Scott Miller and Blong Xiong are involved in what, by all accounts, may be one of the closest City Council races in years. Both seek to represent Fresno's District 1.
They are the survivors of an impressive field of candidates that met in the June primary. Both are bright and capable, and District 1 should be well represented whoever wins on Nov. 7. (That pleases me, since I live in District 1.)
Today's story in The Bee may reveal an important theme in Miller's candidacy. In at least a couple of cases, Miller's solution to nagging city and neighborhood problems is horticultural. He says the aging District 1 needs closer attention to tree pruning and root trimming, and he thinks the way to beat the blight of graffiti is for the city to "require business owners to line the outside walls of their buildings with shrubs or vines" -- so walls are covered with leaves instead of graffiti.
Well, what should we expect from a fellow who owns two prosperous nurseries in town?
I'm a little jealous of District 1. Why do they get all the good candidates? I remember when Boyajian ran against Lloyd Carter, I thought it was a shame that one of them had to lose. I feel the same way about Miller and Xiong.