How would Fresno Council District 7 candidates address their top issue in area?
Crumbling infrastructure and public safety are among the most important issues candidates running for the Fresno City Council District 7 see facing the area they seek to represent.
Read the Fresno City Council District 7 primary election voter guide here. Watch the forum here.
The Bee recently asked each of the District 7 candidates running in the June 2 primary election to answer a series of questions related to their campaign and positions on local issues, including what the most pressing issue they see facing their district is beyond homelessness and housing.
Read the candidates’ position on SEDA, Fresno’s 9,000-acre, 45,000-home development proposal here, and what homelessness solutions they each favor here.
Fresno’s District 7 includes east-central Fresno and parts of southeast Fresno, including the Manchester, Radio Park, Romain Park, Lafayette Park/Fresno High neighborhoods. The district also includes parts of the Blackstone Avenue corridor and neighborhoods near Shields and Temperance avenues.
Four candidates are vying for the seat: community organizer and consultant Ariana Martinez Lott, Blackstone Merchants Association founder AJ Rassamni, retired paralegal Jason Keomanee and attorney Nav Gurm.
Three other Fresno City Council districts will be on the ballot: Districts 3, 5 and 7. To secure a seat, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote. If no one gets a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 election.
The Bee also hosted a series of candidate forums and recorded them. Those videos are posted at fresnobee.com.
Here’s how District 7 candidates would address top issue they see facing their district
Nav Gurm
“Beyond homelessness and housing, the most pressing issue I hear repeatedly while knocking on doors in District 7 is our city’s crumbling infrastructure, particularly poor roads and sidewalks, outdated water and sewer systems, and decades of uneven investment that have left South Fresno behind.
If elected, I will fight aggressively to ensure District 7 and South Fresno receive their equitable share of Measure C funds and any future infrastructure measures. This means prioritizing repairs and upgrades in underserved neighborhoods rather than letting resources flow disproportionately to other parts of the city.
At the same time, I will strengthen partnerships between Fresno Unified, Fresno State, community colleges, and the City’s Economic Development Department to build workforce training programs aligned with high-growth sectors such as clean energy, logistics, healthcare, and ag-tech. These programs will include incentives for local hiring, living wages, and clear job pathways for underrepresented communities so that economic growth truly benefits all Fresnans.”
Ariana Martinez Lott
“SEDA. Every issue we see in our district is connected to decades of unchecked outward growth. I will prioritize:
- Measure C renewal: As we anticipate a tax renewal with a shift towards local roads, I will work to address existing gaps, including: street repairs, safe routes to school, planting new trees, better lighting, and enhancing public transportation services.
- Expand our Local Housing Trust Fund: pursue additional dollars, and work with established and emerging affordable housing partners for alternative housing solutions such as community land trusts, ADUs, and rent-stabilized units.
- Public Safety Residential Response Team: Loose dogs, perpetual late-night music, and mental health crises are common occurrences that lack the needed support. Police officers should not be expected to handle the quantity and complexity of these cases. I will work with Fresno PD and key partners to identify best practices for community response for non-emergency and mental health calls so officers can focus on serious/violent crimes.”
AJ Rassamni
“Beyond homelessness and housing, one of the most important issues facing my district is public safety and the overall economic vitality of our neighborhoods. When residents and business owners do not feel safe, investment declines, businesses close, and families begin to leave the community.
Many local businesses today struggle with property crime, vandalism, and repeated break-ins. From my conversations with business owners and residents, it is clear that when crime increases, economic activity declines and neighborhoods begin to deteriorate. A healthy local economy and public safety are deeply connected.
My approach is threefold.
First, the city must strengthen public safety efforts, ensuring that police, fire, and code enforcement departments have the resources and coordination needed to address crime, illegal dumping, and blight quickly and consistently.
Second, we must revitalize our commercial corridors and neighborhood business districts. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. The city should work closely with business owners to address safety concerns, improve infrastructure, and create an environment where entrepreneurs feel confident investing in Fresno.
Third, we must restore civic pride and community partnership. Government alone cannot solve these problems. When residents, businesses, community organizations, and city leaders work together, neighborhoods become stronger and safer.”
A city thrives when people believe in it. My goal is to help create a Fresno where families feel safe, businesses can succeed, and neighborhoods once again become places where people are proud to live and invest. We must put People Before Politics.”
The Bee could not reach District 7 candidate Jason Keomanee for the candidate questionnaire.