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As absentee ballots are about to arrive for California voters, Fresno County voters are facing a lengthy, and vexing, campaign for a handful of seats on the Fresno County Superior Court.

Unlike school board or Board of Supervisor seats, which are elected on a by-district or geographic basis, all Fresno County voters vote for each of the open and contested Superior Court Judge seats.

The Sun complied a list of who’s backing the various candidates to fill vacancies on the Court. All endorsements are compiled from candidate websites.

SEAT 3:

Rosalina Nunez, Attorney:

  • No endorsements publicly listed

Marc Kapetan, Attorney:

  • Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer
  • Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni
  • Fresno County DA Lisa Smittcamp
  • Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims (Ret.)
  • Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld
  • Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig
  • Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes
  • Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce
  • Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz
  • Lincoln Club of Fresno County
  • Fresno County Prosecutors Association
  • Sanger Firefighters Association
  • Former Fresno City Mayor Alan Autry
  • Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi
  • Clovis City Councilmember Matt Basgall
  • Fresno City Councilmember Paul Caprioglio (Ret.)
  • Clovis Unified Trustee Clint Olivier
  • Hon. Gregory Fain
  • Hon. Gary Orozco
  • Hon. James Kelley
  • Tulare County DA Tim Ward

SEAT 6:

Ashley S. Paulson, Chief Assistant City Attorney, City of Fresno:

  • Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer
  • Sheriff Margaret Mims (Ret.)
  • Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi
  • Fresno County Supervisors Chairman Garry Bredefeld
  • Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez
  • Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes
  • Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz
  • Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua
  • Clovis City Council Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce
  • Clovis City Councilmember Drew Bessinger
  • Clovis City Councilmember Matt Basgall
  • Clovis City Councilmember Lynne Ashbeck
  • Selma Police Chief Rudy Alcaraz
  • The Lincoln Club of Fresno County
  • Fresno Chamber of Commerce
  • Fresno-Tulare-Madera-Kings Building Trades Council
  • Fresno County Young Republicans
  • Operating Engineers Local 3
  • Ironworkers Local 155
  • Fresno Deputy Sheriffs Association
  • Fresno Police Officers Association
  • Fresno Sheriff’s Sergeants Association
  • Fresno County Deputy Probation Officers Association
  • Coalinga Police Officers Association
  • Sanger Police Officers Association
  • Kerman Police Officers Association
  • Statewide University Police Association (CSU Fresno)
  • Reedley Police Officers Association
  • Selma Police Officers Association
  • ​State Center Community College District Police Officers Association
  • Outgoing Seat #6 Judge Hon. Jonathan Conklin
  • Hon. James Kelley
  • Hon. Monica Diaz
  • Hon. Robert Whalen
  • Hon. Amy Freeman

Deidre Adams, Lawyer:

  • Dr. Joaquin Arambula
  • Amy Arambula
  • Daniel Brickey, Fresno Superior Court Commissioner
  • Sandra Celedon
  • Hon. Virna Santos 
  • Hon. Alvin M. Harrell III
  • Hon. Dennis Peterson (Ret.)
  • Hon. Timothy S. Buckley (Ret.)
  • Asm. Esmeralda Soria 
  • Fowler City Councilmember Karnig Kazarian
  • Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas
  • Central Unified Trustee Dr. Rama Kant Dawar (Ret.)
  • Professional Association of County Employees
  • Antoinette Taillac, Head Public Defender of the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office 
  • La Raza Lawyers Association, Central Valley Chapter
  • Fresno County Public Safety Association

Steven R. Ueltzen, Senior Deputy District Attorney, County of Fresno:

  • Fresno County Prosecutor’s Association
  • Clovis Peace Officer’s Association
  • Hon. Gabriel Brickey, Fresno County Superior Court
  • Hon. Katherine Rigby, Madera County Superior Court
  • Hon. Eric LiCalsi, Madera County Superior Court Judge
  • Hon. Mitchell Rigby, Madera County Superior Court Judge
  • Hon. Ernest LiCalsi, Madera County Superior Court Judge
  • Austin Matulonis, Assistant Chief, California Highway Patrol (Ret.)
  • Clovis City Councilmember Drew Bessinger 
  • Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero (Ret.)

