Diane Pearce says she is the candidate who champions conservative causes. Vong Mouanoutoua says he is the candidate who knows how to listen and build a coalition.<\/p>\n
Both are Clovis city councilmembers. Both are registered Republicans. Both are running for an expected vacancy on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, currently held by Nathan Magsig.<\/p>\n
Pearce and Mouanoutoua made their pitches Monday night to the Fresno County Republican National Hispanic Assembly.<\/p>\n
Pearce and Mouanoutoua established different types of governance. Pearce said she was influenced by Rush Limbaugh and proudly crusades against LGBTQ+ material in the children’s section of the library, transgender athletes and sanctuary cities. Mouanoutoua highlighted his immigrant story and willingness to partner with others for the sake of public policy.<\/p>\n
A vacancy right now is theoretical, though it seems likely. Magsig still has to win his state Senate election on Nov. 3 against Libertarian William Brown Jr. of Visalia. In the June primary, Magsig earned 60% of the vote. The 12th Senate District has 44% more GOP voters than Libertarians.<\/p>\n
Magsig told The Fresno Bee he has “not yet\u201d made an endorsement.<\/p>\n
Fresno City Councilmembers Vong Mouanoutoua, left, and Diane Pearce debate at a meeting of the Fresno County Republican National Hispanic Assembly at Mama Iguana\u2019s in Fresno on July 20, 2026. David Taub The Fresno Bee Differing views on Measure C successor<\/p>\n
The candidates separated on the issue of the transportation tax. The proposed 30-year, $7 billion measure would succeed Measure C, which expires June 30, 2027.<\/p>\n
Pearce called the plan \u201can absolute disaster. There\u2019s no way that I would be supporting that.\u201d She said the plan \u201cgutted\u201d regional projects, and spends more on public transportation than fixing roads.<\/p>\n
Mouanoutoua was in the coalition to advance the Better Roads, Safe Streets plan, which included several social justice groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t ever listen to politicians when they explain an initiative you can read, an initiative you can look through and see if it is pushing you into buses, scaring you with bike lanes,\u201d Mouanoutoua said.<\/p>\n
He warned that 120 county jobs are at stake if a Measure C successor fails.<\/p>\n
Mouanoutoua said the proposed measure has local control, and Clovis had a voice during its formation last year. Pearce said the process was \u201chijacked by social justice activists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Supervisors called for an economic study that is likely to delay placing the measure on the November ballot. It is slated to appear on the March 2028 ballot.<\/p>\n
Pearce questions Mouanoutoua\u2019s conservatism<\/p>\n
Pearce went on the attack. She claimed that while she supported several other conservative causes \u2014 opposing Proposition 50, supporting ICE, attending a news conference for voter ID, attending memorial services for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk \u2014 Mouanoutoua was missing in action.<\/p>\n
She called it one of the \u201cbiggest differences between myself and Vong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur country is on the brink of socialism. Our state is almost at the point of no return, and this county hangs on by this seat alone,\u201d Pearce said.<\/p>\n
Mouanoutoua said he had other obligations during the Kirk remembrances, and was not invited to other news conferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t invite others. How do they know that you have a press conference?\u201d Mouanoutoua told The Bee after the event at Mama Iguana\u2019s in north Fresno.<\/p>\n
He said he shows up to community events like grand openings, police and fire graduations and ribbon cuttings.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will be hard-pressed \u2014 you can ask everyone \u2014 you will never find my opponent there,\u201d Mouanoutoua said.<\/p>\n
Mouanoutoua positioned himself as willing to work with others for the people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned that you couldn\u2019t do anything by yourself. You can scream as loud as you want. You still needed three people, so that means you needed to be good with others,\u201d Mouanoutoua said.<\/p>\n
The soonest a special election to fill the remaining two years of Magsig\u2019s term would be Feb. 23, 2027. Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Dr. Allen Clyde said he will run for the anticipated vacancy as well.<\/p>\n