Today is Election Day and I’ve been busy since early morning, visiting polling places around Fresno to talk with voters one more time as they arrive to cast their ballots. Then, at about 9am, my husband Paul and I cast our own ballots at our neighborhood poll location.

Even though we have now been campaigning for seven months, I am feeling incredibly energized by the encouragement and support I have received from across our diverse community. While we sometimes bring different perspectives on individual issues, the voters I have talked with have embraced our vision for moving Fresno into the top tier of California cities - with a quality of life second to none.

I am so thankful to all of you who have supported my campaign, walked precincts, made contributions, put signs in your yard and helped in so many other ways. Thanks to you, we have already made a difference in the way Fresno is thinking about the future of our city. I am excited about what we will be able to accomplish together in the months and years ahead.  

Finally, if you have not voted yet, please be sure to do so before 8pm. And remember that if you did not already mail your absentee ballot, you can turn it in to any polling location within the city of Fresno. With turnout expected to be lower than normal today, every vote is crucial to the success of our campaign.

It's been several weeks since I've posted a blog - lots of activity on the campaign trail!  I've been diligently walking precincts and am down to the last two that I want to cover before election day. I continue to get great input from voters throughout the City from the surveys we've hand delivered to almost 50,000 homes.  In general, people are very concerned about gangs, jobs, education, downtown revitalization, air quality, and urban sprawl.  There is also a sense of frustration that things need to be done differently in Fresno and that the same old approach to the same old problems is not going to move our city forward.  I wholeheartedly agree!
 
Over the last several weeks, I've also enjoyed attending a number of neighborhood meetings in people's homes.  Meeting with and hearing from the citizens of Fresno is by far the most rewarding part of the campaign trail.  It makes the process very worthwhile!  I am convinced more than ever that Fresno is a city at its "tipping point."  It's an exciting and important time.  We need every citizen of Fresno to engage in helping move our city forward.  If you're reading this right now, make sure you vote on Tuesday, June 3rd!  Your vote does count and will make a huge difference in this election and in the future of our community.

Today, my radio commercial starts playing on several local radio stations (see below).  This radio spot complements our direct mail and recorded phone call efforts, not to mention the contact we've had with over 50,000 voters since November through the door hanger program.  We are just two weeks away from the primary election.  These radio spots will hopefully help "seal the deal" with Fresno voters. 
 
I'm extremely grateful to all the volunteer support that has literally carried this campaign. Hundreds of people have helped by walking precincts, making calls, raising funds, organizing community events, hosting neighborhood meetings, etc.  I am confident that those efforts will pay off on June 3rd!

It was great to get up this morning and see that the Fresno Bee has endorsed my candidacy for Mayor.  You can read the editorial here.  I'm very honored to have the Bee's support!

Today, the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held its annual Latina Women's Conference.  It was a terrific event!  Along with about two dozen police officers, deputy sheriffs, and local business leaders, I participated in the luncheon fashion show.  I have to confess that walking down the runway and back in front of a packed house was a bit intimidating, but we had a great time and supported a very worthy cause.

I took a break from my usual campaign activities today to participate in a special board meeting of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.  The focus of the board meeting was on K-12 education.  California Secretary of Education David Long attended the meeting and provided insight on how the San Joaquin Valley can improve its educational outcomes.  The challenges in K-12 education in the San Joaquin Valley are staggering.  However, thanks to the leadership of people like Fresno County Superintendent Larry Powell, Merced County Superintendent Lee Andersen, and Drs. Walt Buster and Marcy Masumoto, the Valley is coming together around some key initiatives to improve our educational attainment.  For more information on the Partnership and its many initiatives, please see www.SJVPartnership.org.

Today, I had the pleasure of spending time with one of Fresno's most remarkable trail blazers, the Rev. Sharon Stanley.  Sharon moved to Fresno to complete what she thought was a three month assignment for her seminary training.  The three months turned into 18 years, and her academic assignment turned into the Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (see www.firminc.org).  Sharon and her team have been used in a powerful way to help literally thousands of people in some of Fresno's most challenging neighborhoods.  Their programs are models for the rest of the state and nation.  I look forward to getting to know and working with Sharon and FIRM.

The much anticipated day has arrived...the 'Ashley for Mayor' yard signs are here!  We had a "sign party" at my house today to give people an opportunity to stop by and pick up their signs.  Thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who stopped by for their signs.  If you didn't get one and want one, don't worry!  We have lots and lots to distribute.  Send me an e-mail, and we will get signs delivered to you.

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