The trustee for Fresno Unified's Roosevelt region said Wednesday she will run for Fresno City Council District 5 -- a seat that is opening up with her husband's election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas told GV Wire that she wants to be the council representative for the southeast Fresno area, where she's lived since 2015. She won easily won reelection to the FUSD School Board last month after first becoming a trustee in 2016.
The city council has yet to decide when to hold a special election to fill outgoing councilmember Luis Chavez' seat. Chavez defeated his former boss, incumbent District 3 Supervisor Sal Quintero, in November.
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Chavez told GV Wire he would resign from the council on Jan. 6, 2025, when the supervisor term begins.
Jonasson Rosas said she's heard from community members that public safety is a top priority, along with increasing housing and economic opportunities.
"It's important to involve community voice in all of these planning processes as our city continues to grow and continues to attract investments and jobs, that we have a strong representation from our community in decision making..." Jonasson Rosas said. "And of course our homelessness situation, our unhoused population, making sure that there are resources and services available to those, but also making sure that our businesses are able to operate without having to deal with some of the negative consequences of having a substantial unhoused population in the city."
This would be what politicos call a "free run" for Jonasson Rosas in that she won't have to resign from the School Board to campaign for the council seat. If she wins, however, the School Board can either make an appointment or hold a special election to fill the Roosevelt region seat.
Jonasson Rosas has already begun making calls to gain support, she said. She has received endorsements from the building trades associations, as well as councilmembers Annalisa Perea, Tyler Maxwell, and Nelson Esparza.
"I've had a lot of other meetings," she said. "I expect in the coming weeks to be able to secure additional endorsements from people for my campaign, but it's been pretty strong thus far."
Sanger Unified Trustee Brandon Vang told GV Wire that he's interested in running for the council seat.
Jonasson Rosas is deputy general manager of external affairs for Westlands Water District. She would not comment on whether she would keep that job if elected to the council.
Jonasson Rosas earned nearly $150,000 at Westlands in 2023, including benefits, according to research from Transparent California. Councilmembers beginning new terms will earn $111,320 as of January 2025.
She said she hasn't begun fundraising, but is filing paperwork to transfer funds from her trustee campaign chest. Her latest filing reported $12,101 in cash.
Jonasson Rosas said her familiarity with the region will help her in her race.
"As a foster parent, nonprofit volunteer, business leader, and school board member, I have worked tirelessly to serve the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of Fresno, and I'm ready to take that same passion and commitment to City Hall as your next city councilmember. Together, we can create lasting positive change in our neighborhoods."