Dear Editor, What happened at Tuesday night’s {9/01/26} Porterville City Council meeting was deeply disturbing.
Serious allegations and evidence were presented concerning City Council candidate Taha Saleh and his alleged involvement with Porterville First, an anonymous political platform that has repeatedly attacked members of our community. Much of that information has now been compiled at TahaGate.com, where residents can review it and draw their own conclusions.
What makes this especially troubling is what happened to former Councilman AJ Rivas.
AJ was Taha’s friend. He coached Taha when he was a child and later fought for him to have an opportunity to serve on the city’s Charter Amendment Committee. Yet the information presented Tuesday alleges that Porterville First was used to anonymously attack AJ, his reputation and even his family. The political and personal attacks became so destructive that AJ ultimately resigned from the elected seat the people of Porterville entrusted him to hold.
And this controversy is no longer confined to City Hall or social media.
A letter has also circulated throughout our community to businesses and churches affiliated with the Porterville Chamber of Commerce, raising allegations about Taha’s involvement with Porterville First. Whether people agree with every conclusion in that letter or not, its circulation demonstrates how serious these concerns have become and why they deserve answers rather than slogans.
There is a troubling pattern developing around Taha’s leadership. This year alone, three highly qualified local businesspeople have resigned from the Chamber of Commerce. Now we are hearing allegations about anonymous political attacks against a former councilman and his family.
Everywhere Taha claims to bring people together, we seem to find division left behind.
Yet his campaign slogan is “One Porterville.”
He holds rallies at Veterans Park proclaiming “No Racism” and “No Hate.” Those are admirable words. But leadership is not measured by slogans, rallies or campaign signs. It is measured by how you treat people—especially people who disagree with you.
Porterville deserves candidates who can tell us how they will improve our roads, strengthen public safety, address homelessness, attract businesses, create jobs and improve the quality of life for our families.
Where is that vision?
You cannot campaign on unity while leaving division in your wake. You cannot condemn hate publicly while participating in or benefiting from anonymous personal attacks. And you cannot ask the people of Porterville to entrust you with power without answering serious questions about how you have exercised leadership already.
I encourage every voter to look beyond the slogan. Review what was presented. Read the information at TahaGate.com. Ask questions. Then make your own decision.
Porterville deserves leadership that builds people up instead of tearing them down. We deserve more than “One Porterville” as a campaign slogan.
We deserve leadership capable of actually bringing Porterville together.
Respectfully, John Duran From Porterville, CA.
