State Center Community College District Trustee Rob Fuentes took an early lead in his race against Central Unified Trustee Naindeep Singh to represent Fresno City Council’s District 1.

After the first count of ballots Tuesday night, Fuentes had 51.91% of the vote to Singh’s 48.09%. Singh narrowly beat Fuentes in the primary, surpassing the former federal prosecutor by only about 250 votes. Those totals were with 19.36% of voters reported.

About 300 votes separated the candidates with just over 7,800 votes counted.

Singh strongly outraised Fuentes, pulling in $238,982 to $185,830 by Fuentes.

Strong last-minute fundraising contributed thousands to each race.

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce made a last-minute $5,000 donation to Fuentes as did California Supermarkets, which gave $3,000. Fresno Laborers Local 294 gave $5,900.

Singh pulled in largely individual last-minute gifts, totaling $8,500.

Heated District 1 Race

The race to replace outgoing Councilmember Annalisa Perea for the district encompassing west and central-west Fresno may be the most caustic local race in recent history.

Throughout the race, Singh cast himself as the outsider, calling out corruption within city hall while Fuentes received endorsements from local leaders such as Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, city councilmembers Nelson Esparza, Tyler Maxwell, and Annalisa Perea.

That perception boiled over when only a week before the election, Fresno police arrested Singh on suspicion of drug-related DUI.

It only took a few hours for news about the arrest and after it did, social media exploded in defense of Singh’s reputation.

Soon after, Fresno police released negative test results for any drugs or alcohol in Singh’s system, and Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto closed the case, personally apologizing to Singh.

Controversies didn’t end there as conspiracies arose about how Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz was alerted of the arrest and why he confirmed it to media.

Singh, through civil rights attorney Kevin Little, who has prosecuted the city of Fresno on multiple occasions, called for an independent investigation into details surrounding the event.

Within city hall, the event caused a rift between Janz and Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias who both called on investigations into one another.

The recent DUI controversy comes after a campaign season of accusations largely surrounding the city’s Southeast Development Area plan. While Fuentes said he does not support the city’s current SEDA plan, Singh pushed a narrative that Fuentes would ultimately support the mayor’s plan.

Arambula Takes Early Lead in Council District 3

Outgoing California Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula took a strong early lead against Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas in the race to represent southwest and downtown Fresno in city council.

Termed out Councilmember Miguel Arias is running to replace Thomas on the Fresno Unified board.

Arambula held 55.7% of the vote to Thomas’ 44.3%. The Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Office reports 4,275 votes for the district. About 400 votes separated the two.

Arambula entered the race backed by key labor groups such as Fresno Teachers Association, Fresno City Employees Association, Central Labor Council, and the Central Valley Progressive PAC. Thomas drew her support from Arambula’s colleague in the Assembly, Esmeralda Soria.

Thomas also got support from key union groups, including the Building Trades Council and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Arambula outraised Thomas in the election, collecting $114,019 while Thomas posted $73,394 in donations.

Quieter than the district 1 race during campaign season, both candidates came into the race with their own controversies.

Thomas is still in active litigation, along with Fresno Unified, in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Bullard High football coach Don Arax after she falsely accused him of calling her son a racial slur.

She walked back those accusations in later legal depositions before her son gave two different accounts of events.

Arambula earlier this year went through a very public divorce where accusations came out against him of alcohol and drug use and video game addiction.

Martinez Lott Leads in Council District 7 Race

Ariana Martinez Lott took an early lead against Nav Gurm in the race for Fresno City Council District 7, replacing termed-out Council President Nelson Esparza.

Martinez Lott, a community organizer, had 54.95% of the vote, compared to attorney and political consultant Gurm’s 45.05%. More than 400 votes separated them.

Similar to District 1, the race pitted a progressive candidate, Martinez, against a liberal but establishment candidate.

Martinez Lott received the endorsement of famed labor rights activist Dolores Huerta, who died on Oct. 28. Martinez Lott also got endorsements from groups such as the Central Valley Progressive PAC, the California Working Parties, and the Fresno Madera Tulare Kings Central Labor Council.

Arambula endorsed Lott, as did Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang.

Gurm boasted major endorsements of his own, including Sen. Adam Schiff and State Controller Malia Cohen.

Locally, he received endorsements from councilmembers Nelson Esparza, Tyler Maxwell, and Annalisa Perea. The Fresno County Democratic Party also endorsed him.

Donation sources became contentious in the race as Gurm and Martinez Lott called out where each other got funding.

Martinez Lott questioned donations from PG&E to Gurm, saying he would represent their interests while Gurm called out dark money donations from nonprofit groups.