The election is still months away, but challenger Keith Fagundes definitely has already earned the votes of law enforcement in his quest for the Kings County District Attorney’s seat.
Fagundes, currently working as a private attorney, spent several years working in both the Kings County and the Tulare County District attorney’s offices as a prosecutor. He left the Kings County office not long after current District Attorney Greg Strickland was elected.
In early January, the Fagundes campaign was notified by the Corcoran Police Officers Association that he had received their endorsement, the first of several throughout the county–and the state.
“In making this endorsement, the Corcoran Police Officers Association membership cited several reasons for this choice, including long-term leadership and commitment to support the efforts of the local law enforcement,” noted Bill Smith, president of the CPOA.
Not long after getting the local endorsement, the Lemoore Police Officers Association and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association followed suit.
Fagundes has also received support from the Peace Officers Research Association of California as well as the Avenal Police Department.
And, in making it a clean sweep for the Kings County city police departments, Hanford’s police officers association threw in their endorsement in March.
HPOA President Cory Matthews, husband of one of the prosecutors in the current district attorney’s administration, said the decision was based on several factors, including Fagundes’ integrity, experience and genuine concern for public safety.
“It is also based upon your commitment to the values that our members feel is essential for the position of our District Attorney,” noted the HOPA endorsement.
Fagundes said each of the endorsements in important to him.
“These endorsements tell me that the people who see the District Attorney’s office in action on a daily basis, support me,” noted Fagundes “It is time for a change.”
He said law enforcement knows he will stand by his word and will make positive changes in the office.
In addition to the law enforcement endorsements, Fagundes also has received support from the Kings County Firefighters Association and from the Kings County Republican Assembly.
