Your guide to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors District 4 primary election
One of candidates for the District 4 seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors leads in name recognition and the most campaign contributions among the field of five.
Former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, who held the title for 16 years, also secured the blessing of outgoing Supervisor Ernest “Buddy” Mendes, who said he would not seek re-election after his term ends in January.
She reported more than $72,000 in contributions to her campaign this year, according to filings on contributions that were due April 23. Her filing shows she started the filing period with $186,000 in the coffers, and she’s spent about $75,000 this year.
The filing shows 32 of the 49 donors gave $500 or less.
The biggest contribution for the filing period was $20,000 from Lance-Kashian & Company, a local development firm perhaps best known for River Park and Campus Pointe. She also received $5,000 each from the Fresno County Public Safety Association committee, Paynter Realty & Investments owner David Paynter of Santa Ana, Bonadelle Homes Inc. in Fresno, and California Real Estate PAC of Los Angeles.
Mims retired from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office in 2022 after 42 years in law enforcement, including being the first woman to be hired as an officer in Kerman.
Candidate Narinder Singh Sahota
Farmer and businessman Narinder Singh Sahota, who also goes by “Nick,” of Selma has raised almost $50,000 in his bid for the supervisor seat. He’s the CEO of Central Valley Engineering and Surveying, what the company website describes as a “group of engineering, architectural and surveying professionals and consultants.”
The Area 2 trustee for the Selma Unified School District has spent more than $35,000, according to the filing for his supervisor race.
Of the 56 contributions reported in the filing, 41 were $500 or less. None of the other 15 donations exceeded $1,000, and several of those came from individuals.
The $1,000 donations from companies came each from Sandhu Farming Inc. in Madera, MGA Liquor #9 in Fresno, KS Trans Service Co. of Fresno, Gill Ranches of Clovis, Atwal and Sons Farms LLC of Merced and A.S. Gill Properties LLC of Caruthers.
Candidate Alma Beltran
Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran, who has had that role for a dozen years, serves as chair of the Fresno Council of Governments, chair of the Fresno County Rural Transportation Authority, and as a board member of the San Joaquin Valley Policy Board.
She‘s also the daughter of immigrants from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Beltran reported about $7,000 in contributions, and has spent almost $6,000, the campaign documents show.
The records list two donations that total the $7,000 from the same contributor, Orfil Muniz, an engineer in Visalia.
Candidate Rey León
Huron Mayor Rey León was elected in 2016 and is the founder and CEO of LEAP (Latino Equity, Advocacy & Policy) Institute, a nonprofit “that works with communities to achieve economic, environmental and climate justice,” according to its website.
He listed about $6,400 in contributions and $3,000 in expenditures. Aside from two donations of $100 each, the rest of the cash in his coffers was reported as loans his campaign took from him personally.
Candidate Charlie Soto
Political newcomer Charlie Soto is an IRS auditor, Navy veteran, Fresno State graduate and Kingsburg resident who has not filed campaign paperwork listing contributions to his campaign.
Candidates are required to file paperwork if they raise or spend more than $2,000 in their run for office, which does not include Fresno County filing fees. Soto has also not filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee, which could be a hint he does not intend to raise more than the limit, according to the Fresno County Registrar of Voters.
What to know about District 4
The southwestern district stretches from south of Fresno to the edge of the foothills east of Sanger across to the farthest eastern edge near Coalinga. Fowler, Huron, Kingsburg, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley and Selma are all in the district, which also surrounds several other unincorporated towns.
To secure a seat, a candidate must receive at least 50% plus one vote in the primary election on June 2. If no candidate reaches that mark, the top two vote-getters advance to the Nov. 3 election.
