A registered sex offender who is campaigning for a seat on the Fresno City Council has drawn a new wave of public criticism after holding a press conference on a public sidewalk directly across the street from an elementary school while students were still in class.
Rene Campos is seeking the District 7 council seat currently held by Councilman Nelson Esparza. His candidacy had already attracted sharp condemnation from local officials who argued that a registered sex offender should not be seeking public office. Last week’s press conference only added fuel to the fire.
The event was held outside St. John’s Cathedral on Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno — directly across from Big Picture Educational Academy. During the press conference, a reporter asked Campos whether being that close to a school might violate the terms of his registration. He acknowledged it could be an issue during school hours but suggested the campus appeared to be empty at the time.
School officials said otherwise. In a statement, Big Picture Educational Academy confirmed that students were in session when Campos set up outside. The school was emphatic that it had no connection to the event whatsoever — Campos was not invited, not affiliated with the school, and not welcome near the campus. Officials said they are pursuing every available legal option to ensure the safety of their students and prevent any future boundary violations.
Councilwoman Annalisa Perea, who had previously spoken out against Campos’s candidacy, issued a strong response. She called the incident deeply troubling and said it reflected exactly the kind of judgment failure that disqualifies someone from public leadership. She added that she is working with colleagues, the city attorney, and law enforcement to identify and close any policy gaps that would allow similar situations to occur.
The Diocese of Fresno also released a statement distancing itself from the event. Diocese officials said they received no advance notice that Campos had chosen the cathedral grounds as his backdrop. They expressed serious concern about his proximity to the neighboring school and condemned his decision to use the church and the school as what they described as props in a political performance. The Diocese was clear that it does not endorse Campos or any other candidate.
In his own remarks at the press conference, Campos framed the controversy as a matter of constitutional rights, arguing that the equal protection clause applies regardless of personal history and that voters — not elected officials — should decide who is qualified to serve.
City council members have said they are exploring legislation that would bar registered sex offenders from holding public office in Fresno.
