Fresno City Council Calls Special Election for District 5 Seat After Chavez Resignation
The Fresno City Council approved a special election for March 18, 2025, to fill the District 5 seat left vacant when Councilmember Luis Chavez resigned to join the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. The election will cost taxpayers roughly $200,000 from the General Fund.
Chavez won a seat on the Board of Supervisors in the November 5, 2024 election. The County Clerk certified the results December 3, 2024, and Chavez submitted his resignation to the City Clerk two days later, effective January 7, 2025. The City Charter requires a special election to fill a council vacancy.
The Council passed the resolution on its consent calendar December 12, 2024. City Clerk Todd Stermer’s staff report recommended the March 18 date after working with the County Clerk to coordinate timing under the City Charter, the Fresno Municipal Code, and state election law. The resolution also calls for a potential runoff election if no candidate wins outright.
The Breakdown
- Luis Chavez resigned from the District 5 council seat effective January 7, 2025, after winning election to the County Board of Supervisors.
- The City Charter requires a special election to fill a council vacancy — the city cannot simply appoint a replacement.
- The special election is set for March 18, 2025, with a potential runoff if needed.
- Taxpayers will pay roughly $200,000 for the election from the General Fund.
What This Means for You
If you live in District 5, you’ll vote for a new councilmember in less than four months. The $200,000 taxpayer cost comes from the General Fund to cover the election.
What You Can Do
The filing period for candidates will be set by the City Clerk’s office in coordination with the County Clerk. Check the City Clerk’s elections page for candidate filing deadlines and voter registration information ahead of the March 18 election.
What to Watch
The $200,000 price tag is for a single council seat in a district-only race. The staff report doesn’t break down whether this figure is the all-in cost or covers only what the city reimburses the county for running the election. The resolution calls for a potential runoff, but the staff report’s cost estimate doesn’t say whether the $200,000 includes a runoff election or covers only the first round.
