Here’s who is running to represent Tower District on Fresno City Council
With District 1 Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea running for a California State Assembly, her seat will be up for grabs in the June 2 primary election.
Four candidates have expressed interest in representing the district that covers portions of northwest and central Fresno, including the Tower District, the Fresno High area, parts of Fig Garden, and areas west of Highway 99 at City Hall.
The primary election will take place on June 2. Fresno City Council District 3, District 5 and District 7 seats will also be on the ballot, as well as two Fresno County Supervisor seats.
The filing window for candidates seeking office in 2026 is open through March 6.
To secure a seat, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote in the primary election. If no one gets a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Here’s a look at who is considering running for the Fresno City Council District 1 seat in the 2026 primary election.
Mayra Campa
UPDATE: Mayra Campa has ended her campaign, citing the need to prioritize her family in a February 6 Facebook post.
After four years of working as a district director for District 1 at City Hall, Mayra Campa intends to run for the District 1 City Council seat.
“I have spent years meeting with neighbors, overseeing local projects, and turning community priorities into real progress, from fixing streets to expanding access to food and school supplies,” Campa said in a statement to The Bee. “Now, I’m ready to take that service to the next level. With deep local roots and a commitment to practical leadership, I’m running for City Council to keep delivering results that matter.”
Campa’s priorities include supporting small businesses, building stronger partnerships between the community and Fresno police and fire departments, and improving public safety through better lighting, secured alleys, safety cameras, and faster emergency response times, she said.
“Supporting a strong local economy is essential,” she said. “Small business owners are facing rising costs, and I’m focused on expanding access to grant funding and local resources to help them stay open, grow, and continue serving our neighborhoods. We can strengthen Fresno’s economy by creating good local jobs and keeping dollars circulating locally.”
Campa says the city has made progress on infrastructure and that there’s more work ahead.
“I will continue addressing each area’s unique needs, from paving and sidewalks to lighting, green spaces, and safer streets for drivers and pedestrians, so Fresno continues to be a city where people can live, work, and succeed.”
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Naindeep Singh
Naindeep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement and a Central Unified board trustee, has filed to run for the Fresno City Council District 1 seat.
“I am part of a campaign that is rooted in an affordability agenda that puts working families first,” Singh said in a statement to The Bee. “From housing and utilities to transportation and childcare, costs are rising faster than wages, and too many residents are being priced out of the community they helped build. I will fight for policies that protect our community and make sure our city is livable for seniors, workers, and young families alike.”
Singh said he intends to focus on infrastructure that “actually serves people,” including safe streets, walkable sidewalks, reliable transit, clean water and well-maintained parks.
“I believe in a People’s Budget, where residents have a real say in how public dollars are spent and where transparency and accountability are non-negotiable,” Singh said. “City budgets should reflect our values and invest in what truly improves quality of life.”
He also pledged to stand up for and support immigrant-owned and small businesses.
Monte Forkas
A former campaign coordinator for Congressman Jim Costa, Monte Forkas says he is running for the District 1 seat because “Fresno needs new perspectives, practical leadership, and accountability.”
“I am committed to serving District 1 with integrity, transparency, and a genuine connection to the community I call home,” he said in a statement.
As a Tower District homeowner for over 20 years, Forkas said he has waited for meaningful development, improvement and restoration of neglected properties.
He believes a pilot program introduced by current council members was a step in the right direction and acknowledged the problem.
“However, the results so far have been limited. Rather than abandoning these efforts, I believe we should build on what we’ve learned and strengthen these programs — making them more effective, more robust, and more accountable.”
Forkas’ other priorities include addressing homelessness through identifying which programs work and adopting proven solutions from other cities, addressing affordability through restructuring utility rates to better reflect household size, expanding rebates and incentive programs, and restoring City Council residency requirements.
“Reducing residency to as little as 30 days benefits career politicians, not the people of Fresno,” he said. “Residents deserve representation from council-members who truly live in, understand, and are invested in the districts they serve. Moving into a district solely to run for office undermines trust and weakens our local democracy.”
Forkas previously worked as a SkyWest Airlines flight attendant for 20 years and was a Disneyland parade and show performer for 10 years before that.
Rob Fuentes
Rob Fuentes, a State Center Community College District trustee and federal prosecutor, is running for the District 1 seat.
“The product of a farmworker family, I have dedicated my career to fighting for Fresno’s working families,” Fuentes said in a statement to The Bee.
One of his top priorities includes addressing the cost of living.
“I will be laser-focused on increasing affordability for our residents, such as by advancing policies and programs that reduce the costs of housing, transportation, and childcare,” he said.
Public safety is also a priority. If elected, he said he will work with law enforcement and non-governmental partners to build safer neighborhoods and pursue “holistic measures that enhance accountability while increasing investments in preventive interventions.”
Fuentes also said he intends to partner with business and labor communities to spur economic and community development, “ensuring that we attract and retain businesses, create good-paying jobs, repair our roads and sidewalks, and expand our parks and communal spaces throughout District 1,” he said.
“I will work with community partners to develop neighborhoods where residents can live, work, play, and thrive-neighborhoods that we are all proud to call home,” Fuentes said.
This story was originally published February 6, 2026 at 4:19 PM.