Nelson Esparza
Candidate for Board of Equalization Member, District 1
Nelson Esparza sits on the Fresno City Council. He represents District 7, in east-central Fresno. He first won that seat in November 2018. He was re-elected in June 2022. He has also served as council president. Before the council, he served on the county school board. He now teaches economics at Fresno City College. Esparza began raising money for a run at the state Board of Equalization, District 1, as early as December 2022. That was ahead of a 2026 vacancy there. The seat's Republican holder, Ted Gaines, faced term limits. Esparza briefly announced a run for a state Senate seat, District 14, in August 2024. He then switched, and ran for the Board seat instead, in the June 2026 primary. He advanced to November, against Republican Shannon Grove. In 2022, Esparza was charged with attempted extortion. The charge involved an alleged threat against Fresno's city attorney. Prosecutors dropped the charge in December 2022. Home: Fresno, California. Job: Fresno City Councilmember, District 7. He also teaches economics at Fresno City College. Prior office: Fresno City Councilmember, District 7, elected 2018, re-elected 2022. He earlier served on the county school board too. He is not an incumbent on the Board of Equalization. This is his first run for that office.
On the issues
- Taxes & Cost of Living
Supports protecting California's tax dollars while ensuring the state invests them in public priorities like education, healthcare, public safety and economic development.
“protect the people of California, our values and tax dollars, so that our state can invest in our people, from education, to healthcare, public safety to economic development”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Says his record on the Fresno City Council has centered on supporting working families.
“supporting working families”
Source →
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