Mayor Dyer biggest fundraiser, spender in Fresno city races. Follow the money here
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is the biggest campaign fundraiser — and biggest campaign spender — so far among candidates in city of Fresno races on the March 5 primary ballot.
Three other contests within the city pale in comparison to what Dyer is raising and spending in his re-election bid. That’s perhaps to be expected, as the mayoral race is open to voters across the entire city, while races for individual City Council seats are voted upon only by residents in each district. Three of the seven City Council posts are on the March 5 ballot.
Dyer, who is seeking a second four-year term as the city’s top elected official, holds a massive fundraising advantage over his two opponents, according to campaign finance disclosures filed with the Fresno City Clerk’s office through Feb. 17.
To date, Dyer has raised more than $605,000 for his re-election effort, and has spent about $406,000.
Samantha Dussell, a wife and mother, reports raising $3,530 and spending $3,466. A third candidate for mayor, high school teacher James Barr, reported $2,000 in contributions to his campaign, all from himself, to buy signs and other campaign materials..
Fresno City Council District 6
As term limits prevent incumbent Councilmember Garry Bredefeld from seeking re-election in northeast Fresno’s District 6, four newcomers emerged to try to replace him.
Attorney Roger Bonakdar is the leading fundraiser among those hopefuls. Through Feb. 17, Bonakdar’s filings report his campaign raised about $330,000 and spent about $128,000.
Trailing behind Bonakdar in fundraising and spending are bank executive Raj Sodhi-Layne, businesswoman Molly Fagundes-Johnston and consultant/fundraiser Nick Richardson. Sodhi-Layne reports more than $86,000 in contributions received and just under $70,000 in campaign spending.
Contributions to Fagundes-Johnson’s campaign amounted to about $59,000 through Feb. 17, against spending of about $33,300. Richardson raised less than $27,000, and his campaign has spent about $23,000.
If any of the candidates receives an outright majority of 50% plus one vote in the March 5 primary, he or she will win without having to face a runoff in the November general election.
Fresno City Council District 2
The only other contested City Council race on the 2024 ballot is in northwest Fresno, where incumbent Mike Karbassi faces challenger Matthew Gillian, a nonprofit executive.
Karbassi’s campaign had raised more than $155,000 through Feb. 17, against spending of about $49,000. Gillian’s campaign disclosure reports almost $68,000 in contributions received, of which about $39,000 had been spent.
Because there are only two candidates, the top vote-getter on Tuesday will be the outright winner.
Fresno City Council District 4
Although he is unopposed for a second four-year term representing east-central Fresno, incumbent Tyler Maxwell will be on the ballot for the District 4 seat on the city council.
Maxwell’s campaign disclosures indicate that he has raised more than $280,000 and spent less than $5,200 through Feb. 17.
This story was originally published March 1, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
