Rene Campos, a registered sex offender, has officially entered the race for Fresno’s District 7 City Council seat, raising questions about eligibility and public trust.
Campos, 28, pleaded no contest in 2021 to a 2018 charge of possession of child sexual abuse material and remains a lifetime registrant under California law.
“I’ve experienced the laws that we are trying to reform right now,” Campos told ABC30, framing his campaign around public safety and criminal justice reform. “They say let’s choose somebody outside the box, somebody who knows the system from the inside out.”
Court records show Campos served 27 days in custody, with the remainder of his sentence completed through treatment and probation.
Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus confirmed that his status does not bar him from running.
“Once you leave prison and are on probation, you are allowed to reapply and become a registered voter again, which makes you eligible to run,” Kus said.
Campos’ campaign website lists priorities such as reducing violent crime and promoting “clean, safe neighborhoods.”
He told the Daily Caller News Foundation that his personal experiences, including homelessness as a teenager and challenges faced as a gay man, shape his approach.
“Protecting children means enforcing consequences, reducing repeat harm, and building policies that prevent more damage in the first place,” he said.
His candidacy has drawn criticism from fellow contenders.
Nav Gurm, another candidate, argued that a history of sexual offenses should disqualify a person from public office.
“If I can’t show up at a school site, how can I best represent the people in the neighborhoods I want to serve?” Gurm said.
Other candidates include AJ Rassamni, a businessman prioritizing homelessness, and Ariana Martinez Lott, a mother advocating for local investment.
According to the Merced Sun-Star, Gurm has received endorsements from Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and the firefighters’ union.
Campos has not yet submitted formal paperwork but must do so by March 6 to appear on the June 2 primary ballot.
California law restricts certain activities for registered sex offenders, including proximity to schools and some public spaces, but does not prevent running for office once voter registration is reinstated.
Local ordinances, such as limits on halfway house capacities for sex offenders, apply equally to Campos and other offenders.
Campos said his goal is to use his experiences to create meaningful reforms.
“I know what it means to face consequences. I also know what it takes to rebuild,” he said, emphasizing policies that focus on accountability, safety outcomes, and community rehabilitation programs.
With multiple candidates vying for District 7, the election is expected to be closely contested.
A candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote in June to secure the seat outright. If no candidate reaches a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election.
Campos’ candidacy highlights ongoing debates about the eligibility of registered sex offenders for public office and the balance between legal rights, rehabilitation, and public safety.
His campaign underscores how personal experiences, even controversial ones, can shape a platform and influence voter perception.
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