future generations.

(559) 432-2779
www.fres-yes.com