The Fresno Bee
Race for supervisor’s seat should trigger voter interest
By Jim Boren
08/19/07 04:33:07
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Somewhere between being so popular in 2004 that he was unopposed for
re-election and today, when he faces two well-financed opponents, the
political career of Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston careened
off track.

It didn’t help that his District 5 constituents have been incensed
over several high-profile issues — water availability in the
foothills, too much development and a garbage collection system that
turned into a fiasco. But Waterston’s political problems are of his
own making.

Conflict-of-interest allegations have even caused him to hire a lawyer
to investigate his business and supervisorial dealings. He said he’s
done nothing wrong, but wants the lawyer to look at his entire record
to determine if there have been some "technical" violation of
conflict-of-interest laws.

The fallout has created a political climate that Fresno County voters
haven’t often seen: a competitive supervisorial election that has two
big-name challengers gathering tens of thousands of dollars aimed at
retiring an incumbent board member.

This race has everything a political junkie could want. Waterston, the
good old boy, facing a fresh-faced Clovis City Council Member, Nathan
Magsig, and a member of a long-time political family, Debbie
Poochigian.

Two formidable opponents

Both challengers have enough star power to make most politicians
tremble. Waterston says he doesn’t take either candidate lightly, but
believes District 5 voters know him and what he stands for.

"My polling shows that voters understand what I’ve done for them and
my commitment to public service," said. "But one thing is for
sure. Whoever wins, District 5 will be well-represented."

Waterston at times is gracious about his political opponents, and
other times seems annoyed with them. He says he helped Magsig get
elected to the Clovis City Council and now "he wants to take me out."

Waterston, 62, also was critical of Poochigian’s challenge, which came
after he endorsed Poochigian’s husband, Chuck Poochigian, for attorney
general last year. Waterston said Debbie Poochigian told him that she
wasn’t going to run for his seat. There were rumors at the time that
she would challenge Waterston.

"She told that to my face, and then I turn around, endorsed Chuck and
wrote a $1,000 check for the AG race," Waterston told a Bee reporter
in April. "I did that all for them, and here we are. … I’m not sure
what her motives are."

Poochigian said she was in the middle of her husband’s statewide
campaign for attorney general when Waterston asked whether she was
running against him for supervisor. "I said, ‘Bob, I’m not running for
anything right now,’ " adding that she would make a decision at a
later time.

Last week, she indicated she would run against Waterston, but said she
will make a formal announcement after the first of the year. "I’m the
outsider running against two incumbent politicians. But I’m pretty
confident about my chances."

Outsider or not, Poochigian, 54, brings a significant political
pedigree to the race. Her husband was a longtime Valley legislator and
her father, the late Deran Koligian, was a longtime county
supervisor. In addition, she has been a major political fundraiser
over the years and has built up many IOUs among the region’s
Republican establishment.

Magsig has long eyed county seat

Magsig, 30, said he has been working toward running for county
supervisor for some time. He announced his candidacy last week.

"I have nothing personal against Bob and consider him a friend,"
Magsig said. "I have been looking at this race for well over a year. I
want to be part of the change in the county. This race will not be
decided by personalities, but by the issues and the message."

Waterston said he looks forward to debating both challengers. Voters
will see that he has deep knowledge of county issues, and how complex
the problems are, he said. "I work every day on these issues, and
those who don’t have that experience may not appreciate the difficult
choices that you must make when you sit on the board."

None of the candidates will be able to say they didn’t have enough
money to get their message out. A recent Bee story said Magsig leads
with close to $214,000 in his campaign treasury, with Waterston having
more than $208,000. Poochigian raised $168,900 in less than three
months, and is ready to turn on the money-raising spigot. We are still
10 months from the June primary election.

All three are skilled politicians, and the primary campaign could be a
political science class for other local candidates. You can expect a
21st century campaign using the latest technology, traditional
campaigning methods such as walking precincts and plenty of money
spent on broadcast advertising.

If this race doesn’t get you excited, you don’t know how to have fun.

Jim Boren is The Fresno Bee’s editorial page editor. His column
appears Sundays. E-mail him at jboren@fresnobee.com or write him at
1626 E St., Fresno 93786.