Fresno City Councilman and supervisor candidate Mike Karbassi, left, holds up a Kerman water report, during a Sept. 28, 2026, forum in northwest Fresno. Opponent, Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco, looks on.
David Taub
Fresno Bee
Is Kerman’s water clean? The two candidates running to represent western Fresno County on the Board of Supervisors disagree on that question.
At a forum Monday night in northwest Fresno between Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi and Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco, water quality was the topic.
Highway City Community Development, a nonprofit group, hosted the forum at the Teague Community Resource Center. More than 70 people listened to the two supervisor candidates, as well as one candidate running for city council.
The clean water debate
Answering a question about infrastructure, Pacheco referenced a water quality issue in the mountain community of Shaver Springs, represented by Supervisor Nathan Magsig.
“The way that we can measure whether or not our water infrastructure is good or bad is whether or not government officials are willing to drink the water,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco also touted the clean water in Kerman.
That gave Karbassi his opening.
“Elected officials should be honest, even when there are problems in their own backyard,” Karbassi said, holding a red folder with Kerman water reports from July.
“This is a public report that shows there are excess levels of hexavalent chromium in the water, and what happens, according to the city, as excess levels increase the risk of cancer. Excess levels of uranium increase the risk of getting cancer and kidney problems. Excess label levels of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane increases the chance of getting cancer if you drink it over years. The water in Kermit isn’t clean,” Karbassi said.
Karbassi continued: “You’re not going to have to wait four years for me to give a crap when there’s an election. I’m going to solve these problems starting from day one. Access to clean water is a human right, and it’s disgusting that in 2026, not every city in this county has clean water.”
The forum’s format did not allow Pacheco to answer Karbassi. She spoke with The Fresno Bee after, calling Karbassi’s accusations, “misleading.”
“Kerman’s water is safe. I still make my Kool-Aid with the tap water in the city of Kerman. I know that the state of California has lowered those minimum numbers of chromium that is allowed in the water, and so that makes Kerman’s water just a little above what the requirements or the restrictions that the state of California has right now. But it does not mean that Kerman’s water is unsafe to drink,” Pacheco said.
SEDA and other jabs
Pacheco took her jabs at Karbassi as well.
Answering questions about SEDA, the Southeast Development Area project supported by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer that could expand the city, Pacheco noted a difference between her and Karbassi.
“I haven’t taken any money from any of the developers that would benefit from that today,” Pacheco said.
Through Sept. 19, Karbassi reported raising $247,446 for 2026 with $130,210 cash on hand. Campaign financial records show contributions of $20,000 from Wallace & Smith Contractors, $15,000 from developer Richard Spencer and $10,000 from Target Constructors among others.
Pacheco reported $161,218 raised in 2026, with $66,951 cash on hand.
Karbassi responded that he hasn’t taken money from AI developer Anthropic.
Lobbyist Emily Pappas contributed $1,000 to Pacheco. A CalMatters database shows Pappas lobbied for Anthropic.
Pacheco reported a $1,000 contribution from Landvalue Management LLC, associated with Fresno developer James Huelskamp. She did not respond to multiple messages seeking clarification.
Karbassi said he expects a SEDA vote later this year and that it would fail.
“We’ve explored the heck out of it. I don’t think it pencils out,” Karbassi said. He would rather focus on developing west Fresno.
After the forum, Karbassi said he has not taken a position.
Pacheco also needled Karbassi on residency.
“I am the only candidate that was actually born and raised in this district. Okay, so let’s make that clear. I did not move here to run for this seat,” Pacheco said.
Karbassi did move into his current home which overlaps his current city council district and the supervisor district. He told The Bee that he once lived in the district until the lines changed in 2021. He then moved back into the area.
Fresno City Councilman and supervisor candidate Mike Karbassi, left, holds up a Kerman water report, during a Sept. 28, 2026, forum in northwest Fresno. Opponent, Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco, looks on. David Taub Fresno Bee Singh: Dyer ‘spent money like a drunken sailor’
The forum also featured Naindeep Singh, the Fresno City Council District 1 candidate. The other candidate, Rob Fuentes, was invited but did not attend.
“This is the third forum he’s missed. So I want you to also understand how he disregards the public and the community where he doesn’t even bother to show up, and he declines each and every time. You’ll never get that with me,” Singh said.
Fuentes told The Bee that he teaches a class at San Joaquin College of Law on Monday nights, and asked the organizers to reschedule.
Singh reiterated his opposition to SEDA.
“Fresno for Fresnans first,” Singh said.
Asked about the budget, Singh criticized Dyer.
“Our mayor has spent money like a drunken sailor. It is time for us to get our finances in check. It is time for us to be prudent with our finances and finally actually invest in what is critical, what is needed, and what is most important to our communities,” Singh said.
Central Unified trustee and Fresno City Council candidate Naindeep Singh, left, talks to attendees of a Sept. 28, 2026, forum in northwest Fresno. David Taub Fresno Bee
This story was originally published September 29, 2026 at 12:23 PM.
The Fresno Bee
David joined The Fresno Bee in 2026 as Civic Watchdog Reporter. He covers elected officials from the Central Valley and the ins and outs of local elections and politics. David also keeps a sharp eye on how your local tax dollars are spent. David previously worked at GV Wire for 10 years. Born in Los Altos, California, David graduated from the University of Michigan and has lived in Fresno for two decades with his family.