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Challengers Line Up for Clovis Council Election, but No Incumbent Has Lost Since 1994
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
December 2, 2020

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When it comes to the Clovis City Council, turnover is uncommon and a challenger unseating an incumbent is rare. However, the city’s March 2021 election may shape up to be a more competitive battle.

Nine potential candidates pulled papers to run for council seats. The deadline for candidates to officially file for candidacy is Friday.

Two spots are up for election, the last that will be held in an odd-numbered year. Incumbents Vong Mouanoutoua and Lynne Ashbeck are both seeking re-election.

Three Are In Thus Far

Mouanoutoua and Ashbeck have returned their paperwork to appear on the ballot.

So has Diane Pearce, the chairwoman of the Fresno County and City Republican Women Federated. Pearce has been a frequent voice on political talk shows on KMJ radio and KSEE-24.

Ashbeck has served on the council since 2001, winning four subsequent re-elections. Mouanoutoua won his first term in 2017, winning an open seat vacated by Nathan Magsig who won a seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

It should be noted that neither Ashbeck or Mouanoutoua faced any other challengers in the 2017 at-large election.

In order to qualify for the ballot, a candidate needs to turn in at least 20 signatures of registered Clovis voters by Friday at 4:30 p.m. to the city clerk.

As of Wednesday, Councilwoman Lynne Ashbeck, Diane Pearce and Councilman Vong Mouanoutoua have filed to run in the March 2021 Clovis City Council election. (GV Wire Composite/Alexis DeSha)

Others Planning to Run As Well

Six others have taken out filing papers — Noha Elbaz,  Herman Nagra, Pedram Mafi, Lauren Butler, Kevin Robertson and Nevin Hindiyeh.

Elbaz finished second last month for a seat on the Clovis Unified school board. She is a former school administrator.

Nagra is a business owner, whose portfolio includes investments in retail shopping centers.

Hindiyeh is an engineer with PG & E, founded the Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals and has taught at Fresno State.

Robertson, Mafi and Butler have told GV Wireâ„  they do not plan to run after all.

From left to right: Noha Elbaz, Nevin Hindiyeh and Herman Nagra are considering running for election to the Clovis City Council. (GV Wire Composite/Alexis DeSha)

Final Odd-Numbered Year Election

All candidates names will appear on the same ballot. Voters will chose up to two. The top two candidates receiving the most votes will win the election.

This will be the last time the city will engage in an election in an odd-numbered year. The seats held by Bob Whalen, Jose Flores and Drew Bessinger will be contested in November 2022, instead of March 2023.

The seats contested in March will be next up for election in November 2024.

Clovis is also exploring moving to district elections. Last month, the council started the process to review 2020 census and March 2021 election data as it becomes available to inform their discussions.

An incumbent hasn’t lost a seat on the Clovis City Council since 1994. When Mouanoutoua and Bessinger won their races in 2017, they were the first new members in a decade.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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