FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A registered sex offender running for a Fresno City Council seat has stirred up more controversy by holding a news conference across from a school.
Rene Campos announced he is running for the City Council District 7 seat, currently held by Councilman Nelson Esparza.
Campos came under fire from city leaders after they learned the candidate was a registered sex offender.
“It has come to my attention and even hit national news that we have a registered sex offender that is currently running for Fresno City Council,” said Councilwoman Annalisa Perea. “While I respect anybody’s ability to serve our community, I find this quite disturbing.”
Councilmembers say they are considering legislation aimed at preventing registered sex offenders from holding public office.
Following the outrage, Campos called a news conference on Friday to address the controversy.
“The equal protection clause does not apply to only the popular,” said Campos. “And the right to seek public office does not depend on whether those in power approve of you. When government officials publicly discuss how to block a single candidate from appearing before voters, that’s not policy debate. This is institutional overreach. The Constitution does not grant government the authority to pre-select who is worthy of democracy. Voters decide, not councils, not rhetoric, not fear.”
During the news conference, a reporter asked whether his being near the school would be against the rules.
“I would say during operational hours, absolutely,” said Campos.
I believe they are closed right now. I don’t see anyone.
But that news conference was held in front of St. John’s Cathedral at 2814 Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno, which is directly across the street from Big Picture Elementary.
Councilwoman Perea issued the following statement regarding the news conference:
“The safety and well-being of our children and families is and always will be my highest priority. I am deeply troubled by the incident in downtown Fresno in which a registered sex offender chose to hold a press conference event directly adjacent to an active elementary school campus. The concerns expressed by school leadership reflect the very real alarm parents and staff feel when the protection of children appears to be compromised.
Leadership requires sound judgment, respect for the law, and an unwavering commitment to protecting our community. When someone seeking office demonstrates the opposite, we have a duty to speak out with a clear message: those who have committed serious offenses against our children and continue to disregard legal boundaries should not be placed in positions of public authority.
While our legal system upholds the right to participate in the democratic process, that right does not excuse conduct that undermines public trust or places families on edge. We must ensure our local laws provide clear protections around schools and other spaces where children gather.
Protecting children in our schools, parks, and neighborhoods transcends politics. Fresno families deserve peace of mind, and I remain committed to working with my colleagues, the City Attorney, and law enforcement to review any policy gaps and strengthen safeguards that prioritize public safety above all else,” said Councilmember Annalisa Perea.”
The Diocese of Fresno also released a statement concerning the new conference being conducted outside its gates.
“On Friday, February 27, 2026, the Diocese of Fresno’s Office of Public Affairs was alerted by an on-site security system that members of the media had gathered on the public street outside the locked gates of St. John’s Cathedral.
Through direct communication with local media representatives, we learned that Mr. Rene Campos, a registered child sex offender and candidate for Fresno City Council, had scheduled a press conference on the public sidewalk adjacent to Cathedral property. Neither the Diocese of Fresno nor St. John’s Cathedral received prior notice of this event.
Upon learning of the gathering, the Office of Public Affairs urgently communicated concern regarding Mr. Campos’ proximity to Big Picture Elementary School, particularly given it was understood students were still on campus at the time.
Big Picture Elementary School is not operated by the Diocese of Fresno.
While the event occurred on a public sidewalk, the Diocese takes seriously its unwavering commitment to Child & Youth protection.
Mr. Campos independently and irresponsibly chose the location for the press conference and used the Catholic Church and the School as props in his theater of politics. Bishop Joseph Brennan and the Diocese of Fresno strongly condemn Mr. Campos’s decision.
The Diocese of Fresno has a long-standing history of civic engagement with elected officials and candidates across the political spectrum. Such engagement is rooted in communication, transparency and collegial community collaboration. This collaborative approach is clearly not of mind for Mr. Campos.
The Diocese of Fresno wishes to make it abundantly clear that while the Catholic Church has a responsibility to engage with civic leaders, the Church does not endorse Mr. Campos or any other candidate.
We charitably pray for all elected officials and candidates, that they will hold themselves accountable and work to unify our communities.”
Chandler Marquez – Director of Public Affairs
Big Picture Educational Academy also released the following statement:
“At Big Picture Educational Academy, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest obligation. We are sharing this update to address a deeply troubling incident that occurred near our campus.”
The Incident
“On Friday, February 27th, Fresno City Council candidate Rene Campos—a registered child sex offender—held a political news conference directly across the street from our school while students were in session.”
Our Position
“We want to be unequivocally clear: Our school had absolutely nothing to do with this event. Mr. Campos was not invited. Mr. Campos is not affiliated with our academy. His presence was not welcome.”
Our Action Plan
“We are not taking this lightly. We are actively pursuing every available legal measure to safeguard our students and ensure no legal boundaries are crossed. Student safety is not a political issue; it is a fundamental right that we will defend without hesitation.”