Balch is Out of 2020 Fresno Mayor’s Race

Elliott Balch.

FRESNO (KMJ) -The field in the 2020 race to be Fresno’s next mayor just got a bit smaller. Non-profit executive Elliott Balch is exiting the race for Fresno Mayor, two-and-a-half months after jumping in.

Balch says he’s out to spend time with his family, and that the time requirements of running a campaign for mayor were too much.

“There are mixed emotions but, at the end of the day, it’s not a hard decision,” Balch said.

But, he says, learned a lot from his short time in politics.

“I was amazed at how many folks you would find having smart ideas for the future of the city and a real passion for making Fresno a better place,” Balch said.

Balch’s exit leaves Police Chief Jerry Dyer and former congressional candidate Andrew Janz in the race.