Elections 2026

Meet the six candidates for Fresno County, District 1 Supervisor

With incumbent Brian Pacheco choosing to pursue a seat on the state legislature, west Fresno County residents will get a chance to elect who will represent them in Hall of Records

by Pablo Orihuela May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Six candidates are running in the June 2 primary election to represent most of Fresno County’s western region.

Incumbent Brian Pacheco has held the seat since winning his election in 2014. There are no term limits to hold the nonpartisan board seat; Pacheco has comfortably won every bid to retain his seat since he’s been elected, including an uncontested run in 2022.

Pacheco has decided to leave the county’s highest elected board seat to launch a bid as a Democrat for the California State Assembly District 27 seat, which represents much of the region he already covers as a supervisor.

The incumbent’s imminent departure leaves a vacuum for western Fresno County, and half a dozen local politicians have launched bids to replace Pacheco, resulting in one of the most crowded local races in this year’s primary.

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The county board’s District 1 seat represents the cities of Firebaugh, Kerman, Mendota and San Joaquin, and includes the unincorporated areas of Biola, Cantua Creek, Easton, Five Points, Helm, Herndon, Highway City, Mercy, Hot Springs, Rolinda, Three Rocks and Tranquillity. District 1 also includes most of the Fresno city neighborhoods west of Highway 99, and some of the Central Unified neighborhoods in northwest Fresno.

The two candidates with the most votes after the June 2 primary will head to a runoff election in November.

However, if one of the six candidates manages to get more than 50% of the vote in June, then they would win outright, forgoing an election in November.

Read more about where the candidates — ordered alphabetically by last name — stand on these issues below.

What does a Fresno County Supervisor do?

There are five seats on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Cumulatively, the board represents over one million constituents across five distinct regions.

The supervisors make decisions on the scope, direction and financing of county services, such as the department of social services and public health. They’re also in charge of approving the county’s budget annually, which last year passed $5 billion.

Supervisors serve four-year terms, and they have no term limits.

Lupe Flores

Job: Trustee of the Mendota Unified School District for 21 years
Age: 65
Residency: Born in the now-abandoned Valley Medical Hospital in Fresno and has lived all her life in Mendota
Key endorsements: Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez; Fresno County Republican National Hispanic Assembly; Valley Young Republicans

Flores graduated from Coalinga College with an associate’s degree in accounting.

She said her desire to pursue public office is relatively new. She focused most of her life serving students in K-12 public education. She said among her greatest accomplishments was being a part of Adelante Mendota, or Mendota Forward, which, along with a group of parents, lobbied to have their local high school splinter away from Tranquillity and into their city’s own school district.

Flores said the time was right to begin pursuing public office following the news that incumbent Brian Pacheco would be leaving his supervisors’ seat to seek state office.

What does she think of the transportation sales tax?

“That’s the No. 1 issue of my campaign,” Flores said of transportation.

Flores said she supports the Better Roads, Safe Streets tax measure. She added that she has not read the rival Fix Our Roads plan since it has yet to qualify for the ballot.

She said it’s important to her that the county comes together and makes sure the rural communities have something to look forward to following Measure C’s expiration next year.

“During the fog, you can’t even see the white lines on the roads,” Flores said as an example of the poor conditions she cares to address.

She said she would also like to take on traffic congestion on Shaw Avenue around Highway City. When asked follow-up questions about what she would consider to fix the issue, she said “something like an overpass or underpass” could work, but that she’d need to see studies and talk to experts to best address the issue.

What would she do about Fresno County’s budget?

Flores said the county should continue to look into ways to increase revenues, adding particular praise for the board’s recent decision to pursue introducing a Transient Occupancy Tax before the voters later this year.

She said she would also like to review tax revenues to see if there are more equitable ways to distribute the funding across county departments and programs.

Where does she stand on the Williamson Act and other land use issues?

On the Williamson Act, Flores said she’d have to do more research to look into how it has served the county.

Flores said the farmers she’s talked to have not asked for financial assistance to convert their ag land into solar farms. She said she’s not currently interested in introducing a tax incentive or financial subsidy to help farmers convert their land.

“As long as they haven’t asked for it, I’m not going to volunteer it,” Flores said. “Because we need that money for social services that can be cut.”

