Karbassi Wins Fresno Council Special Election; Avoids Runoff

Councilman-elect Mike Karbassi.

FRESNO (KMJ) – In a result defying conventional wisdom, a candidate for Fresno city council won Tuesday’s special election outright, crushing five opponents.

Mike Karbassi will be the new District 2 city councilman, rising to the top of a six-candidate field.

With well over 50 percent of the vote going to the small businessman, no November runoff will be necessary.

“I feel very humbled and grateful,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi’s closest competitor, Lawrence Garcia, finished with about 16 percent, Jared Gordon and Oscar Sandoval, fighting for third.

Karbassi says he’s ready to get to work.

“I’ve got a lot of calls I gotta return, and a lot of folks that have told me for the last nine months, there’s a pothole they want fixed or a street light they want fixed, we’ve got work to do,” Karbassi said.

The county clerk has 30 days to certify the election, after that, Karbassi can be sworn in.