A registered sex offender in California is asking voters to overlook his criminal record as he launches a bid for a seat on the Fresno City Council.
Rene Campos has thrown his hat into the ring for the District 7 seat, currently held by Councilmember Nelson Esparza. While most candidates highlight their civic achievements, Campos is having to address a much darker chapter: his status on the state’s sex offender registry.
Despite the crime, California law doesn’t bar sex offenders from holding local public office.
“I believe Fresno deserves leaders who are honest from the very beginning, not the end. Going into this, I am putting my life out there,” Campos told ABC 30.
Campos was charged with being in possession of child sex abuse material in 2018. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge.
On his website he promises to “target repeat crime areas with coordinated police, mental health and city response teams.”
“I’ve been given a chance to rehabilitate through the courts and go back into the system,” he said. “They say let’s choose somebody outside the box, somebody who knows the system from the inside out, because I’ve experienced the laws that we are trying to reform right now.”
Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus said that the state law does not prevent Campos from running for office.
“Once you leave prison, you’re on probation, you actually are allowed in California to reapply and become a registered voter again, which would then make you eligible to run as long as you’re living in the proper jurisdiction,” Kus said.
Under California law, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated in a prison for a felony conviction. Your rights are restored and you can register to vote immediately after your release, according to the Department of Justice.
Nav Gurm, a small business owner and attorney in Fresno, is also running for the District 7 seat and has spoken out against Campos running.
“I think it should be a disqualification to serve in public office. If I’m the next councilmember in District 7 and I can’t show up to a school site, how can I best represent the people in the neighborhoods I want to serve?” Gurm said.
“If someone is a registered sex offender they can’t be on campus at a school site, how are you going to be able to fulfill the duties of the job?” Gurm told The Post.
“I’m running for the same seat and unlike my opponent, I promise my name isn’t on any lists,” he added, “except for maybe the Dean’s list when I was in college.”
“My campaign is focused on moving Fresno forward, not because of Rene Campos.”
Gurm said he’s even reached out to some state legislators about the possibility of running a bill that would prevent this from happening in the future.
“It should be California law that if you are a registered sex offender, you can’t run for public office,” he said.
Gurm launched his campaign in 2025 and has the support of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno County Supervisor Louis Chavez, which overlaps District 7, and the Firefighters Union.
“Ultimately, Rene’s vanity campaign is a distraction. I’ve been in this race for a year now connecting with voters and listening to their concerns,” Gurm said. “City government isn’t about flashy headlines. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and delivering real results for our neighborhoods.”
The two men have even exchanged jabs on social media.
Gurm said on a FB post about Campos running, “we can do better, I’m running against him.” Campos hit back, “If we believe in the rule of law, we must also believe in rehabilitation. The law allows me to run, and voters will decide. That’s how democracy works.”
Campos has also issued a challenge to debate Gurm.
“Let’s be clear. Child abuse is unacceptable. Violence is unacceptable. Period. I believe in accountability, public safety, and real reform that protects children and strengthens families,” his FB post read. “If you want to debate policy, let’s do it face-to-face, @NavGurv. The invitation stands. Fresno deserves leadership — not comment-section politics.”
Gurm told the Post “Over the coming months, I’m sure many organizations and local media stations will be holding candidate forums and debates. Frankly, I believe he should be excluded. I have no desire to debate Rene Campos.”
In addition to Gurm, AJ Rassamni, a businessman, and Ariana Martinez Lott, a mother, are also running for the seat.
In most states you lose your right to vote if you are convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor does not restrict your voting rights, per the DOJ.
In Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a criminal conviction (misdemeanor or felony)-Pretrial detention, probation, and parole do not restrict your voting rights.
In Utah, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. you lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated.
In Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, or Washington State a misdemeanor or probation does not restrict a person’s right to vote.
Only in South Carolina and Missouri, do you lose your right to vote if you are on probation.
As of the end of business on Wednesday, Campos has yet to file. The primary election is on June 2.
Calls to Campos from The Post were not immediately returned.
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