The Undercurrent is pleased this month to bring you, our dear readers, interviews with Fresno’s two mayoral candidates. Henry T. Perea (Fresno City Councilmember) and Ashley Swearengin (Director of Community and Economic Development at CSU Fresno) are facing one another in a run-off election on 4 November, after finishing first and second, respectively, in an 11-candidate mayoral primary in June, with Perea winning by a mere 216 votes. We asked both candidates the same five questions. Here are their answers.

In light of our current water crisis, what can the City of Fresno (as opposed to its residents) do to conserve water?
I want to make Fresno a model-city for energy efficiency when it comes to air quality and water conservation. I am supportive of water meters. More importantly, the city needs to have a regional approach to water conservation…we need to always be working with our neighbor cities on technology solutions and conservation ideas.

With the rising cost of gas, the sad state of our air, and the pedestrian-unfriendly design and climate of much of Fresno, what place do you see in Fresno's future for the improvement of public transportation?
Improving public transportation is a major plank in my platform for transforming this city. Access has to improve, more routes have to allow people to get where they need to go more quickly and buses have to stay air conditioned and clean. Every major city in the nation, and the world for that matter, has a reliable, user-friendly public transportation system and I’d like Fresno to be the envy of every major city in California, especially when it comes to having the most ‘green’, energy-efficient fleet we can have. It’s a matter of setting budget priorities and working with, not against, the city council to put a plan in place.

There are gangs all over Fresno. Some argue that heavy policing is the solution, while others stress alternative strategies like after-school programs, mentoring, etc. What are your thoughts?

What's your opinion of the fact that a full 50% of our city's budget goes to the police?
(I am combining the answers here on these 2…) As a mom of two school-aged children, perhaps nothing is as important to me as having safe, quality neighborhoods in my city. The reality that thousands of moms and dads in Fresno go to bed each night worrying about the safety of their kids is heart-wrenching and infuriating. There is still much to do.
My public safety plan includes:
•Increasing the number of sworn officers,
•Consolidating city and county law enforcement activities,
•Continuing graffiti abatement efforts,
•Expanding the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Initiative, and
•Partnering with neighborhood leaders to ensure public safety goals are met.
Additionally, I believe that increasing employment and educational opportunities in Fresno will have the single biggest and most lasting impact on the quality of life in our community. Jobs and education are like dominoes: low education rates lead to high unemployment and poverty rates. High unemployment and poverty rates lead to high crime rates. If we can help local businesses grow and make sure the people in our community have the training they need to get better paying jobs, we will address many of Fresno’s most difficult challenges. Having spent the last 10 years leading economic development initiatives in Fresno and in the San Joaquin Valley, I know from first hand experience what it’s going to take to improve the economy.

In terms of the budget, it is important to keep Fresno spending in line with cities of like-size across the nation and I will work hard to do that in both police and fire services. Public safety officers need our full support and that needs to be reflected in the budget.

How do you explain the stark geographic divide between your supporters and those of your opponent, and how is this relevant to your campaign for mayor of Fresno?
I do not buy into the ‘stark divide’ argument to be totally honest. Our campaign earned votes all over the city in the primary race in June and we continue to work very hard to earn support in every city council district and in every neighborhood. Let’s face it, a vote’s a vote, regardless of geography, so it’s incumbent upon us to reach out everywhere with our message of ‘fresh leadership and real change.’ We have walked precincts in every quadrant of this city and will continue to do so. For me to earn so many votes in the South, let’s say, during the primary and in an 11-person field is a real testament to the strength of our message, as nearly all of my opponent’s district lies south of Shaw, along with that of his father’s supervisory district. We made great inroads into their ‘backyard,’ so to speak and will continue to do so. Also, the recent endorsements of both area Assembly Members—Jaun Arambula and Mike Villines—shows we have broad support from all segments of this community.