Your guide to the Fresno City Council District 1 primary election race
The District 1 Fresno City Council seat is up for grabs in the June primary election.
Councilmember Annalisa Perea has held the seat since late 2022 and is running for the California State Assembly District 31 seat.
That leaves four candidates vying for the seat: the city of Fresno’s Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator Joe Hinojosa, former campaign coordinator Monte Forkas, nonprofit leader and Central Unified board trustee Naindeep Singh, and State Center Community College District trustee and federal prosecutor Rob Fuentes.
The primary election will take place June 2. To secure a seat, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote. If no one gets a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
The Fresno City Council District 1 candidates recently gathered for a forum hosted by The Fresno Bee, where they each expressed their positions on local issues and answered questions. Watch the full 55-minute District 1 candidate forum here.
Where is the district?
The Fresno City Council’s District 1 covers a large portion of northwest and west-central Fresno, including Tower District, the Fresno High area, parts of Fig Garden, and areas west of Highway 99.
Of the 39,582 registered voters in the district, 17,584 are registered Democrats and 9,008 are registered Republicans, according to Fresno County data. Another 9,266 voters have no party preference listed.
Joe Hinojosa
Hinojosa has spent nearly 10 years working in different positions for the city of Fresno. For the past three years, he has worked as the ADA Coordinator for the city, ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
He decided to run because he believes the district deserves representation from someone present, accessible, and committed to bringing people together to solve issues. The first issue he sees facing the district is basic city services like filling potholes, fixing sidewalks, ensuring parks are clean, and removing graffiti.
“My belief is if we hit on all the little things, then it creates a greater impact,” he said.
Other priorities include transparent leadership, strengthening emergency services and ensuring Fresno’s infrastructure meets the needs of a growing city.
“When we have neighborhoods that we have pride in it is much easier for all of us to invest in them,” Hinojosa said.
He stressed the fact that he is not a career politician and believes residents should guide decisions made at City Hall.
Monte Forkas
Forkas is a former campaign coordinator for Congressman Jim Costa. He also previously worked as a SkyWest Airlines flight attendant for 20 years and was a Disneyland parade and show performer for 10 years before that.
As a Tower District homeowner for over 20 years, he feels he represents a voice of the community.
“Your pains are my pains too, but my gain is also your gains too,” Forkas said.
One of the most important issues Forkas sees facing the district and Fresno as a whole is the city’s budget deficit. He says the city cannot continue to operate in the same way, and must prioritize core services like infrastructure and public safety while identifying areas to improve efficiency.
“Fiscal responsibility, transparency, and smart decision-making will be critical to putting the city on a more sustainable path.”
Other priorities include strengthening public safety, helping local businesses grow and road repairs.
Naindeep Singh
Singh is the executive director of the nonprofit Jakara Movement and a Central Unified board trustee.
His campaign is built around lowering the cost of living for working families in Fresno and sees the city becoming unaffordable for those who built it as a pressing issue.
If elected, he plans to introduce a utility hike rate capping ordinance. Plus, he is prepared to introduce a “Vacant to Vibrant” program connecting local entrepreneurs to subsidized leases, cutting permitting timelines with deadlines, and a “Fresno First” procurement ordinance to stop taxpayer contracts from leaving the Central Valley.
Other priorities include infrastructure, like safe streets, walkable sidewalks, reliable transit, clean water and well-maintained parks and supporting local businesses.
Singh is endorsed by the Valley Voters Political Action Committee, the Working Families Party, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the Norcal Carpenters Union and members of the Central Unified School Board.
Rob Fuentes
Fuentes is a State Center Community College District trustee and federal prosecutor.
One of his top priorities includes addressing affordability and the cost of living. He says he plans to “aggressively advance” policies and programs that lower the cost of housing, utilities, transportation and childcare.
If elected, Fuentes plans to launch a “Clean Up District 1” initiative, working with law and code enforcement to target crime hotspots, and a “Fix Our Streets” initiative to repair roads and sidewalks in his first 100 days in office.
“I will work hand in hand to develop neighborhoods where residents can live, work, play, and thrive—neighborhoods that we are proud to call home,” Fuentes said.
Fuentes is endorsed by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee and several local labor organizations, including the Fresno City Firefighters, Fresno Police Officers Association, teachers and employees associations.
Who’s funding the races?
So far, Singh is leading the race in finances, with roughly $138,000 reported, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed by candidates’ campaign committees on the City of Fresno website. Many of his contributions come from doctors, nurses and truckers.
Fuentes is another top fundraiser with $102,800 reported. One of his highest contributors was a $10,000 donation from the Fresno Firefighters Legislative Action Committee. The Fresno Police Officers Association PAC and current Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell also each gave $5,900.
Hinojosa has raised a total of $2,229 for his campaign, including a $350 contribution he made himself. He said friends and family are financially supporting his campaign.
Forkas has raised roughly $2,000. He said Tower District small businesses, community-based non-profits, churches and District 1 residents have contributed to his campaign.
