Another familiar face around Fresno City Hall is announcing a bid for the mayor's office.
Former City Councilmember Tom Boyajian kicked off his campaign with a Friday night speech from his backyard in west central Fresno.
"I think I’ve always been an individual who stands up for people -- vested interests are not as important to me as the people of this city," Boyajian said.
Boyajian's stands during his eight year tenure on the council frequently put him at odds with the city's management and administration.
He thinks the 'strong mayor' form of government adopted by Fresno in the 1990's has created an adversarial tension between mayor and council.
"I think there needs to be more of a relationship between the council and the mayor," Boyajian said.
Boyajian joins current councilmember’s Mike Dages and Jerry Duncan in the race.
With the potential for Council President Henry T. Perea and Councilmember Larry Westerlund to enter the fray as well, analysts say the 2008 mayor's race could become crowded with insiders.
"To my mind, none of them strikes me as a real front runner, and it's going to be hard for any of them to emerge from the pack," said Dr. Tom Holyoke, Political Science Professor at Fresno State University.
The primary election isn't until June 3rd, and as more candidates declare, it becomes less and less likely one of them will take the "50% + 1" necessary for an early victory.
However, analysts say the one man who could turn the race upside down is Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer. For now, his intentions remain a mystery.
TXT 24
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