Flores believes it’s largely Caltrans’ responsibility to address Highway 99 maintenance northbound toward Madera County. She said Madera should consider footing the bill if improvements need to be addressed sooner.

What does she think of AI data centers?

She said she could see herself supporting a proposal to build a data center for artificial intelligence organizations, but only if it doesn’t interfere with local businesses and industries.

“If farmers can’t have water, then we won’t be able to give water to a data center,” Flores said.

She said some of the rural communities also suffer from power outages in the summer months, and she would want to make sure a proposed data center would not exacerbate issues like that.

She said her opinions on data centers have changed recently.

“At one point, I was gung ho for a data center, until I started researching,” Flores said. “I said, ‘Oh, maybe I spoke too soon.’”

What does she think about urban sprawl?

Flores said she’d dissuade the county from pursuing the creation of new communities like Wonder Valley, saying instead that she’d want to see investments made in established neighborhoods.

“You need infrastructure for that,” Flores said. “How are we going to be putting them into (new communities) when we also need them over here?”

What will she do about housing?

Flores said the county should consider partnering with groups like Self-Help Enterprises to build more homes, especially those at affordable price points. She said she believes that’s the best way to address local housing affordability issues.

What will she do about homelessness?

Flores said the city should largely be responsible for funding and maintaining homeless shelters in Fresno. She said the county can’t afford to expand its responsibilities at a time when federal cuts are leading to a budget shortfall.

She added that she would like resources that are available go to “the real root of the issue” which is toward addressing health issues among the unhoused, or by connecting them to employers so that they can gain long-term housing.

“I’m not insensitive or uncompassionate toward the homeless population,” Flores said. “I want to help them … but how do we do that? It’s by providing those essential things like rehabilitation, education, food stamps and Medi-Cal.”

What does she think about the county’s department of social services?

Flores said she believes there’s a chance the department of social services may be overworked. She said she would like to see more resources go toward tools like professional development that she believes could help the department get better results.

Would she consider a countywide project labor agreement?

Flores said she’d have to learn more about a potential project labor agreement in the county before committing to passing one. She said she’d want to pick an option that satisfies many of the local trade unions.

What does she think about immigration?

Flores said she disagrees with SB 54, and instead believes local law enforcement should have increased access to and opportunities to collaborate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

She said she understands people’s apprehension toward ICE, but believes that most agents are doing the right thing.

“They have their flaws, too,” Flores said. “That’s where we come back to professional development, and all those things. There’s always a bad apple, just like in the police departments … just like in the California Highway Patrol … just like in the Department of Corrections …”

In the case of ICE, she said their inability to cooperate with local law enforcement has made their job more difficult. She said if law enforcement could cooperate with them more, it would be easier for the federal agents to more swiftly go after criminal undocumented residents, and then leave soon after.

“That would have mitigated a lot of what’s happening today,” Flores said of recent headlines related to the federal agency.

She added that she would like to see local support for the DIGNIDAD, or Dignity Act — a piece of immigration reform she believes could help local communities impacted by ICE raids.

Endorsements:

Victor Martinez, Mendota Mayor
Jose Alonso, Mendota Mayor Pro Tem
Liberty Lopez, Mendota City Councilmember
Joseph Rio Frio, Mendota City Councilmember
Jesse Mendoza, Mendota City Councilmember
Elsa Lopez, Firebaugh City Councilmember
Sherry Charles, Mendota School Board President
Jose Zavala, Mendota School Board Vice President
Sergio Valdez, Mendota School Board Trustee
Isabel Maldonado, Mendota School Board Trustee
Sal Ochoa, Mendota School Board Trustee
Alma Durazao, Mendota School Board Trustee
Fresno County Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Valley Young Republicans
Aklyies Transport
Ag & Industrial Supply
La Esperanza Market
Killingworth Gear

Who are her top donors?

As of April 28, Flores has raised about $11,450, with most contributions coming from individual donors. The donors are all based in the Central Valley.

Her biggest contribution is for $5,000 from Elsa Lopez Gonzalez, a retired resident of Firebaugh. She has also contributed $5,200 to her own campaign through three separate donations.

