Career
Briggs was elected to the Fresno City Council in 1994, succeeding Brian Setencich, who resigned a month before his term ended to take his seat in the California State Assembly. At the end of his second term, Briggs decided to run for the newly created 21st congressional district rather than to seek reelection to the legislature. Former Fresno mayor and now Assemblyman Jim Patterson entered the race, dividing the vote in the Fresno County portion of the district, delivering the seat to Tulare County Candidate Devin Nunes who holds the seat to this day.