Even before candidates in several local races can file to run, local Democrats have made their endorsements.

The official nomination period opens Monday to run for offices like school boards and several city councils within Fresno County. Voters already narrowed the field to two finalists in the March 5 primary for federal and state races as well as for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and Fresno City Council.

Meanwhile, the Fresno County Democratic Party and other local Democratic clubs have already decided which candidates to support.

“There’s just a lot of people that have been in it already,” explained party chair Ruben Zarate. “The consensus amongst the party was that we get out a little bit ahead because there are some good candidates out there already.”

Several other groups — such as labor — also have made their choices, Zarate said.

The nomination period closes Aug. 9. If the incumbent does not run, the deadline extends to Aug. 14.

“August is just too late to make an endorsement,” Zarate said.

The local party makes picks in local races. The national and state parties handle the races, respectively, Zarate said. And, the party refrains from endorsements in races where two Republicans are the only candidates.

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Who Are Fresno Dems Backing?

One of the races generating high interest is the Supervisor District 3 runoff with two Democrats.

In that race, the party picked Luis Chavez over incumbent Sal Quintero.

“(Quintero has) had his opportunity. He’s had some time on the dais, and he’s served this time. And I believe the consensus of the of the party is that Mr. Chavez was just primed for that seat, and the consensus was that it’s time for change,” Zarate said.

In other potential Dem-on-Dem races, the party chose not to make a pick.

For the Fresno Unified District Area 5 school board race, incumbent Andy Levine and challenger James Martinez have announced their intention to run.

The party was split, and thus no endorsement, Zarate said. Same with State Center Community College District Area 2, where incumbent Nasreen Johnson and Pablo Villagrana announced intentions of running.

“Sometimes it’s a little sad that two good candidates run against each other, but hey, that’s democracy, right?” Zarate said.

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Republicans Also Make Early Choices

Elizabeth Kolstad, chair of the Fresno County Republican Party, said they made their picks early as well, but mainly for federal and state seats. She said local parties can still chose independently of the state and national parties.

The group has not yet made any local endorsements. And, it declined to endorse in the competitive Republican vs. Republican race for Fresno County Supervisor District 2 between incumbent Steve Brandau and Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld.

Kolstad is one of several Fresno-area delegates headed to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday.

Her mother, party activist Martha Kolstad, is also a delegate.

Some other notable local delegates — former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, state Sen. Shannon Gove, and state party executive Lisa Moreno (her son Guillermo Moreno is an alternate).

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