MAGSIG, POOCHIGIAN IN HIGH GEAR: SUPERVISOR RACE EXPENSIVE AMONG JUNE CONTESTS.

by Kerri Ginis

The Fresno Bee (California)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
May 12, 2008 Monday

May 12–An expensive and intense race is unfolding between the two
candidates battling for the only open seat on the Fresno County Board
of Supervisors.

With incumbent Bob Waterston bowing out after eight years on the board,
Nathan Magsig and Deborah Poochigian are tirelessly campaigning for
his job to represent District 5 — which covers 3,000 square miles
that includes most of Clovis and the foothill communities.

This is one of the most expensive races in the June election with
the two candidates raising more than $1 million between them. Most
of the money in both campaigns is coming from people and businesses
in Fresno County.

The two candidates agree on most issues, but suggest different ways
for dealing with the county’s budget woes and the role the county
should play in economic development.

They also squabble about who is more qualified for the position.

Magsig, a Clovis City Council member for eight years, touts his
political background and vast knowledge of budgeting and government
services. Poochigian, a self-employed consultant, points to her
business and farming background as well as her ties to a prominent
political family — her late father, Deran Koligian, was a county
supervisor and she’s married to former state Sen. Chuck Poochigian.

Both candidates describe themselves as fiscally conservative. They
want to preserve agricultural land, limit development in areas with
water shortages and keep public safety the top priority for funding
in the county budget.

They also agree that county departments are going to have to make
cuts to keep expenses down. For years, the county hasn’t had enough
money to keep up with rising expenses.

Said Magsig: "We’re going to have to buckle down. There’s no other
choice."

Poochigian says the county has to control spending: "We have to
ask the department heads to become more efficient, to cut costs and
consolidate services."

Their approaches for increasing discretionary money — cash supervisors
spend as they please — offers the most glaring difference between
the two.

Magsig said he wants the county to build 1,000-acre or larger business
parks to drum up more property taxes and create jobs. Poochigian
said the county isn’t in the development business and should instead
increase reserves, consolidate services and focus on tourism.

Magsig, 31, a nearly 20-year resident of the county who comes from
a family of pastors, says county supervisor is a natural progression
in his political career. He says he is committed to local government
and wants to ensure that Fresno County is a place where young people
stay to raise their families.

"I feel I do have the upper hand in this race because I bring that
local government experience to the table," said the father of three
young sons.

The 55-year-old Poochigian — who grew up on a family farm speaking
only Armenian as a young child — has never held a public office. But
the mother of three grown children says she has more life experiences
than Magsig.

"I don’t think you need to be a politician to run for office," said
Poochigian, who consults for nonprofits and political campaigns. "I
have experience in making business decisions."

Waterston hasn’t endorsed either candidate. He said Magsig is the only
one who has asked for his help. Waterston said he believes Magsig may
be more qualified for the job because Poochigian isn’t well-versed
in government.

"I just think that there’s a difference in knowledge between the
two," he said. "I don’t think Debbie’s done her homework at all in
the issues that face the county."

Poochigian says her opponent has too many ties to local developers
and unions, which could influence his votes on issues.

Magsig is executive director of the Coalition for Urban Renewal
Excellence (CURE) — a nonprofit foundation that builds homes for
needy families. The nonprofit partners with local developers on
some projects.

He has also been endorsed by the Fresno Deputy Sheriffs Association
and other law enforcement unions.

But Magsig says he’s not pro- or anti-union. He also plans to
quit his job with CURE if he’s elected, so he can be a full-time
supervisor. County supervisors earn $107,273 a year.

"As a supervisor, I’m going to reach out to every group, regardless
of whether they are a deputy or a home health-care worker, and be
aware of all the issues affecting the county," he said.

But some of those union endorsements may benefit Magsig financially
as he tries to keep pace with Poochigian, who has outraised him in
the campaign.

As of March 17, the end of the last reporting period, Poochigian
has more than $515,000 in her campaign account. Magsig has more than
$355,000 — including nearly $200,000 he transferred from his City
Council campaign fund.