SEAT 7:

Jeff Hammerschmidt, Attorney:

  • Mayor Jerry Dyer
  • Sheriff John Zanoni
  • Sheriff Margaret Mims (Ret.)
  • Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz
  • Seat #7 Outgoing Judge Hon. D. Tyler Tharpe
  • Fresno County Superior Court Presiding Judge Hon. Jeff Hamilton
  • Hon. Elizabeth Egan
  • Hon. Brian Alvarez
  • Hon. David Gottlieb
  • Hon. Robert Mangano
  • Hon. David Munoz
  • Hon. Gregory Fain
  • Hon. Gary Orozco
  • Hon. Michael Frye
  • Hon. Robert Oliver (Ret.)
  • Hon. W. Kent Hamlin (Ret.)
  • Hon. James Petrucelli (Ret.)
  • Hon. Harry Papadakis (Ret.)
  • Hon. John “Nip” Gallagher (Ret.)
  • Tulare County District Attorney Phillip Cline (Ret.)
  • Fresno Police Officers Association
  • Fresno County Prosecutors Association
  • Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Association
  • The Range Pistol Club
  • Police Science Institute
  • Signal of San Joaquin Valley

Curtis Sok, Attorney at Law:

  • Hon. Robert M. Whalen
  • Hon. Irene A. Luna
  • Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua

Jose Salazar, Attorney:

  • No public endorsements listed.

Seat 9:

Noelle Elyse Pebet, Superior Court Commissioner:

  • Fresno City Mayor Jerry Dyer 
  • Fresno Sheriff John Zanoni 
  • Stephen McComas 
  • Arley Terrence 
  • Former Sheriff Margaret Mims
  • Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz
  • Fresno Police Officers Association
  • Clovis Police Officers Association 
  • Reedley Police Officers Association
  • Kingsburg Police Officers Association
  • Fresno County Prosecutors Association 
  • Fresno County District Attorney Investigators’ Association 
  • Fresno Basque Club
  • Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig
  • Fresno County Supervisor Debbie Poochigian (Ret.)
  • Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi 
  • Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce
  • Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua
  • Clovis Councilmember Lynne Ashbeck
  • Clovis City Councilman Matt Basgall
  • Clovis City Councilman Drew Bessinger
  • Kingsburg Mayor Staci Smith
  • Kingsburg Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Pursell
  • Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran 
  • Reedley Mayor Matthew Tuttle
  • Marc Ediger 
  • The Lincoln Club ​​of Fresno County
  • Selma Police Office Association
  • Fresno Deputy Sheriff Association (FDSA)
  • Debbie Poochigian, Retired Board of Supervisor
  • Hon. Jon Conklin
  • Hon. David Kalemkarian
  • Hon. Kim Gaab
  • Hon. Houry Sanderson
  • Hon. Gregory Fain (Ret.)
  • Hon. Kent Hamlin (Ret.)
  • Hon. Jon Kapetan (Ret.)
  • Presiding Judge Jeffrey Hamilton
  • Assistant Presiding Judge Leanne Le Mon
  • Judge Brian Arax
  • Judge Raj Badhesha
  • Judge Melissa Baloian
  • Commissioner Daniel “DJ” Brickey
  • Judge Gabriel Brickey
  • Judge Steven Crass
  • Judge Sam Dalesandro
  • Judge Monica Diaz
  • ​Judge Elizabeth Egan
  • Commissioner Katherine Fogarty​​​​​
  • Supervising Judge Amythest “Amy” Freeman 
  • ​Judge Lisa Gamoian 
  • Commissioner Gary Green
  • Supervising Commissioner Jennifer Hamilton 
  • Judge Michael Idiart
  • Judge Heather Mardel Jones
  • Judge Charles Lee
  • Judge Irene Luna
  • Judge Robert Mangano
  • Supervising Judge Stephanie Negin
  • Judge Jonathon Skiles
  • Commissioner Jeff Spivak
  • Supervising Judge William “Billy” Terrence 
  • Judge Jon Vogt 
  • Judge Ryan Wells
  • Judge Robert “Bob” Whalen 
  • Judge Geoff Wilson
  • Judge Kimberly Nystrom-Geist
  • Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan
  • Judge Brian Alvarez
  • Judge D. Tyler Tharpe

