The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee (FCDCC) today elected Michael D. Evans as chair at its biennial reorganizational meeting. Evans replaces Gary Alford, who is stepping down after one term as FCDCC chair.

From left: Gary Lasky, incoming chair Michael D. Evans and Larry Johnson are sworn in as Executive Board members by outgoing FCDCC chair Gary Alford.

Evans ran on a platform of unifying the party, building relationships and getting the work done. “We are all Democrats with the same broad set of goals. What brings us together is far greater than what separates us. Working together, we can accomplish all of our goals.”

Noting that the voter registration in Fresno County recently shifted to a Democratic advantage, Evans said that “we have turned the county blue in terms of voter registration, but that won’t mean much unless they actually vote and vote Democratic. It will take the talents of many committed Democrats and many hours of hard work to make that happen, but the payoff will be enormous.”

Evans previously served as parliamentarian of the FCDCC and as an alternate for Alford. He attended the Fresno Citizens Academy, and co-chaired the Central Valley Candidate Training in January of this year that the FCDCC cosponsored with the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council. He is a member of the Kennedy Club of the San Joaquin Valley, the Democratic Women’s Club, the West Fresno Democrats, the Stonewall Democrats and the San Joaquin Valley Democrats, as well as the Central Valley Progressive PAC, the National Women’s Political Caucus and Peace Fresno.

The FCDCC also reelected Larry Johnson as treasurer and elected Gary Lasky as auditor. The balance of the officers will be elected at the August meeting.

“The Central Committee has an important job to do, and we must ensure that it gets done. Voter registration, voter education and GOTV are critical to our mission. We must also find, nurture, train and support candidates, raise money to help elect our candidates and strengthen the local party’s presence in the community. Our primary job is to facilitate the election of Democrats and promote Democratic principles.”

For more information on Democratic activities, send an e-mail message to chairman@fcdcc.org.

In accordance with its bylaws, the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee has scheduled its biannual Reorganization Meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, in the first-floor conference room of the Hugh M. Burns State Building, 2550 Mariposa Mall, in downtown Fresno.

Two meetings will actually take place. At the first meeting, the outgoing Chair will oversee the election of officers for the incoming Committee. After a short break, the newly elected Chair will call to order the second meeting. One item of business at the second meeting will be nominations to fill the openings on the Central Committee.

Here are the unofficial results of the June 8 primary elections. We’ve included some of the important statewide contests, as well as contested Democratic and contested non-partisan races in Fresno and Fresno County. Names and options shown in bold blue represent positions endorsed by the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee. For results not listed here, see the nicely done election tracker on the ABC-30 website.

A gentle reminder from the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee: The California Primary Election is Tuesday, June 8: Don’t forget to vote!

And when you’re voting, please keep in mind the positions and official endorsements of the California Democratic Party and the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee:

• The California Democratic Party says VOTE YES on Proposition 13.
• VOTE ‘NO’ on Vote Proposition 14.
• VOTE ‘YES’ on Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act.
• VOTE ‘NO’ on Proposition 16, known by many as the ‘P&E Revenue Protection Act’ against alternative energy.
• VOTE ‘NO’ on Proposition 17, which would unfairly allow auto insurers to base their rates on whether or not a driver has carried coverage with a certain company in the past.
• VOTE ‘NO’ on Fresno Measure A, which would deny proportional representation on the Fresno City Council to many groups.

As for candidates, the Democrats that we endorse are:

• Governor: Jerry Brown
• U.S. Senate: Barbara Boxer
• California Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones
• CD 18: Dennis Cardoza
• CD 19: Les Marsden
• CD 20: Jim Costa
• CD 21: Ruben Macareno
• Assembly District 29: Michael Esswein
• Assembly District 30: Fran Florez
• Assembly District 31: Henry T. Perea
• Senate District 14: Larry Johnson
• Senate District 16: Michael Rubio
• Assessor Recorder: Carole Laval
• Board of Equalization: Chris Parker

If you have not yet received your sample ballot for the June 8 Primary Election, contact the Fresno County Clerk’s office at (559) 488-3246.

At its general meeting June 2, the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee adopted a resolution censuring any candidate for office who misrepresents his or her occupational affiliation. The FCDCC took this action in response to credible allegations in the race for California Congressional District 19

The campaign of Les Marsden, who is a candidate in that race, issued the following press release:

“My primary opponent Loraine Goodwin is unethically using the title “Attorney” when she is not entitled to do so. To refer to herself professionally as an “Attorney” as she has on her official ballot designation – is deceptive to the voters and simply, untrue. The title (as I have been advised by representatives of the California State Bar Association) is reserved for those individuals who are members of the state bar association. And Loraine Goodwin is not a member of the bar, as confirmed to me by the California State Bar. Merely possessing a law degree does not entitle one to practice law in the state of California, and the title of “Attorney” is reserved for those in actual legal practice.

“Loraine Goodwin has in fact has been embroiled in political controversy in the past due to this very issue. In 2006 she used the title “Attorney” when she ran for the Madera School Board. When her deception came to light after the election, she reportedly admitted at that time that she in fact was not an Attorney. Demands were made for her resignation for having deceived voters. She ignored those calls.”

Dr. Goodwin responded to these allegations in a letter to the editor of the Sierra Sun Times.

Here is the text of the censure resolution adopted June 2 by the FCDCC:

Whereas the California State Bar Association states that for an individual in California to use the title ‘Attorney,’ they must be admitted to the State Bar Association; and

Whereas the California State Bar Association has reported that Dr. Lorraine Goodwin, candidate for Congress from California District 19, is not a member of the State Bar Association; and

Whereas Dr. Goodwin continues to employ the title ‘Attorney’ in her campaign communications, this represents a credible allegation that in the current election, Dr. Lorraine Goodwin is misrepresenting her professional credentials for elective office to voters in the Democratic Primary for California CD 19.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Fresno County Democratic Central committee censures any candidate who misrepresents his or her professional credentials in the course of running for elective office.

The Oakhurst Sierra Star recently retracted its endorsement of Dr. Goodwin.

From our friends at the California Democratic Party:

The California Democratic Party’s summer Executive Board meeting is scheduled Friday-Sunday, July 16-18, at the San Jose Holiday Inn.  If you have a resolution for the Executive Board to consider, that resolution must be submitted to the Board before 5 p.m. PT  Wednesday, June 16. The Executive Board anticipates a large number of resolutions, so please submit your resolution prior to that deadline.

Information and processes for submitting resolutions online are available to DSCC members through the CaDem website. Need more information or have questions? Contact Kim Stevens via e-mail at kim@cadem.org.