Keshia Thomas filed to run for Fresno City Council, District 3, which could make for an interesting election in 2026.

Thomas is a two-term Fresno Unified school board trustee, winning elections in 2018 and 2022, representing the Edison High area.

“Why am I running for city council? I have broad range of community and other supporters and, as of now, a lot of voices in the community have felt that their needs have not been heard,” Thomas said in a text to Politics 101.

“I have been a champion for our community where education and some city issues are concerned. My reputation speaks for itself. I know Southwest. I live, breathe and support Southwest Fresno. And as a lifelong resident, I also have concerns. This is only part of my ‘why?” she said.

Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula already announced he will run for the council seat that covers much of southwest Fresno and downtown. He has not filed any paperwork as of yet.

“To my knowledge, Joaquin Arambula has not indicated he is running, but I welcome all challengers. It will be a good campaign. I’ve never back down from a challenge,” Thomas said.

The councilmember for the district, Miguel Arias, is termed out after 2026.

Thomas reported $9,551 remaining in her 2022 school board campaign account as of Dec. 31, 2024. Armabula reported $26,865 cash on hand in his Assembly account.

Some notes of interest in Arambula’s last campaign filing: He paid $4,393, mostly for his wife Elizabeth Arambula to travel in a delegation to Japan in September 2024.

He also logged spending for hotels in Yosemite (“staff retreat”), Disney, and the DoubleTree in downtown Fresno. The latter two were for a legislative conference and meeting, respectively.

Bettencourt Accepts Job in Trump Administration

Hanford farmer Aubrey Bettencourt is returning to the Trump Administration.

Politico reported that Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins appointed Bettencourt as chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The Dust Bowl-era program helps farmers use soil and water more efficiently.

Bettencourt served in the first Trump Administration as state executive director of the Farm Service Agency. She has also held executive jobs with the California Water Alliance and, more recently, Netafim.

Signatures Could Determine Southeast Fresno Council Seat

There is no doubt that Brandon Vang and Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas are the top-two vote getters in last week’s special election for Fresno City Council District 5. But whether there is an outright Vang victory or a runoff may depend on 142 voters curing their signatures.

As of the last count on Thursday, Vang, a Sanger Unified trustee, had 50.14% of the vote — seven votes above a majority that would clinch the election outright. If that number drops to 50% or fewer, Vang and Jonasson Rosas will meet in a July 15 runoff.

Jonasson Rosas, a Fresno Unified trustee, is a solid second at 34.97%.

The March 18 special election was to fill the seat vacated by Luis Chavez, after he won an election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He is married to Jonasson Rosas.

Voters with signature problems — either not signing the ballot or a signature not matching what the election department has on file — may cure the signatures by April 2.

Curing will only count the ballot; the vote will not change.

In an unscientific review of the list, Politics 101 noticed 46 Hispanic names, 51 Hmong names, and 45 “other” names. 

Vang may get at least one of those votes. One on the signature cure list lives in Vang’s household, his son Dustin, the campaign confirmed.

Pedro Ramirez, Vang’s campaign manager, said it is more about geography than ethnicity. He believes more Sunnyside-area votes will go to Vang.

The next update is Wednesday before 5 p.m. Approximately 30 ballots remain to be counted, plus the signature curing, plus any ballots that arrive by mail — and postmarked by Election Day — arriving through Tuesday.

Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus plans to certify on April 4. Anyone can make a recount request up to five days after certification.