Other big contributions include:

$500 – Paul Lopez, Administrator at Mendota Unified School District
$250 – Valley Propane, Inc., business
$200 – Monica Flores, an in-home supportive services caregiver

Omar Hernandez

Job: West Hills Community College District Trustee, and farmer/small business owner
Age: 28
Residency: Spent most of his life in Riverdale, and moved to the district last year
Key endorsements: Silvia Renteria, Firebaugh Vice Mayor; Jose Alonso, Mendota Vice Mayor; Rob Fuentes, State Center Community College District Trustee

Hernandez spent most of his time in Riverdale, in southwest Fresno County, but he said he considers much of west Fresno his home.

Before moving to the City of San Joaquin, Hernandez said his mother worked in Five Points and Huron, and mentioned that he himself has had cups of coffee in Tranquillity, Mendota and Firebaugh.

Hernandez said that, on top of working to represent his community, his mother has been a big reason he decided to run for office. Hernandez said he’s running on an affordability platform, largely inspired by economic issues he saw his mother face firsthand.

“She was a woman who never really had a lot financially,” Hernandez said. “She didn’t get to finish high school in Mexico. While working out in my grandpa’s field, she told me she would sometimes just sit there and dream of her kids one day getting the opportunity to go to college. ”

He said that his mother worked most of her life until she died two years ago.

Largely on a promise they made with one another before she died, Hernandez’s career in public service started soon after.

On top of working as trustee of West Hills Community College District, Hernandez worked in the office of Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza between 2022 and 2025. He also works in the office of U.S. Rep. Adam Gray, though he currently only works part-time to focus on his campaign.

He also was raised on a dairy farm.

Hernandez added that he hopes his campaign can help people that look like him — young Latinos with a largely agricultural background — understand that they, too, can run for political office. Especially, he added, when younger voters tend to vote less than their older peers.

What does he think of the transportation sales tax?

Hernandez said he supports the Better Roads Safe Streets tax measure. He thinks it’s critical for the rural communities to have some kind of transportation measure past 2027, though he hopes it’s this plan that wins the vote in November.

“If you go out to any of these communities on the west side, it’s clear they’re not self-sustainable,” Hernandez said, on the need for a tax measure to pass.

He said his support for the Better Roads plan specifically comes after seeing the local leaders and community organizers unite to work on the plan. He, himself, signed a petition to get the plan on the ballot.

“It’s a no-brainer that the community is 100% behind this,” Hernandez said.

Assuming there is a transportation plan in place past 2027, Hernandez said a big transportation plan he wants to tackle is the completion of the connection of Interstate 5 and Highway 99.

He described the project as “opening a whole new world” to the rural communities.

“Because then you’ll have access with the 180 … locals will have access to the two of California’s biggest transportation routes,” Hernandez said. “It would make it that much easier to transport resources, or to bring new industries to the west area.”

What will he do about homelessness?

Hernandez said that, based on what he’s seen, he’d want to see the county and city’s relationship improve in how each party handles homelessness. He said a tool he’d use to help with that is the preexisting relationships he has with staff at City Hall.

He added that he sees the shelters as a “temporary band aid,” and while he wouldn’t be totally opposed to seeing the county fund some, he’s much more enthusiastic about seeing resources go toward “finding people workforce opportunities” and creating more permanent supportive housing opportunities.

“Shelters are still important because we never want to see people sleeping out in the extremely hot summers and cold winters,” Hernandez said. “But at the same time, those shelters won’t fix our long-term issues.”

What will he do about housing?

Hernandez said housing was especially important for him to address, given that about half the people in the county are renters.

He said he’d try and lobby for state and federal funding for the creation of down-payment assistance programs.

He’d also like to see housing stock introduced not only at all levels, market-rate and affordable, but in rural and urban areas, too.

“In the west area we’re losing a lot of farm jobs, and a lot of young folks don’t have opportunities when they lose their jobs or can’t find any opportunities in their area,” Hernandez said. “So where do they go? They come to Fresno … and now they’re competing with locals for jobs and housing, putting a further strain on our housing opportunities here in Fresno.”

In the short term, Hernandez said he’d like to see how feasible it would be for the county to introduce a rental assistance program to help renters as the county gets underway with helping increase housing stock.

What would he do about Fresno County’s budget?

Hernandez said that the county should always do what it can to lobby state lawmakers for money as it faces federal funding cuts.

“It’s easy to be forgotten when you’re never seen, right?” Hernandez said.

