Ashley Swearengin sees Fresno as it is today, and as it could be. She sees doors that have opened for new opportunities and said she is ready to lead the city into the future.

"I'm passionate about Fresno," Swearengin said. "As the sixth-largest city in the state, it is time for Fresno to assume its position as a top-tier city in California."

To reach the top, Swearengin said, Fresno needs quality jobs, safe neighborhoods, and a more efficient and effective City Hall. She said the city also needs a mayor who will be the lead advocate, not just for Fresno but the entire region.

"As the mayor of Fresno, those are the priorities I will fight for every day," Swearengin said. "As an outsider to Fresno's 'old politics,' I will bring an independent voice to City Hall to tackle these and the other difficult challenges that have faced our community for many years."

Swearengin spent the past seven years as the director of community and economic development at California State University, Fresno. She also has served as the director of the Regional Jobs Initiative, a public-private partnership that tries to create jobs in the San Joaquin Valley.

Tom Holyoke, an assistant professor of political science at Fresno State, said Swearengin has unique experience as a collaborative leader, and is the most polished candidate.

"She seems to be running the most professional campaign," Holyoke said. "She has targeted messages, and you can see that attention is paid to where she spends her time and money."

Holyoke said Swearengin is the most likely candidate to debate her challengers.
"She will come across as a very intelligent, well-prepared person," Holyoke said. "It's to her advantage to be seen debating the other candidates."

Swearengin has in-depth strategies for dealing with issues from downtown revitalization and economic development to park expansion and finances. Being mayor, she said, means being committed to the entire city.

"The first and most important thing we can do to improve Fresno's image is to be excellent in all that we do at City Hall in our community," Swearengin said. "I have extensive experience in public relations and communications and can say with certainty that there is no substitute for excellence when it comes to image, branding and marketing."

Though she's just 35, Swearengin said she is not looking beyond what she hopes will be two terms as mayor.
 
"I don't have other political ambitions," Swearengin said. "I just have ambitions for Fresno. And as mayor, I won't be the only one making changes. I'll never have a press conference alone. I'm happy to share the credit when we have successes."

The reporter can be reached at dboyles@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6659.

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