What’s Up, Clovis?

CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN

Photos by Ron Sundquist

The Vintage Market

The Vintage Market is an open-air antique and vintage fair held on the streets of Old Town Clovis. Begun in 1989, this is one of our longest-running and most popular events. The event took place October 16, 2022.

Roger Perry, famous musician, performing at the most recent Saturday Farmers’ Market. Busy Bees Honey Farm booth.

Mom and Daughter fundraising for Hurricane victims Saturday Farmers Market in Old Town Clovis

New Little Library in Old Town Clovis

Located at the Centennial Plaza on the corner of Bullard and Pollasky.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

INTERVIEWED BY ADAM RICARDO SOLIS. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES ARE ON OUR WEBSITE AT CLOVISROUNDUP.COM

Des Haus, who grew up in Huron and graduated from Fresno State, decided to move to Clovis with her family. Haus also works for a strategic energy company where she said she works with various organizations that are involved in the government.

Haus said she never imagined herself running for office after working with politicians through her regular work day rou-

Guy Redner has lived in Clovis in the southwest region, since 1998. He said people in that area of Clovis are often forgotten about. His catalyst for running for City Council came from being “tired of sitting back and watching it all happen”.

“With the pandemic and inflation and everything that has been going on.. I

DES HAUS

tine, but Haus said her catalyst to run for city council stemmed from the fact that Clovis had three open seats this election.

“With there being three open seats it was just a little concerning that maybe we could have someone come in and just disrupt the system because I’ve seen so many cities that it would just be very detrimental to what made Clovis, Clovis,” Haus said.

Haus said since she has always been a “don’t talk about it be about it” type of person, she said she knew no one would be a better advocate for her kids or other families better than her.

Economic growth and development, public safety, and local control are the issues that Haus is focusing on through her campaign. With a focus on economic growth and development, Haus said the more people who are able to move to Clovis and experience the city is phenomenal but at the same time Haus said she believes there should be an opportunity for people to work in Clovis also.

wanted to actually make a difference and try to make things better and I think by running for City Council…it allows me the opportunity to make some change,” Redner said.

Redner does not have a campaign website nor endorsements from anyone and is personally financing his campaign completely out of pocket.

“I haven’t reached out to anyone, and no one has reached out to me. And I think that’s the way it should be right? It should be members of the community voting for members of the community, not businesses or influential people. Kind of building things the way that they want. I know that’s the way it is but I don’t think that’s the way it should be,” Redner said.

For Redner, the issue of equity among all parts of Clovis and a re-phasing of the public transit system are at the top of his list for issues affecting the community.

“Our city needs tax revenue and more economic growth and development. That revenue could come to the city right now. Nobody wants to be the suburb of Fresno but some people are living in Clovis and working in Fresno and Fresno gets that revenue which in turn creates this shortfall,” Haus said.

Haus said that even if Measure B passes she doesn’t think it will be enough for Clovis.

“If we don’t start to grow in our economic development market then we might have to pass a tax measure,” Haus said.

Making sure no stone is left unturned in the search for options is a reason Haus said she feels qualified for the position if elected.

A hobby of Haus’ is routinely looking for grants and different legislation that are out there to provide funding to accomplish goals such as her economic growth and development plan.

“Instead of scrolling on Instagram I’m

Redner said issues concerning the public transit system’s scheduling and the obvious bus stop markings is a cause for confusion among users

Redner called the current state of the public transit system “abysmal” for the lack of obvious bus stop markings and benches for users of the system to utilize.

“The system is just completely unintuitive. If you look at a map and try to figure out what the schedule is supposed to be…I think it needs a rework from the ground up,” Redner said.

Another issue Redner is passionate about tackling, is the issue of making Clovis more affordable to move into.

Redner said with a large student and senior population in the community he thinks that affordable housing is a good first step toward making Clovis a more “livable” city.

Coupled with transit issues Redner looking at what bill got passed today,” Haus said.

Haus said when it comes to understanding the “convoluted” writing of legislation she is ready to offer more support because it is an area that can always use more help.

In a crowded field of candidates Haus said Clovis should be proud of the amount of people who are interested and willing to advocate for others. Haus said in a field of so many candidates, she feels her ability to work collaboratively regardless of party affiliation is what helps set her apart from the crowd.

“I look at the bigger picture. I look at the Clovis community and I believe looking at what serves the community best is what needs to be done. I believe in collaborative work together and it doesn’t have anything to do with a party. So I think one thing that sets me aside is that I come from humble beginnings in Huron and I choose to live in Clovis. I wasn’t born here and when I had the opportunity to pick where I wanted to live we knew we wanted to be in Clovis,” Haus said.

JOSHUA PHANCO

Joshua Phanco a Clovis resident since 2005 and owner of an All State insurance agency in Clovis for the past four years said that his catalyst to run for this position is because Phanco believes Clovis is at a “critical point”.

“We’re facing extraordinary challenges due to our rapid growth that I think could start impacting the Clovis lifestyle, and the Clovis way of life that we have all come to love.” Phanco said.

For Phanco, issues such as public safety, a business friendly environment to attract new businesses, responsible growth that builds on the Clovis way of life, and high standards to maintain the quality of life in Clovis are his focus. Phanco said he believes his experience as a business owner and building relationships with the community through volunteer opportunities is what has prepared him to potentially serve the same people he has a “connection” with. “I think one giant qualifier is that I have good roots here. I believe that my experience as a business owner demands a lot of you and teaches you a lot with regard to understanding how to take care of managing a budget, growth, finding ways to fund growth, finding ways to pay for growth,managing expenses, being physically conservative and finding ways to make the most out of everything that you have.” Phanco said. When asked what set him apart from the crowded field of candidates, he said he feels that his perspective as a small business owner who understands the feeling of “financially ranking things month to month” would help bring a unique perspective to the position. “That’s not to say that there haven’t been people that have been instrumental in helping businesses or operating on things. But I believe [my perspective] is unique in the sense that I have that unique position of being a small business owner that has employees and has that expectation of delivering and I think that helps really bring that type of perspective to the council,” Phanco said.

GUY REDNER

said he understands the issues facing Clovis.

“They made the change so that there’s no longer a bus fare but if you can’t catch the bus in the first place, it doesn’t matter if you would or wouldn’t have to pay for it. I had to take it when I was going to college so I know firsthand that it can be really unreliable,” Redner said.

Redner admits that his experience in this field isn’t the same as a career politician or similar to other business owners but Render said that is what separates him from the crowd of candidates running and what qualifies him for this position.

“I’m definitely stepping out of my comfort zone and I’m just a guy who wants to make a difference and I know I’m not a career politician, I’m not a business owner and I know that separates me from the rest of the candidates because I know a lot of them have their own business or they’ve worked in City government before…I guess I’m just a concerned citizen that wants to make Clovis a more livable city,” Redner said.