If you're running for mayor of Fresno next year, here are my 10 basic rules of campaigning. Political consultants will charge you a fortune for these tips. You get them for free because you read our Opinion Talk blog.

1 -- Be able to say in 30 seconds why you are running. I'm stunned when candidates come into The Bee for editorial board meetings and go silent when we ask why they are running. It's as if they have never thought about this obvious question? And don't say you're running to "give something back." That's a given. Give me a succinct 30 seconds that tells me you really understand what your candidacy is about. Show me that you know what you stand for. If you can't do that, don't run.

2 -- Don't rely on political advice from your friends, family or special interests who won't give you a straight answer. I'd go talk to Dan Pessano. His Good Company Players audiences are the people who will get you elected. Pessano knows how to connect with an audience, and about 90% of getting elected is show business anyway. Pessano is a great coach. I'd tie him up before my opponent does.

3 -- If you're lazy don't run. You better be willing to walk precincts every day, no matter how much money you have to spend or how many endorsements you've collected. Connect with voters on their doorsteps. It will make you a better candidate and make you a better mayor if you actually get elected. Walking precincts is hard work. The lazy candidates don't want to walk. You'll know them by their whining about walking precincts.

Continue reading "Here's $10,000 worth of free political advice" »

Posted by Jim Boren at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Here's my column assessing Alan Autry's tenure as Fresno mayor and what he says he plans for the final two years of his administration. He's calling his final push Operation Finish Strong. What do you think of Autry's time as mayor? How does he stack up with previous Fresno mayors? I'd love to see your comments.

Posted by Jim Boren at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

There has to be more to the spat between Mayor Alan Autry and City Council President Jerry Duncan than what we've been told. Nothing else explains Duncan breaking down on the council dais on Thursday after complaining that Autry said "vicious and cruel" things about him.

This is what we know so far from today's Bee story:

Autry said Duncan was using "distortion" and "deception" in lobbying against the mayor's proposal to attack gang problems in Fresno with intervention and prevention programs and aggressive police action. The mayor was responding to Duncan's comments in a budget hearing that Autry was trying to turn the Police Department into a "social services agency."

Okay, call me naive, but where's the vicious and cruel part?

Posted by Jim Boren at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)