Farm Bureau hosts candidate’s forum

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Attendees gather at the Madera County Farm Bureau for a candidates forum on Wednesday evening.

The Madera County Farm Bureau sale barn was transformed into a venue for politics as candidates for Congress, the State Senate and Assembly, and Madera County Superior Court Judge assembled to “meet and greet” local voters.

Farm Bureau Executive Director Christina Beckstead moderated the event Wednesday evening as 20 aspirants for political and judicial offices turned out to unveil their reasons for running.

Candidates for Madera County Superior Court Judge, Katherine Rigby, Fresno County deputy district attorney, and attorney, Alaina Ybarra, were the first to take the microphone.

They were followed by candidates for the CA Assembly’s 27th district. These included businesswoman Amanda Fleming, Fresno City Councilman, Mike Karbassi, former Merced County Sheriff and chief of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Mark Pazin, and Fresno City Councilwoman, Esmeralda Soria.

Contenders for the 14th State Senate District, Rabbi Amnon Shor and State Senator, Anna Caballero, spoke next. They were followed by Congressional District 13 hopefuls — businessman Phil Arballo, State Assemblyman Adam Gray, businessman David Giglio, businessman John Duarte, and bail bond agent Diego Martinez.

State Senate District 4 candidates Judge Steven Bailey, marriage and family therapist Jolene Daly, veterans rights activist, Jack Griffith, former Congressman George Radanovich, and Workforce Development Board member Tim Robertson followed.

Rounding out the forum were Congressional District 5 contenders activist Mike Barkley and Steve Wozniak, holder of jobs in diverse industries.

The MCFB will host a second candidates forum on Tuesday in the sale barn from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Local political races will be featured. These include Board of Supervisors, District 1 candidates Michele Stephens, Andy Wheeler and Jordan Wamhoff; Board of Supervisors, District 2 contenders John Chavez, Tim Farrell, and David Rogers; Board of Supervisors, District 5 hopefuls Edward “Beau” Campbell, Robert “Bobby” McCaulay, and Mark Reed; Madera County Sheriff candidates Ruben Mendoza and Tyson Pogue; and candidates for County Assessor Brett Fraizer and Jorge Torres.