Still, he said that’s probably not going to be enough for any jurisdiction in the state.

“The unfortunate truth is that the budget is going to be bad for several years to come,” Hernandez said.

He said he sees an aggressive pursuit of introducing new manufacturing opportunities on the west side as a way to help increase revenues.

Hernandez said he’s tried to do similar work as a college district trustee. He said his board has applied to try and get a career technical education center built in San Joaquin to help introduce younger residents to the trades.

“But it’s frustrating because it’s a bit of a catch-22,” Hernandez said. “You hear a lot that manufacturers don’t want to come to the west side because there is an uneducated and untrained workforce, but then we can’t train residents for those jobs if they don’t exist locally.”

He said he’d also like to see how practical it is to introduce tax incentives to reinvigorate new businesses in areas like the City of Fresno’s Chinatown neighborhood — which borders the county’s District 3.

“Yes, we’d lose a bit of those taxes on the front-end,” Hernandez said. “But we capture (more money) once those businesses are successful, right?”

Where does he stand on the Williamson Act and other land use issues?

Hernandez said he’d have to do more research before opining on the county’s benefit from the Williamson Act.

Hernandez said he thinks it’s good that farmers have an alternative, like the creation of a solar farm, to pursue if their crops fallow. However, he said he’d like to see the growth of drought resistant crops before creating incentives to motivate farmers away from agriculture use.

“I think the county can support in finding innovative ways to put the land into use without turning it into something else that’ll just completely take away from ag,” Hernandez said.

As for other land use issues, he said he sees Caltrans as largely responsible for addressing maintenance of Highway 99 northbound toward Madera.

“And I know some people will disagree with that because those roads are horrible,” Hernandez said. “I know because I drive those roads every week. But I’d rather see us put that money towards taking care of our own, like the kids in the foster care system.”

What does he think about the county’s department of social services?

Hernandez said that he hopes the external audit of the DSS helps illustrate new ways the department can operate efficiently.

What does he think of AI data centers?

Hernandez said he would “strongly oppose” proposals to introduce AI data centers in Fresno County. He said he’d like to see as much water go to farmland as opposed to data centers.

He also said he’s skeptical of the centers’ ability to avoid contaminating local drinking water.

He said he’s especially sensitive to environmental and industrial issues as the potential representative for west Fresno — a part of the county he said is burdened with negative health and environmental issues.

“We’ve got to fight against bringing those opportunities,” Hernandez said.

What does he think about urban sprawl?

Hernandez said he’d like to see the county focus on creating housing stock through established communities instead of through new neighborhoods like Wonder Valley.

He said “sprawl is one of the biggest things that I’m against,” adding that he only feels more emboldened to take that stance after canvassing his district.

“There are a lot of properties here that are just abandoned and vacant,” Hernandez said. He said that he’d like to see the county take a more proactive approach to seeing those properties be developed.

He said he’s especially hoping to see resources go toward establishing cities in the more rural, agricultural part of the county.

“Our general plan says that the board will protect the county’s agriculture,” Hernandez said. “But we have Brian Pacheco and Buddy Mendes, our board’s only two farmers, leaving our board.”

He later added, “I’m really looking to fight against the possibility of us leaving behind our farming communities.” He also said he’d want to see infrastructure money go toward these communities first, instead of new communities.

Would he consider a countywide project labor agreement?

Hernandez said he “generally” supports a countywide project labor agreement. He said, however, that he’d want to be “realistic with voters” and look at the county’s budget before promising something he might not be able to deliver upon.

What does he think about immigration?

Hernandez said he agrees with SB 54’s restrictions on local law enforcement initiating contact with ICE.

“Immigration enforcement is a federal issue,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think we should be spending our resources on that when we have local issues to address.”

He said his feelings also stem from the way the agency has been handled under the Trump presidency, which he feels are ultimately unfair.

“We’re seeing people who do everything right, they go to their court interviews, and they get picked up either way,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think we need to be giving these folks more tools to do that.”

Endorsements:

Silvia Renteria, Firebaugh Vice Mayor
Jose Alonso, Mendota Vice Mayor
Dr. Crystal Jackson, West Hills Community College District Trustee and Black Caucus President
Rob Fuentes, State Center Community College District Trustee President and Fresno City Council Candidate
Magdalena Gomez, State Center Community College District Trustee
Robert Moreno, Southwestern College Trustee
Jeff Levinson, West Hills Community College District Trustee
Betty Vallejo, Golden Plains Trustee
Sal Parra Jr.
Jaspreet Sidhu, Central Unified Trustee
Celida Garcia, Sanger Unified Trustee

Who are his top donors?

