Andrew Janz starts as Fresno City Attorney Monday. He wants more transparency from the city, while shedding his political past.
Janz resigned his position as deputy district attorney with the Fresno County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday. His role was prosecuting felony criminal cases.
Now, answering to the City Council, he will represent the city of Fresno in the municipal law arena. Hours after his employment contract was approved, Janz spoke with GV Wire.
Building Community Trust
Janz, a Democrat, has taken steps to shed his past as a political candidate and operative. In 2018, he ran for Congress against Rep. Devin Nunes; in 2020 he ran for Fresno mayor against Jerry Dyer. Although he lost both times, Janz established himself as a candidate who can raise millions.
After his loss to Nunes, he founded the Voters Protection Project political action committee. That PAC raised and contributed millions on behalf of Democratic candidates running for federal office. His new city contract forbids him from participating in any future PAC. He resigned from his VPP board position Monday.
Janz said he is in the process of shutting down his consulting firm, Frontier Way Strategies.
The City Council approved Janz’s contract unanimously, 7-0. That included Garry Bredefeld, the most conservative member of the council. He expressed some concern about Janz’s political past.
“The proof will be in the pudding. It’s going to be the way that I carry out the function of…
