Rene Campos, who served 27 days in jail after a 2018 conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material, has launched a campaign for Fresno City Council’s District 7 seat, ABC30 reported Wednesday. Despite his criminal history, Campos frames himself as an expert on the very laws he violated, claiming his experience uniquely qualifies him to reform public safety policies.

“They say let’s choose somebody outside the box, somebody who knows the system from the inside out,” Campos told ABC30. “Because me, I’ve experienced the laws that we are trying to reform right now.” His campaign website highlights reducing violent crime and creating “clean, safe neighborhoods,” a message critics argue is incongruous given his past offenses.

Campos also attempted to justify his candidacy by portraying himself as rehabilitated, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation: “Protecting children means enforcing consequences, reducing repeat harm, and building policies that prevent more damage in the first place. Public safety must be about outcomes, not outrage.” Critics contend that his framing downplays the severity of his crimes and raises serious concerns about entrusting a sex offender with public office responsibilities.

Fresno County Clerk James Kus confirmed that being a registered sex offender does not legally bar Campos from running, noting that ex-convicts can regain voting rights and eligibility after serving their sentence. However, other candidates and community members have expressed alarm. Nav Gurm, a fellow District 7 candidate, said a registered sex offender should be disqualified. “If I’m the next council member in District 7 and I can’t show up at a school site,” Gurm said, “how can I best represent the people in the neighborhoods I want to serve?”

Campos’ bid has sparked a debate over public safety, accountability, and the limits of rehabilitation, with many questioning whether a convicted sex offender can credibly lead a community on issues of law, order, and child protection.