One Assembly candidate best understands the key issue facing people from Fresno to Merced

Last August UC Merced had to delay the start of fall classes when 1,000 students — about 10% of the total enrollment — had not yet found housing. Many were ultimately offered temporary quarters on campus or in hotel rooms, accentuating Merced’s housing vulnerability and lack of low-cost options.

Merced’s housing problems go beyond difficulties for students. The city suffers a lack of affordable units and a low vacancy rate for rentals. Apartment availability and cost are issues for Madera and Fresno as well, as are escalating home prices. Suffice to say, the housing crisis is real for the part of the San Joaquin Valley running from Fresno to Merced.

So it was fitting for Esmeralda Soria to focus on housing as the top issue facing people living in the newly drawn Assembly District 27. It covers Fresno, Madera and Merced counties and includes the cities of Merced and Madera and a part of western Fresno.

Soria, a Democrat, is one of four candidates seeking to become the next Assembly representative for the district. Another Democrat is Mike Karbassi. He and Soria currently serve on the Fresno City Council.

Republicans in the race are former Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin and Amanda Fleming of Firebaugh, who helps run her family-owned farm equipment store.

Poverty is a main problem in the district. The percentage of people in poverty ranges from 14.1% in Madera County to 16.3% in Merced County to 17.1% in Fresno County. So housing costs are critical.

Soria’s priority

That housing would be top of mind for Soria is no surprise. She told The Bee Editorial Board it has been her chief priority in the eight years she has been on the Fresno council, and results prove that point.

She spearheaded a project over the objections of two of her colleagues to provide $2.2 million in loans and incentives for a $38 million housing project for low-income families. The result was The Link, an 88-unit development located at McKinley Avenue and Blackstone. It includes a health and dental clinic.

She also was instrumental in lobbying the council to support converting a West Shaw Avenue hotel into housing for Fresno City College students who are homeless; she teamed with council colleague Miguel Arias to secure funding for the renovation of Hotel Fresno into apartments for 79 families; and helped secure tax credits for renovation of an existing 60-unit affordable apartment complex near Roeding Park.

This background helped land her a spot on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s homeless task force in 2019. She was one of seven elected officials and the only person from the San Joaquin Valley. The group worked for a year, then offered recommendations for dealing the state’s homelessness problem.

Other candidates:

▪ Mark Pazin: After his time as Merced County sheriff, Pazin worked for Republican and Democratic governors as the head of the law enforcement branch of the state Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento. Today Pazin is back in Merced. He is running to reduce taxes, find a water supply solution for Valley farmers, fully fund police and fire departments and develop more shelter for homeless people.

▪ Mike Karbassi: A first-term council member in Fresno, Karbassi operates his family’s Persian rug business. If elected to the Assembly, he pledges to get the Valley’s fair share of resources, including water. He sees the need to build in the infrastructure to electrify the state, especially for vehicles, and he wants to work on combating the fentanyl drug crisis.

▪ Amanda Fleming: She did not interview with The Bee Editorial Board. But her campaign website says the Firebaugh native is a mother of three who is concerned with rising crime and vaccine mandates. She wants to issue education vouchers so parents have greater school choice, and she wants lower taxes.

Stands on issues

On abortion and keeping it legal in California: Soria said she is a pro-choice Catholic who wants a woman’s right to choose written into the state Constitution. Karbassi said having an abortion is a personal decision, that “government should mind its own damned business,” and that choice should be guaranteed by law in some fashion. Pazin called it a personal issue and said the right to privacy is already secured in state law.

On the housing shortage: Soria said the housing supply must increase so more people can become owners. She would implement housing trust funds that can help prospective buyers with financing. Karbassi believes more housing types are needed, not just single family dwellings, and he wants better-paying jobs to be a focus. Pazin decried the high costs of building, much of it from required permits, and wants to enlist both political parties in finding land for housing and denying “not in my backyard” opponents.

On high-speed rail: Soria supports it as a win for the Valley, particularly in the jobs it creates. Karbassi likewise said it is a good job generator and will reduce air pollution by getting cars off the road. Pazin wants it to be completed, but is skeptical that will actually happen.

On a key goal to deal with climate change: Soria wants to make sure climate goals are realistic. For example, the Valley needs more charging stations installed if electric vehicles are to become the norm. Karbassi says climate change is real, that renewable energy systems must become more affordable, and that he does not favor the Green New Deal because it is too sweeping in its changes. Pazin wants a comprehensive approach to transportation to reduce vehicle trips as much as possible.

The recommendation

Soria was the only candidate during interviews to raise housing as a key priority. On a range of other issues facing the state, Soria was comprehensive in her answers and committed to seeking the best for District 27.

She is an experienced politician with a law degree who comes from humble roots, as she is the daughter of farm worker parents in Tulare County and did field work herself growing up.

The Fresno Bee/Merced Sun-Star Editorial Boards believe Soria would make an excellent Assembly member, and recommend that voters cast ballots for her in the June primary.