Fresno Building Healthy Communities Not Responsible for Recent Political Attack Mailers
Mailers came from “Fresno Healthy Communities,” a political committee sponsored by Central Valley Council, a PAC not affiliated with our organization
FRESNO, CA – Fresno Building Healthy Communities (Fresno BHC) did not create, pay for, or distribute the political mailers recently sent to Fresno voters about City Council candidates. Our organization has no connection with the mailers or to the committee that paid for them.
The mailers say they were “paid for by Fresno Healthy Communities.” That is a political committee whose name closely resembles ours. Since the mailers arrived, our office has received calls from residents and inquiries from media outlets who believed we sent them. We did not.
According to its campaign finance filing for July 1 through October 17, 2026, the committee’s full name is “Fresno Healthy Communities sponsored by Central Valley Council” (Committee ID 1491525). The filing shows Central Valley Council (Committee ID 1482358) as its only funder, contributing $128,000 this year. KVPR and Fresnoland have reported that Central Valley Council is a PAC started and run by local political consultant Alex Tavlian.
“Our name means something in this community. Residents built it by showing up, organizing, and fighting for healthier neighborhoods,” said Sandra Celedon, President and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities.
“So, when a political committee uses a name that sounds almost exactly like ours, and people start calling us upset about mailers we never sent, that’s a problem. Voters deserve transparency. They deserve to know who is actually talking to them and who is paying for it. Tactics designed to confuse people about who’s behind a message have no place in our democracy. We all have a voice in this election, and nobody should get to hide behind someone else’s.”
Fresno BHC does not endorse or oppose candidates
Fresno Building Healthy Communities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. By law, we do not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. Nonprofits like ours may take positions on ballot measures, and we have endorsed and encourage voters to support Measure S. We take no position in any candidate race on the November 3 ballot. We are speaking out only because our name is being confused with a political committee’s.
Committees tied to Mr. Tavlian have a record of similar mailers
- 2025 District 5 special election: A committee called Fresno Future Forward sent mailers attacking a council candidate without first filing required disclosure forms. The Fresno City Attorney fined the committee $1,000. Later filings named Mr. Tavlian as its treasurer and principal officer, and his firm, Park West Associates, paid the fine.
- 2024 County Supervisor race: Another committee paid Park West Associates to send mailers that Fresnoland reported falsely tied a candidate to MAGA Republicans, using a photoshopped image.
- State investigation: GV Wire has reported that the state Fair Political Practices Commission has an open investigation into Mr. Tavlian related to the 2025 mailers.
- Borrowed names: Earlier this year, Central Valley Council funded a committee called One Fresno Coalition, a name close to Mayor Jerry Dyer’s One Fresno Foundation. The mayor said he had no connection to it.
What residents can do
The committee’s filings are public on the California Secretary of State’s Cal-Access website. Residents with concerns about these mailers can file a complaint with:
- Fresno County District Attorney, Public Integrity Unit: 2100 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721 · publicintegrity@fresnocountyca.gov · fresnoda.org
- Fresno City Attorney’s Office: 559-621-7500
- California Fair Political Practices Commission: 1-866-275-3772 · fppc.ca.gov
About Fresno Building Healthy Communities
Fresno Building Healthy Communities (Fresno BHC) brings residents, youth, community organizations, and policymakers together to build #OneHealthyFresno, where all children and families can live healthy, safe, and productive lives. Led by everyday people, Fresno BHC develops grassroots leaders and builds an informed, engaged community. Fresno BHC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not support or oppose candidates for public office. Learn more at fresnobhc.org.
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