Fresno City Council District 3 · Nov 3, 2026
Keshia Thomas
Candidate for City Council District 3
Keshia Thomas is running for Fresno City Council District 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Joaquin Arambula.
Mail ballots start going out; early voting opens at the County Clerk's office · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayFresno Unified School District trustee for Area 1, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She spent more than 23 years in Fresno Unified as a middle school math teacher, Director of Career Programs and vice principal.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Fresno Unified School District Trustee
- Endorsed by
- Fresno Building Trades Council; Plumbers; Pipefitters Local 246; IBEW; Sheet Metal Workers; Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria; Assemblymember José Luis Solache Jr.; Councilmember Annalisa Perea; former Councilmember Cynthia Sterling; Fresno Unified trustees Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas and Claudia Cazares; BWOPA PAC; Fresno County Women's Democratic Club; National Women's Political Caucus; and others listed on her site. Keshia Thomas for Fresno City Council District 3: Home
- Campaign website
- www.keshiathomasfresnocitycouncil.com
Where Keshia Thomas stands: positions on the record
Southeast Development Area (SEDA)4 sourced positions
Said she does not support the entire SEDA plan but is open to a much smaller growth area, considered project by project.
“I am open to discussing a much smaller growth area and looking at it on a project by project basis within the master plan.”
Own statementThe Fresno Bee
As a Fresno Unified trustee, made the motion and voted yes to table a board resolution opposing the SEDA plan (passed 4-3, February 2026).
Commission voteFresno Unified School District Board of Education: Minutes, regular meeting of Feb. 25, 2026 · Feb 25, 2026
As a Fresno Unified trustee, voted yes on a board resolution opposing the SEDA plan (passed 4-0 with 3 abstentions, May 2026).
Commission voteFresno Unified School District Board of Education: Minutes, regular meeting of May 13, 2026 · May 13, 2026
As reported by The Fresno Bee; not a direct quote
At a Sept. 22, 2026 candidate forum, said she opposed SEDA and that District 3 needs work before the city expands.
“Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong in District 3”
Forum answerThe Fresno Bee · Sep 23, 2026
City budget1 sourced position
As reported by The Fresno Bee; not a direct quote
Asked where she would add $1 million in the city budget, said she would add it to the homeless fund.
Forum answerThe Fresno Bee · Sep 23, 2026
Homelessness2 sourced positions
Calls for more shelter beds, more housing and closer city-county cooperation on homelessness.
“there should be a bed available for every person who wants one”
Own statementThe Fresno Bee
As reported by Fresnoland from a Fresno Bee candidate forum
Said she is worried that the city's anti-camping ordinance has sent more people to jail.
“It worries me when we start moving in this way because we’ll overfill the jails and it’s with people that haven’t really done anything except for not having a place to live.”
Forum answerFresnoland · May 8, 2026
Housing1 sourced position
Says Fresno needs more housing of all kinds and the city should subsidize infill and include low-income housing.
“The first part of the solution is just more housing, all housing”
Own statementThe Fresno Bee
Neighborhood services1 sourced position
Names neighborhood maintenance (roads, sidewalks, traffic lights, tree trimming, lighting, flood control) as the district's top issue.
“Our northern neighborhoods have the best, but the south side of the city often gets overlooked.”
Own statementThe Fresno Bee · May 18, 2026
Public safety1 sourced position
Lists visible neighborhood patrols and faster emergency response times among her public safety priorities.
Own statementKeshia Thomas for Fresno City Council District 3: Home
Approach1 sourced position
Says she is running as a citizen rather than under a party or ideological label.
“I am not running as a progressive, moderate, liberal, Democrat, or Republican.”
Own statementKeshia Thomas for Fresno City Council District 3: Why I Am Running
Past candidacies2 sourced positions
Ran for Fresno Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 1, in 2022 (won).
Own statementFresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters · Nov 8, 2022
Ran for Fresno Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 1, in 2018 (won).
Own statementFresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters · Nov 6, 2018
What Keshia Thomas said vs. how Keshia Thomas voted
Southeast Development Area (SEDA)
In their words
At a Sept. 22, 2026 candidate forum, said she opposed SEDA and that District 3 needs work before the city expands.
Sep 23, 2026 ·As reported by The Fresno Bee; not a direct quote ·The Fresno Bee · Sep 23, 2026
Said she does not support the entire SEDA plan but is open to a much smaller growth area, considered project by project.
On the record
As a Fresno Unified trustee, made the motion and voted yes to table a board resolution opposing the SEDA plan (passed 4-3, February 2026).
Feb 25, 2026 ·Fresno Unified School District Board of Education: Minutes, regular meeting of Feb. 25, 2026 · Feb 25, 2026
As a Fresno Unified trustee, voted yes on a board resolution opposing the SEDA plan (passed 4-0 with 3 abstentions, May 2026).
May 13, 2026 ·Fresno Unified School District Board of Education: Minutes, regular meeting of May 13, 2026 · May 13, 2026
Also running for City Council District 3
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