A registered intercourse offender in California is asking voters to miss his legal file as he launches a bid for a seat on the Fresno Metropolis Council.
Rene Campos has thrown his hat into the ring for the District 7 seat, at the moment held by Councilmember Nelson Esparza. Whereas most candidates spotlight their civic achievements, Campos is having to deal with a a lot darker chapter: his standing on the state’s intercourse offender registry.
Regardless of the crime, California regulation doesn’t bar intercourse offenders from holding native public workplace.
“I imagine Fresno deserves leaders who’re trustworthy from the very starting, not the tip. Going into this, I’m placing my life on the market,” Campos informed ABC 30.
Campos was charged with being in possession of kid intercourse abuse materials in 2018. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor cost.
On his web site he guarantees to “goal repeat crime areas with coordinated police, psychological well being and metropolis response groups.”
“I’ve been given an opportunity to rehabilitate via the courts and return into the system,” he stated. “They are saying let’s select any person exterior the field, any person who is aware of the system from the within out, as a result of I’ve skilled the legal guidelines that we are attempting to reform proper now.”
Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus stated that the state regulation doesn’t forestall Campos from operating for workplace.
“As soon as you allow jail, you’re on probation, you really are allowed in California to reapply and turn out to be a registered voter once more, which might then make you eligible to run so long as you’re residing within the correct jurisdiction,” Kus stated.
Below California regulation, you solely lose your proper to vote if you’re at the moment incarcerated in a jail for a felony conviction. Your rights are restored and you’ll register to vote instantly after your launch, based on the Division of Justice.
Nav Gurm, a small enterprise proprietor and lawyer in Fresno, can also be operating for the District 7 seat and has spoken out towards Campos operating.
“I believe it needs to be a disqualification to serve in public workplace. If I’m the subsequent councilmember in District 7 and I can’t present up to a faculty web site, how can I finest symbolize the folks within the neighborhoods I wish to serve?” Gurm stated.
“If somebody is a registered intercourse offender they’ll’t be on campus at a college web site, how are you going to have the ability to fulfill the duties of the job?” Gurm informed The Submit.
“I’m operating for a similar seat and in contrast to my opponent, I promise my title isn’t on any lists,” he added, “apart from perhaps the Dean’s record once I was in school.”
“My marketing campaign is concentrated on transferring Fresno ahead, not due to Rene Campos.”
Gurm stated he’s even reached out to some state legislators about the potential of operating a invoice that might forestall this from taking place sooner or later.
“It needs to be California regulation that if you’re a registered intercourse offender, you may’t run for public workplace,” he stated.
Gurm launched his marketing campaign in 2025 and has the help of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno County Supervisor Louis Chavez, which overlaps District 7, and the Firefighters Union.
“In the end, Rene’s vainness marketing campaign is a distraction. I’ve been on this race for a yr now connecting with voters and listening to their issues,” Gurm stated. “Metropolis authorities isn’t about flashy headlines. It’s about displaying up, placing within the work, and delivering actual outcomes for our neighborhoods.”
The 2 males have even exchanged jabs on social media.
Gurm stated on a FB publish about Campos operating, “we are able to do higher, I’m operating towards him.” Campos hit again, “If we imagine within the rule of regulation, we should additionally imagine in rehabilitation. The regulation permits me to run, and voters will determine. That’s how democracy works.”
Campos has additionally issued a problem to debate Gurm.
“Let’s be clear. Youngster abuse is unacceptable. Violence is unacceptable. Interval. I imagine in accountability, public security, and actual reform that protects youngsters and strengthens households,” his FB publish learn. “If you wish to debate coverage, let’s do it face-to-face, @NavGurv. The invitation stands. Fresno deserves management — not comment-section politics.”
Gurm informed the Submit “Over the approaching months, I’m certain many organizations and native media stations will likely be holding candidate boards and debates. Frankly, I imagine he needs to be excluded. I’ve no need to debate Rene Campos.”
Along with Gurm, AJ Rassamni, a businessman, and Ariana Martinez Lott, a mom, are additionally operating for the seat.
In most states you lose your proper to vote if you’re convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor doesn’t limit your voting rights, per the DOJ.
In Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, you solely lose your proper to vote if you’re at the moment incarcerated for a legal conviction (misdemeanor or felony)-Pretrial detention, probation, and parole don’t limit your voting rights.
In Utah, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. you lose your proper to vote if you’re at the moment incarcerated.
In Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, or Washington State a misdemeanor or probation doesn’t limit an individual’s proper to vote.
Solely in South Carolina and Missouri, do you lose your proper to vote if you’re on probation.
As of the tip of enterprise on Wednesday, Campos has but to file. The first election is on June 2.
Calls to Campos from The Submit weren’t instantly returned.
