Incumbent Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston announced today that he is not seeking re-election to a third term today, in front of a stunned crowd at the annual "State of the County" breakfast this morning in Fresno. The embattled Waterston has been the subject of numerous unflattering news and opinion pieces in the Fresno Bee as of late, and had hired an attorney to investigate his own business dealings for potential conflicts of interest.
Waterston’s departure creates a two candidate race with local political heavyweights Nathan Magsig, former Mayor and current councilman in Clovis, CA, and Debbie Poochigian, wife of former State Assemblyman and Senator Chuck Poochigian. Poochgian, a veteran political operative and fundraiser, raised over $325,000 tonite at a fundraiser in downtown Fresno. It is conceivable that the race between Magsig and Poochgian will be the most expensive in Fresno County history, with projected expenditures of well over $1,000,000.
Well known Sacramento political consultant Johnson Clark is handling the Magsig campaign.
You can read Fresno Bee columnist and editoral page editor Jim Boren’s recent analysis here.