Drew Bessinger for Clovis City CouncilDrew BessingerClovis City Council · District 5
VeteranExperienced LeadershipDedicated Public Servant

Drew Bessingerfor Clovis City Council District 5

"I'm running to keep Clovis the safe, family-focused community we all love — backing our first responders, building a community where all neighborhoods succeed, supporting local businesses, being fiscally sound and delivering the responsible leadership Clovis residents deserve."

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Councilman Drew Bessinger
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Council District 5

Is your home in District 5?

Drew is running to represent Clovis City Council District 5 — the growth area of Clovis, including the Heritage Grove planned community. Use the official City of Clovis map to see the boundaries of all five council districts.

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City of Clovis official council district map showing all five council districts
Drew Bessinger Clovis City Council campaign coin
Community FirstPublic SafetyResponsible LeadershipClovis Values
Drew Bessinger Clovis City Council campaign coin
Drew Bessinger campaign coin
A Message from Drew

Clovis: Our Successes and Our Challenges

Councilmember Drew Bessinger reflects on how far Clovis has come, the road ahead for District 5, and the shared vision that will carry our city into 2050.

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Drew Bessinger and family in a Clovis community parade
Meet Drew

A lifelong commitment to the community we call home.

Drew Bessinger has spent his career in public service — leading with integrity, listening to residents, and delivering results. From backing our first responders to supporting the small businesses that make our city special, Drew brings the kind of steady, experienced leadership our City Council needs.

He's a proud family man, US Army veteran, a neighbor, and a leader who believes local government should be transparent, accountable, and always focused on the people it serves.

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Priorities

What Drew is fighting for

Real priorities for real families — the issues that shape everyday life in our city.

Public Safety

Fully support our first responders, keep our neighborhoods safe, and make sure every family feels secure at home and out in public. Clovis is the safest city in the valley, and we need to keep it that way. Equip our Fire Department with all the equipment needed to respond both inside our city limits and when deployed State-wide for wild land fires and other mutual-aid responses, including earthquakes and weather-related disasters. Additionally, ensure that our Public Works staff has the same level of emergency response capability and equipment to deal with major issues like water and sewer line breaks, or being called to assist other cities and counties to deal with major emergencies when needed. Drew knows that when bad things happen, it's too late to play catch-up! The safety of Clovis does not end with our police and fire personnel. Our safety also includes our Public Works staff that ensures that our water is clean, our toilets flush and sewage is treated, and our roads are properly maintained. It's a dance sometimes, but a necessary dance!

Local Business

Cut red tape for small business, invest in downtown, and grow the local jobs that keep our city thriving.

Responsible Leadership

Transparent decisions, careful spending, and a City Hall that answers to the residents who live here.

Quality of Life

Clean parks, streets, and trails enhance our neighborhoods. Making sure that debris and graffiti are removed quickly prevents the reoccurrence of these nuisances.

Larger Businesses/Health Care Opportunities

We have worked closely with larger businesses too, like Costco (our #1 sales tax producer) and other national retailers to ensure we are competitive with our neighbors and bring the goods and services Clovis wants and needs. In addition, we have worked hard to make Clovis the medical care destination in Central California. We have worked closely with Community Hospitals, Kaiser, St. Agnes, Central Valley Indian Health, United Health Care, and the VA to create Clovis as the destination for health care. The VA recently broke ground on their facility at Armstrong and Herndon, with the hope that other medical offices, with both treatment options and jobs to follow. This will open health care options to our seniors and our parents, our veterans and families, and our families and neighbors to get quality health care right here in Clovis.

City of Clovis Highlights Over the Last 10 Years

Over the past decade, the City of Clovis has distinguished itself as one of California's premier communities — earning the title of #1 Safest City in the Central Valley for more than a decade, growing the total citywide budget from $179 million to $395.3 million, and increasing the General Fund Emergency Reserve from $11 million to over $28 million. Combined, Police and Fire added approximately 82.5 public safety positions over the past ten years.

Public Safety — Safest City in the Valley

  • Clovis has been designated the #1 Safest City in the Central Valley for more than a decade.
  • California Crime Index (2022): Clovis CCI = 630 — the lowest in the region.
  • Clovis was also named the #1 Best City in California to raise a family, confirmed in multiple years by third parties.
  • Police and Fire together consume 87% of the City's discretionary General Fund revenues.
  • The City was awarded a $6.0 million Police grant to combat organized retail crime, funding five officers and one police service officer beginning in FY 2023–24.
  • Fire Department expanded from 67 total positions (FY 2016–17) to 92.5 adopted positions — a net gain of approximately 25 positions.
  • Fire Station 6 opened in the Loma Vista area, the City's first new fire station in over a decade.
  • Fire Station 2 was reconstructed in the Helm Ranch Neighborhood.
  • Fire Training Facility enhanced with new classrooms.