A Bee analysis of campaign donations shows that about 25% of the
money Poochigian has raised since July has come from agricultural
interests. Another 21% has come from professionals, which includes
accountants, lawyers and teachers. She’s also received 19% from
businesses.

About 46% of the money Magsig has raised since July came from the
building industry, a Bee analysis shows. Another 29% came from
businesses.

Already, the candidates are spending their money on television and
radio spots. Magsig also is filtering campaign information through
almost-weekly press releases.

Magsig, who has been much more visible in the campaign, has criticized
his opponent for not debating him on the issues in the race. He sent
out a recent press release asking, "Where’s Debbie hiding?"

Poochigian said Magsig’s assessment is untrue — she says she is
attending debates and has been holding town-hall meetings with
constituents in the foothill and mountain communities.

The approach Magsig has taken in the campaign is typical of someone
who is behind in the race, said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political
analyst at the University of Southern California.

"It’s really politics 101," Jeffe said. "He’s got to get
exposure. Every candidate who needs to do that, does that."

Jeffe said Poochigian’s more low-key approach is a "front-runner
strategy."

Said Jeffe: "At this point, she doesn’t want to stumble."

Magsig says he’s not behind and just wants to ensure that voters have
all the information they need when they head to the polls. Poochigian
says she is not taking anything for granted and will continue to work
hard until the June election.

The Bee asked the two candidates about their views on a variety
of issues facing Fresno County. Here are their responses, edited
for space:

Budget

Magsig: Public safety is my top priority and I would fight to make
sure it was funded at the highest level possible. I would look to
consolidate services such as dispatch to create more efficiencies and
save money. I also believe cuts need to start at the top. Management
positions would be on the table and those positions which are
superfluous would be eliminated.

Poochigian: Consolidating services, cutting costs and eliminating
wasteful spending are ways to increase the amount of money in the
county budget. Recognizing that some programs have little room to cut,
I believe it is essential to find ways to grow the economy and provide
vital services — without raising taxes.

Retirement

Magsig: The current system was negotiated in good faith by previous
supervisors so we really couldn’t change it, even if we wanted
to. Going forward, however, we should create a new retirement system
for new hires that combines both a defined contribution and a less
generous defined benefit.

Poochigian: We must assure that decisions involving the retirement
system reflect proper actuarial principles and are based on realistic
projections of return on investment, etc. Leadership requires asking
tough questions and making tough decisions.

Agriculture

Magsig: As a supervisor, I will work with local legislators to keep
the Williamson Act. Why? Because elimination of this act could mean an
immediate loss of over $6 million to the general fund of the county. If
the state does not continue the program it will be difficult for the
county to absorb this loss in the short term.

Poochigian: Fresno County is the number one agricultural county in the
United States. The Williamson Act has been a very important tool in
preserving prime ag land and providing some tax relief that serves
not only the interest of the farmers and ranchers, but the public
as well. I will strongly advocate for preservation of ag land and
open spaces.

Economic development

Magsig: Investing in business parks would provide an opportunity for
thousands of new jobs to be created. We have great people here in
Fresno County. I would work to bring more high paying jobs to match
our talent.

Poochigian: We must adopt policies that recognize the essential value
of the private sector for creating jobs and growing the economy,
promote educational opportunities and innovative programs that
attract and encourage the best talents in fields such as business,
agriculture and technology.

Water

Magsig: The county needs a water master plan. I would like to see
developing communities all utilizing water reuse facilities. These
facilities will clean and purify gray water so communities can get
a double use out of water for landscaping. Before I would allow a
development, I would require the developer to prove that adequate
water existed to supply water to the new development without affecting
surrounding property owners.

Poochigian: Sound planning necessitates careful consideration of the
availability of a reliable water supply for new developments. In fact,
there are statutory requirements for findings on large-scale projects
to assure adequate water supply. Overdrawn groundwater supplies,
droughts, reduced sources due to state and federal court decisions
and the failure of government leaders complicate a serious problem.