Some notable names, from construction contractors to labor unions, are pouring substantial sums of cash into the campaigns for candidates running for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in the Nov. 5 election .
Since Jan. 1, which includes about nine weeks before the March 5 primary, the candidates on the general election ballot have collectively pulled in nearly $715,000 in contributions to their campaigns. So far, the top money-raiser is Garry Bredefeld, a Fresno City Councilmember who is challenging incumbent Supervisor Steve Brandau to represent District 2, an area that encompasses much of north Fresno and part of Central Fresno.
Bredefeld’s 2024 campaign contributions amount to about $285,000 as of Oct. 9, compared to Brandau’s total of about $156,000. Bredefeld has also loaned $100,000 to his campaign fund.
In District 3 , which covers most of south Fresno and part of central Fresno, challenger Luis Chavez, currently serving on the Fresno City Council, has raised more contributions than incumbent Supervisor Sal Quintero by a wide margin. Since Jan. 1, the Chavez campaign has raised more than $151,000. That doesn’t include another $37,000 worth of canvassing in the district by representatives of the Valley Forward Action Fund, a political action committee affiliated with the Valley Forward youth leadership organization.
All four candidates took part in a Fresno Bee voter forum last week. A video relplay of the live stream is online at www.fresnobee.com .
According to campaign finance disclosure statements filed by the four campaigns through Oct. 9, the biggest individual cash donor in 2024 is Richard Spencer, head of Spencer Enterprises and Harris Construction, one of the largest contractors in the Fresno region. Spencer has made campaign contributions amounting to $35,000 — all to Brandau’s District 2 reelection campaign.
Here are the top cumulative donors contributing a total of at least $10,000 across the supervisorial campaigns in 2024 to date:
- Dignity CA SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 2015 based in Los Angeles, $35,000. The labor union has donated $30,000 to Bredefeld’s District 2 challenge and another $5,000 to Chavez’s challenge against Quintero.
- D. Curtis Lovett, president of Outback Inc., a Fresno concrete company, $25,000. Lovett has ponied up $10,000 to Brandau, $5,000 to Bredefeld, and $10,000 to Quintero’s re-election bid in District 3.
- Target Constructors, a construction contractor in Madera, $20,500. The company has contributed $10,500 to Bredefeld and $10,000 to Chavez.
- The District Council of Iron Workers of the State of California, headquartered in Ontario, $17,841.5. All of those dollars have gone into Chavez’ campaign.
- Bell, McAndrews, & Hiltachk, LLP, a Sacramento law firm specializing in election law, $16,731.48. Bredefeld’s campaign received $11,731.48, while $5,000 went to the Chavez campaign.
- Jones Water Trucks Inc. of Clovis, $15,000. The entire amount went to Brandau’s campaign.
- California Real Estate Political Action Committee - California Association of Realtors, Los Angeles, $15,000. The Bredefeld campaign received $5,000, while $10,000 was contributed to the Chavez campaign.
- Westside Harvesting LLC., a Fresno-based custom harvesting company, $15,000. Brandau’s campaign got $5,000, while $10,000 went to Bredefeld’s campaign.
- Harris Real Estate Group LP, Fresno, $15,000. The company divided its contributions evenly between Bredefeld and Chavez, with $7,500 to each campaign.
- UA Local 246 Plumbers and Pipefitters COPE Committee, Fresno, $14,000. The entire amount has gone to the Chavez campaign.
Service Employees International Union Local 521 Candidate PAC, Sacramento, $10,000. The entire sum has gone to the Chavez campaign.
Fresno City Firefighters, Fresno, $10,000. The Bredefeld campaign has received the entire amount.
Iron Workers Local Union 155, Fresno, $10,000. The entire amount went to the Chavez campaign.
Patton Air Conditioning, Fresno, $10,000. The Bredefled and Chavez campaigns each received $5,000.
Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Small Contributor Committee, Sacramento, $10,000. The Bredefled and Chavez campaigns each received $5,000.
Shiralian Enterprises, Fresno, $10,000. The entire amount was contributed to the Bredefeld campaign.
Jinzhao Lin, owner of Ginza Asian Bistro and president of Hino Oishi in Fresno, $10,000. Lin contributed $5,000 to the Bredfeld campaign and $5,000 to the Chavez campaign.
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