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Fresno, CA (KFSN) -- Fresno's Mayor says he's being dragged into the race to replace him. Alan Autry on Thursday defended candidate Ashley Swearengin against an attack by candidate Henry T. Perea.

Earlier in the day Perea was joined by the head of the Fresno Police Officers Association in questioning, Swearengins support for law enforcement. At a news conference for Perea, FPOA President Jackie Parks said:"Law enforcement fears there won't be more protection for Fresno residents if Ashley Swearengin and the politics of the Regional Jobs Initiative make it to City Hall."

Swearengin heads the Regional Jobs Initiative, or RJI, an organization created to bring jobs to the area. In a report written four years ago, the RJI suggested that in order to find enough money for job creation projects the city might consider putting a cap on the amount of money from the city's general fund spent for law enforcement, if the money could be replaced with a public safety tax.
Perea says putting a "cap" on spending for public

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http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/politics&id=6442412