As a Fresno Fire Department captain drove a city-owned 2021 Ford F-250 to an emergency situation in May 2024, he became the one in need of help.

The truck suddenly lost power. And the captain noticed smoke coming from the engine, which was on fire, said a City Hall source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.

The truck was totaled, but fortunately no one was hurt. Now, the city is suing to get its money back.

The Fresno City Council announced its intention to file a lawsuit Thursday against the Ford Motor Co. after a 6-0 vote in closed session. Brandon Vang was absent.

“I cannot speak directly to the Ford lawsuit but generally speaking, it is the city’s practice to attempt to recover damages from those who we believe to be the at-fault party. This is our protocol even if we have insurance because it is the right thing to do and our insurance carriers expect this of us,” City Attorney Andrew Janz said.

The lawsuit is expected to be filed in Fresno County Superior Court next week.

“This is pending litigation and we have no comment,” a Ford spokesperson said.

Ford has recalled several 2021 F-250 models, one reason being for a fuel pump. It is not known if that is a factor in the truck fire.

In other legal action, by a 4-2 vote in closed session, the city council approved filing an unfair bargaining claim against the Amalgamated Transportation Union Local 1027 with the Public Employment Relations Board.

Calls to the union were not immediately returned. The union represents the city’s bus drivers.

Mike Karbassi, Miguel Arias, Vang and Nick Richardson voted in favor. Annalisa Perea and Nelson Esparza voted against. Tyler Maxwell was absent.

Other Council Notes

Vang missed the morning portion of the meeting for undisclosed reasons.

Mayor Jerry Dyer missed the meeting. He was traveling to a U.S. Conference of Mayors leadership meeting in Oklahoma City.

Richardson was unapologetic for using a four-letter expletive during a news conference Wednesday about Fresno winning an injunction to keep federal funds. He reminded Politics 101, that after all, he is a Marine. At least he was classier than a certain local news source that published his remark unedited.

Fresno has ICE vehicles, mentioned in an item to purchase electric vehicle chargers. However, this government acronym means internal combustion engines.

Arias reads GV Wire. He posted a pic of this publication’s story about the city winning its injunction lawsuit at his seat on the dais, with a few other pokes at President Trump. Good thing he doesn’t host a late-night show.

Dyer Backs Gurm in City Council Race

Fresno City Council District 7 candidate Nav Gurm that announced Mayor Jerry Dyer is endorsing him.

“Nav Gurm represents the next generation of leadership in Fresno. Like me, Nav cares deeply about this city and its future. He’s thoughtful, hardworking, and I have no doubt he will deliver real results for the people of District 7 and our city as a whole,” Dyer said in a news release.

Gurm is running against businessman AJ Rassamni, community advocate Ariana Martinez Lott, and community member Rene Campos. The east-central district runs through the heart of urban Fresno.

Candidates and issues endorsed by Dyer have have a mixed record of success.

District 5 candidate Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas lost a special election in March; state Senate candidate Nelson Esparza dropped out of the race; and two major ballot measures — the 2022 renewal of transportation sales tax Measure C and Measure E, a county tax proposal for Fresno State — failed.

Some of Dyer’s picks have been successful — state Assemblymember David Tangipa, City Councilmember Mike Karbassi and Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp among them.

Arambula Drops $25K Into Campaign

Joaquin Arambula contributed $25,000 of his own money into his campaign for Fresno City Council.

Arambula, D-Fresno, is a state Assemblymember running for the district composed of downtown and southwest Fresno. The money is listed as a direct contribution, not a loan.

He is running against two elected school board members: Fernando Alvarez (West Park Elementary School District) and Keshia Thomas (Fresno Unified School District).

Alvarez is listed as no party preference; Thomas is a Democrat.

Costa Communications Director Moves On

Anthony Camacho, a congressional aide for Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, for the past six years, said he is leaving to pursue “a new chapter in my career.”

A 2021 Fresno State graduate, Camacho started as an intern for Costa’s office in 2019. He’s been Costa’s communications director — dealing with the likes of Politics 101 helping arrange interviews and provide statements — since 2024.

Isabelle Moser will manage Costa’s press operations until a replacement is announced.