Fresno council members call for transparency, but refuse to say what prompted concern

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Wednesday morning, astatine Fresno City Hall, Councilmembers Brandon Vang and Nick Richardson held a last-minute quality conference.

With nary introduction, they jumped into discussing the value of declaration oversight, transparency and accountability.

Vang, representing District 5, referenced however immoderate funds were utilized by the idiosyncratic representing the country earlier him, present Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez.

"It did not beryllium good with maine that a declaration of this quality and its magnitude has been signed conscionable earlier this councilmember near office. At the time, I was not alert of these contracts by my predecessor arsenic much accusation came to airy the signifier is concerning to me," said Brandon Vang.

In March of 2025, Action News reported that Chavez was facing accusations of wrongful spending.

RELATED: Former Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez accused of wrongful spending

In a letter, assemblage activistic Luisa Medina and Former Assemblymember Juan Arambula outlined however they accidental Chavez unlawfully utilized payer dollars to administer a newsletter that prominently featured his wife, who was moving for the spot against Vang.

In a connection sent to Action News, Chavez said...

"All contracts projected by past and existent assembly members are vetted, scrutinized and approved by the metropolis attorney's office."

He added that Councilmember Vang's "inexperience and ignorance is astounding and hurts the residents of District 5."

Richardson lone wanted to sermon his wide anticipation for transparency with contracts of immoderate amount.

Currently, contracts little than $100,000 bash not request to spell done City Council for approval.

"I privation to marque it wide that I person nary crushed to judge that my colleagues present oregon immoderate metropolis section are operating extracurricular of the instrumentality oregon against ineligible proposal but we tin ever instrumentality steps to beryllium much transparency," said Nick Richardson.

Vang says helium is taking ineligible enactment to analyse however wealth is being spent and hopes changes are made.

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