FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: David Schecter
Tuesday, February 19, 2008	559-307-7250

Ashley Swearengin: The Choice of Fresno Business Leaders

Fresno -- Later this morning Fresno Mayoral candidate Ashley Swearengin will announce the endorsement of more than 65 Fresno business leaders.

The news conference will be held at the offices of Decipher Software, at 5250 N. Palm Avenue (in Fig Garden Financial Center).

As the Chief Operating Officer of the Regional Jobs Initiative and throughout her career, Swearengin has worked closely with Fresno businesses for more than a decade.  She also leads the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and is an appointee of Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Commission for Economic Development.

“Some of my personal and professional heroes are officially joining my campaign team today,” said Swearengin.  “These are people who will work with me to make Fresno a top tier city.  I’m honored to have their support.”

Swearengin is a political newcomer but has quickly established herself a serious contender in the race for Mayor.  She has a diverse team of supporters, a broad fundraising base, and as an outsider to Fresno politics, she brings a fresh perspective to policy issues facing Fresno. 

The people joining the Swearengin team today are:

Salvador Alcantar, Alcantar & Associates
James Aleru, CPA, Assistant Treasurer, Friends of Ashley Swearengin
Kim Beck, Vice-Chair, Ruiz Foods
Hillary Bell, NBN Insurance Services
Dwayne Berrett, Berrett & Asscosiates
Suzanne Bertz-Rosa, Bertz-Rosa Design
Hal Bolen, Partner, Bolen, Fransen & Russell
Jamin Brazil, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Decipher, Inc
Sally Caglia, Electric Motor Shop
Carol Chandler, Chandler Farms
Oran L Cogdill, General Manager, Westcliff Medical Laboratories
Jerry Cook
Suzanne Crosina-Sahm, Public Relations
Doug Davidian, Chief Executive Officer, Contract Interiors
Rick DeFehr
Joe Denton
Leon Dermenjian, President, Derco Foods
Octavia Diener, Densmore Engines
Dan Doyle, CEO, Central Valley Community Bank
Ian Duffield, Chief Operating Officer, Decipher, Inc.
Ed Dunkel, Jr., President, Precision Civil Engineering Inc.
Larry Fortune, President, Fortune Associates
Cathy Frost, Chief Executive Officer, Bennett Frost Personnel Services
Ralph Goldbeck, Partner, Carlin Manufacturing/Kitchens To Go
James Hallowell
Karen Hansen-Smith, M.D., Owner, Hansen-Smith Family Medicine
John Higginbotham, Citi Smith Barney
Fausto Hinojosa, CPA, Price, Page & Co.
Richard E. Herrinton
Jim Huelskamp, Land Value Management
Gary Janzen, Chief Strategic Officer, Thielen Idea Corp.
Dick Johanson, Chairman, Johanson Transportation
Chris Johnson, Principal, Johnson Architecture
Richard Keyes
Claude Laval, Chairman, Claude Laval Corp.
Mendy Laval, President, Claude Laval Corp.
Kim Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Eagle Medical Services
Seyla Lim, Director of Operations, Panational
Will Lyles, Lyles Diversified, Inc.
Bill Lyles, President/Chief Executive Officer, Lyles Diversified, Inc.
Jeff Manternach, VP Finance, Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
Chris Morse, CPA, Partner, Noelle, Agnew and Morse, LLC
Caren Myers, General Manager, Fresno Lexus
Bill Myers, S.C.O.R.E.
Debra Nalchajian-Cohen, Owner, Cohen Communications
Ken Newby, CPA
Chris Pacheco, Principal, Fat Dawg Broadcasting/A+ Signs
Stephen Paul, Founder/Partner, Bouquet of Fruits
Dr. Alan Pierrot, Founder, Fresno Surgery Center
Veda Ramsay-Stamps, The Ramsay Group
Doug Reitz
Tim Rios
Fred Ruiz, Chairman, Ruiz Foods
Alice Saviez, Saviez Farms
Craig Scharton
Ward Scheitrum
Laurie Seaborn, Chief Executive Officer, Summit Software
Ethan Smith, Vice President, Grubb & Ellis/Pearson Realty
Greg Smith, Owner, Click Co.
Beth Smith, Owner, GEMS Fitness for Women
Bill Smittcamp, Chief Executive Officer, Wawona Foods
Bob Smittcamp, Chief Executive Officer, Lyons Magnus
John Stewart, CEO, Grubb & Ellis/Pearson Realty
Mark Stout, Cleantech America Inc.
Tim Thompson, Attorney
Brad Triebsch, Principal, The Central Valley Fund
Bobby Vang, Asian Village
Riley Walter, Walter Law Group
Pete Weber, CEO, Anron
Mike Wilhelm, Attorney
Cori Winn, Human Resources Director, Netafim Irrigation
Joetta Winters, Guarantee Real Estate

Organizations listed for identification purposes only.

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