Published
3 months agoon
Congressional candidate Phil Arballo is denying a published report that he is behind a Fresno porn production company.
Congressional candidate Phil Arballo (Arballo Campaign)
In a brief interview with GV Wire, Arballo said he has nothing to do with any company producing adult entertainment, as alleged in a Thursday story published by The San Joaquin Valley Sun.
“It’s a trash story written by a trash news site based on no facts,” Arballo said. “It’s a nonstory.”
Arballo, D-Fresno, plans in 2024 to run for Congressional District 13, a seat currently held by John Duarte, R-Modesto. A perennial candidate, Arballo also ran in 2020 when he lost in the general election to Devin Nunes; and failed to advance past the primary in 2022 for CD 13.
He also ran in a special Fresno City Council election in 2019 and finished sixth in a six-person race. Arballo stopped campaigning before the end of the race.
The Sun story connected Arballo to a company called Next 2 Nuthin’ Production$, through social media accounts operated by Felipe Jones. In a posting on Twitter, the company called itself “Cen. Cal’s newest and most premium armature adult ent. co.”
A screenshot of the Felipe Jones Twitter account from January a source shared with GV Wire listed Arballo as a “co-owner” of Next 2 Nuthin’ Productions.
Felipe Jones is the stage name Arballo uses for his singing career.
Arballo said that since January, he only has personal social media accounts. He said the only business he operates is Arballo Consulting Services, licensed through the city of Fresno.
“I transferred (the other sites) to a local social media company,” Arballo said. He declined to identify the company.
Twitter accounts for Felipe Jones and Next 2 Nuthin’ Productions are no longer publicly accessible or have been disabled altogether.
A tweet attributed to Felipe Jones, a stage name of Phil Arballo. He said he no longer controls the account. (Twitter)
Arballo’s denials ring hollow for Navkaran Gurm, a one-time Fresno City Hall staffer who also is a member of the Fresno County Democratic Party Central Committee.
“I don’t believe it, quite frankly,” Gurm said. “I think it’s just a great spin job, but it’s pretty clear that the account belonged to Mr. Arballo,” Gurm said.
Gurm said Arballo has lost support among local Democrats.
“You have someone that’s consistently running for office but hasn’t really done a good job of showing anyone why he should be an elected official and why he deserves local support,” Gurm said.
When not running for office, Arballo consults for other candidates. He advised Democrat Mike Barkley against Tom McClintock, R-Roseville, for Congressional District 5. McClintock won by 20 points.
Currently, Arballo is a consultant for Andy Morales, a Fresno Democrat who filed to run in Congressional District 20 against Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. Morales declined to comment through his campaign team.
Arballo is also chairman of the Fresno Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Mayor Jerry Dyer’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Arballo’s situation.
A January tweet from the account of “Felipe Jones,” an alter-ego of Phil Arballo. He says he no longer operates the account. (Twitter)
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email