As of April 28, Hernandez has raised about $48,450. His contributions come mainly from individuals, but there are some committees and businesses. Most of his contributions are from the Central Valley.

The majority of his funding comes from a one-time $30,000 contribution from the Youth Save Democracy PAC.

Other big contributions include:

$4,000 – Esparza for SCCCD Trustee 2026
$2,000 – Dan Habib Farms, Inc.
$1,500.93 – Hernandez for West Hills Community College Trustee 2024 (himself)
$1,000 – Gurjinder Chahil, developer at Caeb5
$1,000 – Mary Castro, a retiree
$1,000 – Tushar Patel, a physician at the Fresno CMC
$1,000 – Zarates Auto Center

Mike Karbassi

Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi. Pablo Orihuela | Fresnoland

Job: Fresno City Councilmember, and small business owner
Age: Karbassi refused to answer questions from Fresnoland.
Residency: Karbassi refused to answer questions from Fresnoland.
Key endorsements: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni, Fresno County Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Luis Chavez, and Buddy Mendes

Karbassi refused to answer questions from Fresnoland, despite numerous requests to the elected official, his campaign and his city council office.

Karbassi has been on the Fresno City Council since he was first elected to office in 2019 in a special election for the seat. He also owns Persian Rug Collections by Karbassi, a local small business.

Karbassi received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Entrepreneurship from Fresno State and briefly studied Life Sciences at Clovis Community College.

“I just want to leave a better world for the next generation, just like my parents were doing for me. That’s why I’m running,” Karnbassi said at an April 29 candidate forum for District 1 Supervisors’ seat hosted by the Sikh Institute of Fresno.

What does he think of the transportation sales tax?

Candidates at the election forum were asked if they would support the Better Roads, Safe Streets tax measure.

All candidates said yes except Karbassi.

“I don’t know yet. I have not decided,” Karbassi said. “There may be multiple ballot measures. I’ve not endorsed one yet.”

He later added, “I support Measure C, and I support an extension, but there may be two ballot measures presented. I have not seen the other one.”

How does he propose getting resources for the district?

At the election forum, candidates were asked how they would ensure their district’s needs are not overshadowed in the face of the county’s limited resources and increasing demand.

Karbassi responded by saying that he’s “spent the last seven years working with both sides, building a reputation, focusing on your issues and not politics.”

He cited the endorsement of three standing supervisors as proof.

Candidates were also asked how they might balance the budget in the midst of conditions like the federal budget leading to a projected shortfall of about $300 million. They were also asked how they would decide when to pursue “new revenue versus efficiencies or program adjustments.”

Karbassi said the county needs both.

He would like to see revenues enhanced through economic development, and he would like to “look at the books and find ways we can be more efficient.”

“One of my goals is to make the county, kind of like when you have a business, operate with a sense of urgency,” Karbassi said. “They have a slow pace and that has to stop. “

He also touted the success of the City of Fresno’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration after the federal government moved to take away over $250 million in funding. Karbassi was Fresno City Council president at the time.

What would he do about Fresno County’s budget?

In light of the budget shortfall, candidates were asked what services they would consider cutting to balance the county’s fiscal plan.

Karbassi said he’s not against making tough decisions, but that he wouldn’t cut anything.

“If we find waste, if we find misappropriation, if department directors are making crazy money, of course we’re gonna address that” Karbassi said, “but I’m not cutting a darn thing.”

How does he plan to address affordability?

Candidates were asked at the forum what tools they might use to help lower the cost of living in the county.

Karbassi cited his experience as the only candidate to have passed a budget that, like the county, is a multi-billion-dollar package.

He said he’d also want to work with labor groups and building trades to offer more jobs. Karbassi specifically cited his work in the city to help pass a project labor agreement.

“This has been a godsend for our city,” Karbassi said. “We did pass a PLA that also helped us with that process, and I’m looking to expand on that.”

How would he invest in the district?

