Two elected councilmembers from Fresno County cities have called for new leadership in the Fresno County Republican Party. The party will decide its next leader Tuesday evening.

Sanger City Councilmember Michael Montelongo and Coalinga City Councilmember Nathan Vosburg sent party membership emails over the weekend with a list of complaints. They want current chair Liz Kolstad gone.

Kolstad has chaired the county party since January 2023. She told GV Wire after this story first published she has her share of endorsements, and those complaining are not members of the party’s central committee — who ultimately decide leadership.

“I have tremendous support,” Kolstad said. Among her endorsers — current and former congressmembers Vince Fong, Tom McClintock, and John Duarte.

Said Fong in a support email: “The results speak for themselves — for the first time in 20 years Fresno County flipped Red and supported President Trump.”

Kolstad also touted $200,000 in fundraising for the 2024 election cycle.

Councilmembers Air Grievances

Montelongo wrote that Kolstad was not receptive to supporting a Sanger public safety measure — which ultimately passed. He called Kolstad “dismissive and belittling” when attempting to present the measure at a meeting.

“The chairman’s comments suggested that I should be more fiscally responsible, which felt particularly disheartening given my background and commitment to our community. This made it challenging to engage in meaningful conversation and convey my perspective,” Montelongo wrote.

In a separate email, Vosburg wrote: “Over the past several months, it has become evident through various actions and decisions that our current leadership has struggled to consistently uphold our values and effectively engage our community. I believe that a new direction is necessary to ensure our success both locally and beyond.”

His issues include making endorsements in several GOP vs. GOP races, something Vosburg said is inconsistent with party bylaws, and not endorsing others who ran as the only Republican in certain races. He also complained about the lack of support for a Coalinga public safety measure, which failed.

Kolstad explained that endorsing in State Assembly District 8 — where David Tangipa defeated George Radanovich, both Republicans — was a state party requirement.

She did not want the part to make an endorsement in Fresno City Council District 6 — Nick Richardson defeating Roger Bonakdar — but party members overruled her.

Vosburg blamed the the measure’s defeat on the county party sending out mailers opposing the public safety tax to Coalinga voters.

“This rogue chairlady decided she is not going to listen to us,” Vosburg said.

Kolstad responded, “Republicans don’t generally vote for taxes, so it’s usually an uphill battle to get Republicans to support a tax on any level.”

Will Peter Halajian Become Next Chair?

Peter Halajian won a seat on the central committee in a vote among Republicans last March. He takes his seat Tuesday. He is also a district representative for Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, and in the Army Reserve.

“I don’t have anything personal against Liz, but I have talked to a number of members and there are some folks that want to see some change. So I’m still sort of weighing all that out and just trying to figure out,” Halajian said.

That includes possibly running for the chair, Halajian said. Vosburg said he supports Halajian. So does new Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld.

“The leadership over the past two years has been extremely divisive and hostile to many people which has been completely unacceptable,” Bredefeld wrote in an email to membership. “Change is clearly needed and I believe that with this new leadership we will see the GOP in Fresno County grow significantly and the factions that now exist within the party will start to heal and rather quickly.”

The party did not make an endorsement in Bredefeld’s supervisor race against fellow Republican Steve Brandau. Bredefeld is also supporting incoming member Sherie Benbrook for vice chair, a position held by Keane Anrig.

Halajian said opined that Fresno County flipped red in the last election because of Donald Trump.

“I think a lot of down ballot races that we that should have won, we didn’t win. Ultimately, I think a number of unforced errors just in general with the Central Committee are part of that,” Halajian said.

Who got endorsed and who did not are among the “unforced errors,” Halajian said.

In Fresno County, Republicans earned more votes for U.S. Senate (Steve Garvey), and Congress (McClintock, Duarte, and Fong; but not Michael Maher who ran against Jim Costa). In the two Assembly races where a Republican faced a Democrat, the Democrat won.

“This is all just noise. These people, they know that. So it’s just one party against another trying to get in for a leadership,” Kolstad said.

The closed meeting takes place at party headquarters in Fresno. Central committee members and ex-officio members — federal and state elected leaders who represent parts of the county, or their designated alternate — will vote on leadership.