Published
3 years agoon
Mike Karbassi’s special election victory Tuesday is particularly notable. Not only did he win, but he crushed a crowded field.
With six names on the ballot, and four of them running serious campaigns, the odds weren’t on Karbassi’s side for avoiding a November runoff.
Congratulations to our next city council member Mike Karbassi! You ran a hell of a race. I wish you nothing but good fortune and sound judgement. I know you’ll you do your best to represent our entire district. pic.twitter.com/7t4y8mRPEi
— Oscar Sandoval for Fresno’s District 2 (@OscarCCD2) August 14, 2019
The last time a candidate won an election outright with four or more candidates was in June 2014, when Clint Olivier was reelected in a field of four. Between 2014 and last night, four other elections with four or more candidates went to a runoff.
Orth also said she anticipates certification of the election by Aug. 21. The Fresno City Council has a meeting the next day, and in theory, Karbassi could be sworn in then.
Related Story: Retirement Approaches for Dyer. This Time, It's Really Goodbye.
Sources familiar with the search to replace Dyer as Fresno’s police chief say that candidate interviews will take place Thursday and Friday at City Hall.
Three panels of six will interview the candidates, which are believed to number between 10 and 15. The makeup of the interview panels is split — half from the city, half from the community.
Two internal candidates have expressed interest in the job: Capt. Mark Salazar and Deputy Chief Mike Reid.
Mayor Lee Brand has said he expects a chief to be hired by mid-September, providing a one-month transition period until Dyer retires Oct. 15.
Related Story: Clovis Quickly Identifies Its New Chief of Police
Correction, 8/15/19: the original story said Oliver’s reelection win was 2016. It was actually in 2014.David Taub has spent most of his career in journalism behind the scenes working as a TV assignment editor and radio producer. For more than a decade, he has worked in the Fresno market with such stops at KSEE-24, KMJ and Power Talk 96.7. Taub also worked the production and support side of some of TV sports biggest events including the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals and NASCAR to name a few. Taub graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email
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