Candidates were told at the forum that residents “often struggle to get basic issues resolved” in areas where county and city jurisdiction overlaps. They were asked how they would help improve coordination with the city.

Karbassi said, “One thing I’m going to make the county understand is that city residents are still county residents, they just don’t get that.”

He cited recent work done in collaboration with Supervisor Brian Pacheco to get a new crosswalk placed by Herndon-Barstow Elementary School, a section where city and county jurisdictions neighbor one another.

What does he think about immigration?

Candidates were asked at the forum if they support stopping local law enforcement from coordinating with ICE.

Karbassi said yes, acknowledging that state law SB 54 ties local law enforcement’s hands anyway.

Endorsements:

John Zanoni, Fresno County Sheriff
Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno County District Attorney
Jerry Dyer, Fresno Mayor
Tyler Maxwell, Fresno City Council Vice President
Lee Brand, Former Fresno Mayor
Oliver Baines, Former Fresno City Councilmember
Paul Caprioglio, Former Fresno City Councilmember
Garry Bredefeld, Chair of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Luis Chavez, Vice Chair of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Buddy Mendes, Fresno County Supervisor
Henry Perea, Former Fresno County Supervisor
Vong Mouanoutoua, Clovis Mayor
Gary Yep, Kerman Mayor Pro Tem
Alma Beltran, Parlier Mayor
Susan Wittrup, Fresno Unified School District Board Member
D.J. Criner, Pastor
Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Association (FDSA)
Fresno County Prosecutor’s Association (FCPA)
Fresno Sheriff’s Sergeant Association (FSS)
Fresno County District Attorney Investigators Association
Fresno County Public Safety Association
Fresno County Deputy Probation Officers Association
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), Central California Chapter
Cal Firefighters Local 2881
Fresno City Firefighters Local 202
Fresno, Madera, Kings & Tulare Counties Buildings & Construction Trades Council
Operating Engineers Local Union No.3
IBEW Local 100
Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104
UA Local 246
Nisei Farmers League
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Fresno Association of Realtors
Amalgamated Transit Union
Fresno County Professional Association of Employees
Fresno City Employees Association (FCEA)
City of Fresno Professional Employees Association (CFPEA)

Who are his top donors?

As of April 28, Karbassi has raised about $200,000, and is by far the biggest fundraiser in the race. The funding includes a mix of local businesses, labor organizations, developers and contractors, political committees and individual residents. Most of it comes from the Central Valley.

His big contribution came from Shiralian Enterprises Inc.. It totaled about $32,500 through two donations.

Other big contributions include:

$17,000 – through four donations from the Central Valley Council
$15,900 – through two donations from Richard Spencer, a local developer
$7,400 – through two donations from Ali Rashidian, a physician at Saint Agnes Medical Center
$6,176.94 – through two donations from the Fresno City Employees Association committee
$5,900 – DeWayne Zinkin, attorney at DeWayne Zinkin Attorney At Law
$5,000 – Bonakdar For SCCCD Trustee 2028 committee
$5,000 – California Real Estate Political Action Committee
$5,000 – California Westside Famers PAC
$5,000 – Terranova Ranch Inc.
$5,000 – True Detox LLC.
$5,000 – Tyler Maxwell For Fresno City Council committee
$5,000 – through two donations from Joyce Kaufman, a program tech at Fresno County

Maria Pacheco

Job: Kerman mayor, and a recent graduate of Fresno State with a master’s degree in social work
Age: 46
Residency: Born and raised in Kerman
Key endorsements: Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, State Senator Anna Caballero, Adam Flores-Cornejo, San Joaquin Mayor, San Joaquin Democratic Club, Raj Dhaliwal, Kerman City Councilmember

Pacheco lives “about a quarter mile” from the house she grew up in.

She said she’s running for supervisor for much of the same reasons that she ran for mayor — issues with transportation.

“There is a need in the community that isn’t being met,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco said she ran for mayor following complaints from constituents that rural students had a difficult time getting to Fresno City College and Fresno State University.

Her work led to the creation of a shuttle from Kerman to Fresno City College. The shuttle first started service in 2024.

She said it’s work like that that has endeared her to state lawmakers like Esmeralda Soria, who has endorsed her campaign. Pacheco has been working for the assemblywoman as a senior field representative for a year.

