Candidate for
Mayor; City of Fresno

Ashley Swearengin is a dynamic leader for Fresno. She leads by building coalitions of experienced and capable experts to solve problems in honest and thoughtful ways.

Swearengin has dedicated nearly her entire professional career to improving Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley of California. As the Director of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State since 2000, she works each day to improve the lives of Fresno families by working to create jobs and educational opportunities.

Swearengin is the co-founder and chief operations officer of the Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative (RJI). The RJI is a public-private partnership that is aimed at creating new jobs for Fresno. To date, over 23,000 non-farm, non-government jobs have been created.

Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Swearengin to the California Commission on Economic Development in 2007. Mayor Autry previously appointed her to the Fresno Utility Commission.

Swearengin is also the point person for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. Her office serves as the lead agency for this creative public-private partnership established by Governor Schwarzenegger. The Partnership, though still in its early stages, has already brought significant resources to the Valley including $1 billion dedicated to upgrades for Highway 99, $3.5 million in additional funding for workforce development, and $5 million for UC Merced's Medical School.

Swearengin's many honors include 2007 Alumnus of the Year by Leadership Fresno, and 2006 Top Business and Professional Women of the Year by the Marjaree Mason Center.

Ashley earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business with honors from California State University, Fresno. Prior to her work in the field of economic development, she led the marketing departments for three different businesses.

Ashley was born in Texas and raised in Arkansas. Her family came to Fresno when she was in high school, and she has called it home since. She met her husband, Paul, when she was a student at Fresno State. He is now the General Manager and an on-air personality of a local sports radio station. They have been happily married for 13 years and have two children.