The Fresno County Democratic Party announced its endorsements for local races, but its decision not to endorse in some contests left one candidate with a lot to talk about.

For Fresno City Council, the Democrats made picks in three of the four races: Rob Fuentes (District 1), Danielle Parra (District 5) and Nav Gurm (District 7).

The Dems made no pick for District 3, featuring prominent Democrats Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas.

“Both candidates are really good and excellent. We want to give both of them an opportunity to win the favor of the people,” Gidram said.

The local Democrats also did not make an endorsement for Fresno County Supervisor District 1, which covers the northwest part of the county. One candidate said the choice not to decide “speaks volumes.”

“I’m the only African American and API candidate in the race,” candidate Eric Payne wrote on his Facebook page. “Let’s be clear about what this means. When the establishment stays neutral, it creates space. Space for the community. Space for the people. Space for us to decide who leads and who represents our future.”

Payne and five other candidates are running to succeed Brian Pacheco, who is not running for re-election, opting to run for state Assembly instead. Four of the candidates are of Latino heritage (Lupe Flores, Felipe Perez, Omar Hernandez , Maria Pacheco), one is of Persian heritage (Mike Karbassi), and Payne is Black.

“When there is no endorsement, it sends a message: this election will be decided by the people who show up,” Payne wrote.

All but Flores are Democrats. Flores is a Republican.

“It’s a very close race with many great candidates. It’s a diverse field. I’m excited to see one of them succeed,” local Democratic party spokesperson Artemes Gidram said.

The party added, after this story was first published, “the threshold to receive an endorsement from the party is 60% of central committee members. Mathematically, it is harder to reach consensus the more crowded the field … We look forward to electing a Democrat in both seats, come June or November.”

The Fresno Democrats endorsed Huron Mayor Rey Leon in the Fresno County Supervisor District 4 race. Leon is the only Democrat in the race.

GV Wire will hold a District 4 forum featuring Leon, former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran and Selma Unified trustee Nick Sahota on Monday, April 13, at 6 p.m.

Mims, Beltran, and Sahota are Republicans.

McClintock Meet and Greet

The Fresno County Republican Party is hosting a meet and greet with Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, Thursday evening.

McClintock represents parts of Fresno and Clovis. He does not have major opposition in his upcoming re-election campaign.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Patriots Room.

Woody Running for SLO County Supervisor

Former Fresno City Councilmember Michael Erin Woody is a candidate again, this time for supervisor in San Luis Obispo County.

Woody won election to the city council in 1992. He ran for mayor in 1996, losing to Jim Patterson. He ran again for city council in 2020, losing to Jerry Duncan.

He has since moved to Morro Bay on the coast, where he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018, failing to advance past the primary.

Woody is running against James Agnelo Dantona for an open seat.