Jeff Eben's mayoral mailer
Jeff Eben's mayoral platform is interesting in that it leans heavily on his Clovis roots and his experience as a Clovis Unified school administrator.
For example: His mailer includes a picture from his days as the principal at Clovis East and endorsements from local sports figures such as Fresno State coaches Pat Hill, Steve Cleveland, Mike Watney and John Baxter. Also endorsing Eben are former Oakland Raiders star quarterback Daryle Lamonica, former Fresno State basketball standout Tyrone Bradley, Clovis Unified Superintendent Terry Bradley and developer Scott Ellis.
But there's a glaring problem with the brochure: many of the people endorsing him reside in Clovis, not Fresno -- a fact that will enable opponents to keep painting Eben as a carpet-bagger.
Eben, the city of Fresno's deputy mayor, is the candidate with a platform that most resembles what Alan Autry has focused on during his two terms. Eben highlights public safety, solar energy, improving air quality, downtown revitalization and promoting the arts, athletics and vocational programs in public schools. Eben says he would increase school choice by backing an urban charter initiative.
The mailer is busy with slogans such as "Tough*Tested*Ready," "Celebrate Fresno -- You've Got To Love It," "Hope Opportunity Preseverance Equity" and "Fresno is a united city where every man, woman and child regardless of age, race, religion or socioeconomic status has the right and responsibility to create their personal wins by fulfullling their HEART, strengthening their SPIRIT, and always believing in the power of HOPE!"
With Autry terming out, Eben is positioning himself as the most Autry-like candidate and trying to appeal to the mayor's supporters.
Comments:
Eben's hoping to appeal to the Mayor's supporters? Where did he send the mailer out to? Scott Johnson's house? Or H. Spees' house?*
I don't think one needs a full-on mailer when one is appealing to only 15 or so people.
*I hope he didn't waste a stamp sending a mailer to Autry's house. I haven't seen his lovely wife at a Mayoral event in over 3 years...INCLUDING the 'renewal of vows' ceremony. Doubtful there are many supporters there.
Posted by: Stephen at April 7, 2008 1:38 PM
uhhh, i'm pretty sure h. spees lives downtown. and has lived down there since the early nineties. in the lowell area. et tu stephen?
and, although i'm highly unlikely to vote for eben @ this point, i'll point out that i received his mayoral mailer at my residence in the central tower district.
Posted by: ed at April 7, 2008 6:43 PM
Ed, alls I'm saying is, if he's trying to appeal to the Mayor's supporters, he would only need about 15 flyers.
I'm thinking he didn't need to send one to you. Or to ANYone in the Tower District...as there's quite a doubt in my mind that there are any Autry supporters left down there.
Posted by: Stephen at April 7, 2008 9:13 PM
A couple things occur to me in this article. Mainly because I've been doing some research on the candidates, going to see them at forums and all around doing my homework.
While Eben has served Clovis Unified, much of that student base is comprised of Fresno Residents.
Eben has actually lived in Fresno longer than Perea or Sweringen.
Finally, and I don't mean to nit picky here, you spelled perserverance wrong in the blog. Not a big deal, just something I caught on a second read through.
I expect the other candidates to bring up half of the truth and exploit it, but I would hope our media is truly presenting the whole story.
Posted by: Robert at April 10, 2008 7:28 AM
Not to nitpick, Robert, but "nitpick" is one word. All kidding aside, I commend your efforts to find out as much as you can about the candidates from your own research, not just from biased materials. You have inspired me to do the same. None of us can afford the luxury of blissful ignorance, especially in this election year!
Posted by: ames at April 11, 2008 12:29 PM
check out futureoffresno.com for some pretty decent info on the issue. the author there attended the recent mayoral candidate forum and the city council candidate forum and blogged it up.
Posted by: ed at April 11, 2008 1:13 PM
Here are the facts: Henry T. Perea has lived in Fresno his entire life. Ashley Swearengin has lived in Fresno since 1987. Voter registration records show that Jeff Eben was living in Clovis as of December 2006.
Posted by: Bill McEwen at April 15, 2008 2:31 PM
Eben moved to Fresno to run for mayor, that is the fact, it is especially obvious after the controversy of his hiring; regardless if it is from Clovis or Kentucky. I hope Fresno does not act like New York and go jumping onto that type of bandwagon. If he loved Fresno so much he would have moved here a long time ago. Ask anyone from Clovis and you will hear how different they believe they are from Fresno. Eben should have run for Clovis.
Posted by: Richard at April 18, 2008 2:51 PM
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