Alan Autry Goes Ballistic
You may recall that Alan Autry was the Mayor of Fresno for two terms, succeeding Jim Patterson, a current candidate for the 19th Congressional District. Autry is supporting State Senator Jeff Denham, and has been taking major shots at Patterson while hosting a radio program on KYNO 940 am. Now, this station has less than a 1% share, so there aren’t many listeners, but I am really, really saddened by Autry’s attacks. He’s been my friend for many years, but as a Patterson supporter, I feel compelled to respond.
The latest Denham attackshowed up in my mail today, with Autry claiming that Patterson left him in a fiscal mess when he took over for Patterson in 2001.
If this claim weren’t so ridiculous, it would be laughable, and it makes fair game the Autry record while in Fresno City Hall.
Let’s set the record straight: Jim Patterson was elected Mayor of Fresno in 1993. The city was gang infested and had the worst auto theft rates in the nation. Over the next eight years, with some federal help, Fresno hired 384 police officers, cut the crime rate 75%, and balanced eight straight budgets. Pension obligations were… Read More