Fiscal Management & Financial Stability

  • Emergency Reserve Rebuilt: grew to 20.3% of the 2024–25 general fund budgeted expenditures, up from a great-recession low of 5.5%.
  • Structurally Balanced Budget maintained throughout the decade.
  • Measure Y passed with over 66% voter approval — a 1% sales and use tax providing significant investments in Police, Fire, parks, streets, and senior services.
  • COVID-19 Economic Recovery: unemployment rate peaked at 13% in May 2020 and recovered to approximately 3.8% by March 2023.
  • Five-Year Forecast Discipline: consistently published and adhered to a Five-Year Financial Forecast.
  • Achieved delay in legislation requiring electrification of heavy-duty vehicles, avoiding significant expenses and service disruptions.

Infrastructure & Capital Investment

  • Ongoing street reconstruction across Barstow, Bullard, Shaw, Sierra, Sunnyside, Ashlan, Peach, and Willow Avenues, plus ADA improvements citywide.
  • Fire Training Facility expanded with additional classrooms constructed in Southwest Clovis.
  • Fire Station 2 reconstructed on Minnewawa near Santa Ana Avenues.
  • SCADA system upgraded for water and sewer infrastructure controls.
  • New North Civic Center complex designed and constructed — including a new Senior Center, Transit Center, and expanded Fresno County Library.
  • Water infrastructure investments continued: new wells, expanded recycled water distribution mains, groundwater recharge facilities, and additional water supply secured.
  • Loma Vista Village Green constructed and unveiled.

Community & Quality of Life

  • 97–98% of residents recommend Clovis as a place to live and raise a family across multiple National Citizen Survey cycles.
  • Expanded senior services, recreation programs, parks maintenance, and transit services throughout the decade.
  • 50 new citywide positions added in FY 2025–26 alone — the largest single-year staffing expansion.
  • General Plan Update is now underway, setting the framework for the next 20 years of planned, sustainable growth.

Economic Development & Business Growth

  • Top ten employers generate 14,199 jobs in Clovis, with over 40,000 jobs total — up from under 30,000 ten years ago.
  • Clovis Community Medical Center expansion brought over 1,000 new jobs.
  • Veterans Administration Clinic at Armstrong and Herndon began construction.
  • California Health Sciences University established its permanent campus in the Research and Technology Park.
  • Dry Creek Business Park expanded using redevelopment bonds.
  • Centennial Plaza in Old Town Clovis opened two new buildings, increasing activity and event space.
  • New Costco on Clovis Ave. opened during the reporting period.
  • Shaw Avenue Corridor Study Phase 2 attracted new retail, hotels, and restaurants including Costco, Vallarta, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Planet Fitness, At Home, Habit Burger, and Hobby Lobby.
  • Cabinet Connection Manufacturing Facility opened in Clovis.
  • Loma Vista Marketplace Development brought Tractor Supply, restaurants, Ross, Grocery Outlet, Butterfish & Made-In.
  • Fresno County redeveloped a major industrial complex, adding 1,000 jobs to Clovis.
  • Industrial vacancy in Clovis averaged just 0.7%, with lease rates nearly doubling over the decade.
By Councilmember Drew Bessinger

Improving Our Older Neighborhoods

When I moved to Clovis in 1984, my young sons and I lived in an apartment near Letterman Park. Two years later, thanks to my GI Bill, I bought our first home near Gettysburg and Sunnyside. It was small, but it fit our needs. In 1997, I bought a new home and kept the first one as a rental until selling it in 2004. Today I live near Clovis and Alluvial, where I enjoy a great yard, easy access to our trail system, and two beautiful city parks right behind me.

My wife’s parents moved to Clovis in 1961 and bought a home near Helm and Shaw, where my mother‑in‑law still lives. Back then, the neighborhood was filled with long‑term homeowners who knew each other well. My wife, Yvonne, grew up with the freedom to roam the neighborhood with friends. Parks were uncommon in those days—your backyard was your playground.

See All Priorities

"Our city deserves a Council that listens, works hard, and puts residents ahead of politics. That's the standard I'll hold myself to every single day."

— Drew Bessinger

Latest Updates

Campaign News

September 6, 2026

Old Town Trail Meet & Greet

Drew will be setting up a table on the Old Town Trail this Sunday, September 6th between Peach and Nees Avenue. Come by for a cold water on your hike!

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July 2026

Drew is Honored to be Endorsed by:

State and local leaders — like State Senator Shannon Grove, Assemblyman David Tangipa, Sheriff John Zanoni and former Sheriff Margaret Mims, Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and many other people and groups are backing Drew's campaign for District 5.

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Nationally Published Article in Police Chief magazine

Nationally Published Article in Police Chief magazine

Drew Bessinger shares insights on the role of an interim police chief in Police Chief Magazine. This article is on the reading list for the MPA course at UC San Diego. Drew also wrote other articles on community policing and eviction that have been nationally published in law enforcement periodicals.

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Community

Meet Drew in the neighborhood

Coffees, town halls, and community appearances are being planned across District 5. Dates and locations will be announced soon — check back for updates.

To Be Announced

Upcoming events, meet-and-greets, and community appearances are still being scheduled. Sign up for updates so you're the first to know.

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Vote Drew Bessinger, District 5, Clovis City Council