Clovis City Councilmember Matt Basgall has had a change of heart and will run for re-election after all. This will pit Basgall against another sitting councilmember, Diane Pearce, as Clovis voters will decide their leaders by district for the first time in November.

Basgall and Pearce live in District 4, representing the northeast part of Clovis. Both are in their first term.

Two other seats are up for election Nov. 3: District 1 (southwest Clovis) and District 5 (northwest). Previously, all councilmembers were elected at-large, with the entire city electorate voting for up to three at a time. After the threat of litigation over at-large voting, the city council agreed to change to elections by district.

“I just realized that I really like doing what I’m doing, being part of the community and being involved,” Basgall told GV Wire on Tuesday. “There are personal factors that went into why I wasn’t going to run when I said that at the time. Those things are better now, which allows me to do this.”

Basgall, the former Clovis police chief who is now director of security for California Health Sciences University, elaborated that he was dealing with an illness in the family.

“We knew this type of thing was a possibility, and I have no problem with him changing his mind and jumping back in to serve the community. That’s what it’s really all about,” Pearce, a small business owner, said.

(Disclosure: GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi is one of the founders of California Health Sciences University in Clovis.)

Incumbent vs. Incumbent

Councilmembers must live within the district, meaning Basgall and Pearce have to run in the same district, even though both are incumbents.

“She and I are cordial with each other. We both want to serve our community. We’ll be fine. We’ll work through it together. We’ll make sure it’s not something dramatic or anything for the public,” Basgall said.

Pearce wasn’t quite ready to reveal her campaign strategy.

“We both have records that we’ll be able to put out there to the voters, if that’s how things shape up. Voters will be able to make their decision based on what we’ve done over the last three, going on four, years,” Pearce said.

Pearce is known for making comments on social issues — such as LGBT-oriented books in the children’s section of the library and immigration — that sometimes drew criticism from fellow councilmembers, such as Lynne Ashbeck.

“I do have a strong record, and I know a lot of people appreciate the fact that I am willing to take stands on issues that are important to me and, I believe, important to our community at large. And so certainly that would be a factor in a coming campaign,” Pearce said.

Said Basgall: “We take different approaches to things. Sometimes it’s not that we disagree. It’s just how we go about presenting those items.”

Is a Campaign for Supervisor in Pearce’s Future?

Nathan Magsig, a Fresno County supervisor who once served on the Clovis City Council, is running for state Senate. If elected, the supervisor seat would be vacant and subject to a special election in early 2027. Pearce could be a contender.

“I’m going to continue looking at all the different options that are out there,” she said. She said she would make an announcement about her intentions in the future.

In his latest campaign financial report, Basgall reported no funds raised as of Feb. 27. At the end of 2025, Pearce’s most recent report listed $54,488 cash on hand.

Others who have filed are Mason Magsig and Joshua Engel (District 1) and Des Haus (District 5). Incumbent Councilmember Drew Bessinger has said he plans to run for re-election, now in District 5, but has yet to file paperwork with the city.