Fresno City Council candidates running for district seats met in the Tower District Tuesday evening for an open forum inviting questions from voters.<\/p>\n
The free event took place weeks ahead of the Midterm Elections where Fresnans will hit the polls.<\/p>\n
Five candidates vying for a seat at Fresno City Hall took questions from concerned voters in the community to offer the clarity they need on key issues that impact them the most.<\/p>\n
“I’m running because I think Fresno is the 5th largest city and we are too often we don’t act like it,” District 7 Candidate.<\/p>\n
Fresno City Council district candidates convened in Tower Tuesday night for a night of dialogue that spanned key issues including housing, education and funding.<\/p>\n
The open forum featured five of the six candidates running to fill district seats including District 1 candidate Naindeep Singh, District 3 candidates Joaquin Arambula and Keshia Thomas; and District 7 candidates Nav Gurm and Ariana Martinez Lott.<\/p>\n
“To stand with our communities at every single level,” said District 7 Candidate Adriana Martinez Lott.<\/p>\n
Voters showed up despite some candidates who were a no-show including Rob Fuentes. The District 1 candidate could not attend due to a scheduling conflict.<\/p>\n
His absence was marked by an empty chair — a strong message voters in District 1 picked up on.<\/p>\n
“The thing that struck me the most was that he showed up and what struck me the most about the other candidate is that he did not show up,” said District 1 voter Daniel Brannick.<\/p>\n
The night included a lightning round of yes-or-no questions.<\/p>\n
At one point in the night, a moderator asking each candidate if they support data centers in the cities or community. Each responded with a “no” answer.<\/p>\n
Recent District 1 voter Marcus Winston said his attendance introduced him to a candidate he knew little about — Naindeep Singh.<\/p>\n
“He’s a really no-nonsense guy. He spoke it really candidly, really straightforward. He told everybody the truth. Don’t trust the people who are getting the money from these other big corporations and companies, and that makes perfect sense to me,” said Winston.<\/p>\n
Dulce UpFront hosted the free volunteer-run event with Together Across America. The forum held space for both passionate voices and deep dialogue.<\/p>\n
“More time than ever, we need spaces for people to connect,” said Dulce UpFront Co-Director Ome Quetzal Lopez<\/p>\n
Candidates have just six weeks left to canvas out in the community ahead of the midterm election.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Christina Lopez on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n