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Bonakdar Leads Richardson By Slim Margin in NE Fresno Council Race
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 months ago on
November 5, 2024

Nick Richardson (left) and Roger Bonakdar are running for Fresno City Council. (GV Wire File)

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This story has been updated here, with new results and reaction.

Original story:

Early voting shows attorney Roger Bonakdar with a narrow edge over veteran Nick Richardson in the race for Fresno City Council District 6.

Bonakdar has a 50.81% lead over Richardson’s 49.03% with zero precincts reporting.

GV Wire will update results of this race as they come in.

Bonakdar raised more than eight times more than Richardson, totaling more than $450,000.

Current Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld terms out in January after being elected in 2016 and again in 2020. Bredefeld previously served 1997 through 2001. Bredefeld did not endorse a successor.

District 6 covers northeast Fresno roughly from Blackstone to Willow avenues and Bullard Avenue to Friant Road.

The term for the new councilmember begins Jan. 7.

Controversy Over GOP Endorsement

After the primary, Bonakdar re-registered from no party preference to Republican. He said voters expect candidates to pick a side.

The Fresno County Republican Party gave an unusual dual endorsement but changed its mind in August, siding with Bonakdar.

After news circulated on social media that Richardson answered a questionnaire during the primary from a Fresno gay rights group, the party switched to only endorsing Bonakdar.

The party never officially spoke about the reasons for the about-face.

The district holds a 41% to 32% Republican over Democrat registration advantage, with 18% no party preference.

Clovis Officially Re-Elects Two

In what is likely the last at-large election for Clovis voters, councilmembers Lynne Ashbeck and Vong Mouanoutoua won re-election for Clovis City Council.

The two were the only names on the ballot. No other candidate ran, and no write-in candidates qualified.

Last month, the city council — under pressure from a voting rights group — voted to switch to district elections starting in 2026. Instead of all candidates appearing on one ballot, the city will be divided in to five sections with only candidates who live there running, and voters in that area electing.

Clovis switched from elections in primaries in odd-numbered years, to the November date in even-numbered years in 2022.

Ashbeck won her seventh term in office, first elected in 2001. This will be Mouanoutoua’s third term, winning in 2017 and 2021.

Clovis voters re-elected Vong Mouanoutoua (left) and Lynne AShbeck. They were the only names on the ballot. (GV Wire file)

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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