“Within my first 100 days as the mayor in the City of Kerman,” Pacheco said, “I was able to pull down $4 million dollars from the state, just on relationships.”

Pacheco said she hopes to do the same if elected to represent west Fresno County.

She also said she’d be proud of the potential to become one of the few women of color to hold office on the board. She said, especially with Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez being relatively new themselves, she sees this coming election cycle as an opportunity for the county to help elect representatives that best reflect their communities.

“It’s a whole new board,” Pacheco said. “It’s a whole new opportunity for new leadership, new ideas, new policy. I’m so excited at the chance to get to be a part of that.”

What does she think of the transportation sales tax?

Pacheco said she supports the Better Roads Safe Streets tax measure, having already endorsed the plan as the Kerman mayor. She said the measure accurately reflects the needs of west area constituents.

“We really need to think about that when we’re making these decisions,” Pacheco said.

She said she is especially appreciative of the opportunities the measure provides for expansion of public transportation. She said she’s heard from constituents that connectivity is their biggest issue with the opportunity for poorer constituents to buy cheap cars diminishing.

She said that she’s spoken to residents in San Joaquin who said they’d like to see a similar shuttle program for their residents to the West Hills Community College, a project she said she’d want to undertake.

She said she’d also like to see the already running Kerman shuttle expand services to Fresno State.

What would she do about Fresno County’s budget?

Paceco said she sees the budget shortfall as incentive to more aggressively pursue the introduction of new industries to west Fresno County.

“I know we have the capacity for new projects, for new ways to bring in revenue,” Pacheco said.

She said she’d also look toward her relationships with state lawmakers to help bring in more funding to the county, though acknowledged that likely still wouldn’t be enough to cover the budget hole, given that the issue “will likely last for years.”

What will she do about housing?

Pacheco said that she’d like to see the introduction of housing policies “that goes beyond just increasing housing stock.” As an example she brought up a program in Kerman that streamlines the permitting of Accessory Dwelling Units in the city.

“So now we have a homeowner that can become a landlord and increase their wealth,” Pacheco said, “and we have a new home that helps address local housing issues.”

Pacheco said she’d like to look into creating an emergency rental assistance program for homeowners who are struggling financially, or similar policies that work as a preventative measure for homelessness, before having to spend resources helping individuals when they are already on the streets.

She said she’d also like to look into a down payment assistance program for those looking to buy a home. She added that she’d want to have more discussions with constituents before entertaining a rent cap.

“I have to make sure that whatever decisions that we’re making are responsible decisions for everyone, across the board, and there has to be some compromise in that with the landlord,” Pacheco said.

What will she do about homelessness?

Pacheco said that she would like to see the county invest more resources toward preventative measures for homelessness.

She said stays at shelters or short-term supportive services can typically cap at around 90 days, a length of time she said should be expanded.

“That might be good enough to clean them out of a possible drug or substance abuse issue,” Pacheco said, “but it’s not enough for them to keep clean or become self-sustaining.”

She said she’d also like to see the county introduce more emergency homeless shelters, and the introduction of shelters or housing with wraparound services, like case managers, for vulnerable groups like women, children and veterans.

Pacheco also said she’d like to see the creation of more mobile crisis response teams to respond to local homeless issues, a tool she said could alleviate local law enforcement’s need to respond to such calls.

What does she think about the county’s department of social services?

Pacheco said she believes the local DSS is likely overworked and underresourced, an issue she said is sometimes common in that line of work. She said she’d like to pursue ways for the department to not have its staff feel overworked, which she said in turn could help provide better results for foster youth.

What does she think of the Williamson Act and other land use issues?

Pacheco said she’d have to do more research on the county’s relationship with the Williamson Act.

Pacheco said she wouldn’t want to see more incentives created for farmers with fallow land to create solar farms. Instead, she said she’d want to pursue legislation to help bring as much water as legally possible to farmers.

She said she would support efforts to dredge up the San Joaquin and Sacramento River Delta, and the “expensive” tunneling solution, as examples of creative ways she wants to help farmers get more water under current state caps.

“Water is a serious issue,” Pacheco said. “It’s not just affecting farmers, but all of us. We need water to survive, water and air. It’s basic, but it needs more attention and leadership for sure.”

Pacheco added that she believes it’s largely Caltrans’s responsibility to address Highway 99 improvement northbound toward Madera.