FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: David Schecter
Friday, June 27, 2008	559-307-7250

Advocates for Better Government Endorse Swearengin

Experience and Independence Put Her “Head and Shoulders” Above Perea

June 27, 2008 - Fresno Citizens for Good Government, widely respected for its effort to curb the influence of special interests on Fresno politics, endorsed Ashley Swearengin for Mayor today in front of Fresno City Hall.

The announcement was made by well-known community leaders, and CFGG Board Members, Kathy Bray and Pete Weber. Ms. Bray is a business owner and former Chairwoman of the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Weber is a retired executive who leads a number of critical community initiatives. Other FCGG Board Members in attendance included James Shekoyan, Cedric Reese and Bobby Vang.
 
In their unequivocal endorsement message, FCGG said, “Ashley Swearengin stands head and shoulders above Henry Perea. Her visionary leadership and hands-on engagement are the combination Fresno needs.”
 
The FCGG Board also pointed to Swearengin’s independence from special interest influence, saying: “The campaign contributions reports of each candidate speak volumes on this subject. Swearengin has, by far, the largest list of individual contributors. Perea’s campaign, on the other hand, reports large “independent expenditures” from a Southern California PAC tied to the Service Employees International Union and to local developers.”

Swearengin’s years of hands-on experience leading large organizations was another critical factor in  FCGG’s endorsement decision. “Leading a City with over 4,000 employees and a $1 billion budget requires executive experience. Swearengin has ten years of executive experience (while Perea) has no executive experience whatsoever.”

Among Swearengin’s achievements, FCGG points to her leadership of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, which “has helped generate over $2 billion in new investments for the Valley including $1 billion for Highway 99; more than $800 million for cross-regional transportation projects; more than $300 million for air quality mitigation, and smaller amounts for workforce training, planning of a UC medical school in the Valley, fighting meth addiction, and many other programs.”

“We are endorsing Ashley not only because she is the better choice, but because she has the skills, experience and character to be one of the best mayors in Fresno’s history.  (W)e are convinced that Ashley’s abilities will enable her to…deliver on her promise to make Fresno a top tier city.”

Read the full text of FCGG’s Endorsement here.