The State - News from Aug. 15, 1986

Fresno Mayor Dale Doig called a newspaper article linking him to a convicted cocaine dealer “a transparent fraud” that was “based solely on the most irresponsible of sources.” The Fresno Bee article said Doig has a history of political and personal involvement with James Johnson, a former Fresno City College financial aid officer now serving a three-year prison term on a cocaine-dealing conviction, who once lived next door to him. The article also said one of Johnson’s associates, a convicted pimp, told authorities that he provided prostitutes to Doig and other influential Fresno residents at Johnson’s request. Doig vigorously denied any involvement with prostitutes and any wrongdoing in his relationship with Johnson, saying the article was designed specifically to destroy his political career.