Fresno City Council president reelected thanks, in part, to new rule
Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karabassi will serve as council president again in 2026.
The Fresno City Council re-elected Karbassi, who represents District 2, for a second term on Thursday at the first meeting of the year.
Councilmember Nelson Esparza, representing district seven, was also elected as vice president. Esparza will replace 2025 vice president Miguel Arias.
The two were elected in a 7-0 vote.
The city council is responsible for leading meetings and setting agendas, while the vice president covers for the president when absent.
The process for picking a leader at Fresno City Hall has changed over the years. An ordinance passed in 2024 updating city code to allow for re-elections, opposed to a rotation like the county’s board of supervisors follows.
Arias would have been next in line to be president under the old rules.
This year will bring significant changes to the Fresno City Council, with at least three of the seven seats up for grabs in the November election.
Councilmembers Arias and Esparza are terming out, while Perea and Karbassi are running for higher offices.