A registered child sex offender from California, who previously faced public backlash when he tried to secure a seat on the Fresno City Council, is now proclaiming his triumph following the state Legislature’s decision to reject a bill aimed at preventing individuals like him from holding public office.
Rene Campos, who couldn’t gather the required signatures to get on the council ballot in March, celebrated the bill’s downfall as a win for constitutional rights.
“The First Amendment is not for the comfortable,” Campos stated, adding that the Senate committee acknowledged the Constitution in this matter.
This reaction followed the failure of Assembly Bill 2753, which sought to bar registered sex offenders from holding local or state offices in California. The measure didn’t pass the Senate Elections Committee, which would have been necessary for it to become law.
The bill was introduced by California state Rep. Esmeralda Soria in response to the attention that Campos’ campaign drew, with many advocating for changes to close what they viewed as a loophole allowing registered sex offenders to run for office.
Under the proposed legislation, all registered sex offenders would have been prohibited from running, regardless of their classification on California’s sex offender registry.
However, the bill stalled as Soria and committee members, including Chair Sen. Scott Wiener, couldn’t agree on terms. Critics labeled the proposal too broad since California’s sex offender registry categorizes offenders by the severity of their crimes.
Proposals surfaced to narrow the ban to those classified as third-degree offenders, who would have lifetime registration. Soria opposed this, arguing it would undermine the bill’s intent.
The state’s registry sorts offenders into three groups based on crime severity and frequency. First-degree offenders are required to register for at least ten years, second-degree for twenty, and third-degree offenders are registered for life with no chance of removal.
In Soria’s words, “If you’re a registered sex offender, you can’t work in local or state office without compromise.”
Campos, rather controversially, emerged as a figure in 2018 when he announced his candidacy despite a prior conviction that required him to register as a sex offender. His attempt sparked widespread criticism from both candidates and locals who believed such individuals shouldn’t hold public office.
Some questioned how Campos could adequately represent constituents with restrictions around schools, while others were in favor of outright bans. He also faced backlash for hosting a campaign event near an elementary school, leading school officials to involve the police.
Ultimately, his campaign fell apart after he was unable to secure the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot.
Despite this setback, Campos contended that the bill’s defeat highlighted underlying political motives in play.
He remarked, “This was never about one bill or one campaign.” Campos criticized Fresno officials for their lack of urgency in addressing homelessness and public safety while quickly attempting to hasten the bill’s passage.
While AB 2753 is currently off the table, Soria is determined to pursue further legislation aimed at restricting registered sex offenders from entering public office.
“The battle continues. I won’t give up just because I lost once,” she asserted.