Eddie Ruiz, Attorney/Farmer:

  • No public endorsements listed.

Seat 12:

Jennifer L. Smith, Sr. Deputy District Attorney, County of Fresno:

  • Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp
  • Mayor of Fresno Jerry Dyer
  • Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni
  • Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims (Ret.)
  • Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz
  • Fresno County Assessor Recorder Paul Dictos
  • Fresno County Superintendent Jimmy Yovino (Ret.)
  • Fresno County Superintendent Larry Powell (Ret.)
  • Hon. Jon Kapetan (Ret.) Fresno County Superior Judge
  • Hon. Tim Buckley (Ret.) Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge
  • Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua
  • Rev. DJ Criner
  • Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Marcy Masumoto
  • Kingsburg Police Chief Neil Dadian (Ret.)
  • Gordon M. Webster Jr. – Publisher, The Business Journal
  • Hon. Bob Whelan
  • Hon. Chrishna Martinez, San Joaquin County Superior Court
  • Fresno County District Attorney Investigators’ Association
  • Fresno County Prosecutors’ Association
  • Fresno Police Officers’ Association
  • Fresno County Women Lawyers Association
  • Clovis Police Officers’ Association
  • Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Association
  • Black Lawyers of Central California 
  • Fresno County Deputy Probation Association
  • Fresno Chamber of Commerce

Miles Harris, Father/Attorney:

  • No public endorsements listed.

Seat 14:

Jennifer L. Hamilton, Superior Court Commissioner:

  • Fresno Sheriff John Zanoni
  • Former Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims
  • Commander Arley Terrence Reedley PD
  • Fresno Police Officer’s Association
  • Clovis Police Officer’s Association
  • Fresno County Prosecutor’s Association
  • Fresno County District Attorney Investigator’s Association
  • Reedley Police Officer’s Association
  • Police Officers Research Association of California
  • Sanger Police Officer’s Association
  • Fresno County Deputy Probation Officers Association
  • Presiding Justice, 5th District Court of Appeal Brad Hill 
  • Presiding Judge Jeffrey Hamilton
  • Assistant Presiding Judge Leanne Le Mon
  • Former Presiding Judge Houry Sanderson
  • Former Presiding Judge David Kalemkarian
  • Former Presiding Judge Jon Conklin
  • Former Presiding Judge Kimberly Gaab
  • Supervising Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan
  • Supervising Judge William Terrence
  • Supervising Judge Stephanie Negin
  • Supervising Judge Amythest Freeman
  • Judge Irene Luna
  • Judge Michael Idiart
  • Judge Melissa Baloian
  • Judge Ryan Wells
  • Judge Raj Singh Badhesha
  • Judge David Gottlieb
  • Judge Monica Diaz
  • Judge Alvin Harrell, III
  • Judge Brian Arax
  • Judge Mary Dolas
  • Judge Kimberly Nystrom-Geist
  • Judge Robert Mangano
  • Judge Geoffrey Wilson
  • Judge Heather Mardel Jones
  • Judge Maria Diaz
  • Judge Mary Vasquez
  • Judge David Munoz Figueroa
  • Judge Sam Dalesandro
  • Judge Glenda Allen-Hill
  • Judge Charles Lee
  • Judge Gary Orozco​
  • Judge Lisa Gamoian
  • Judge Steven Crass
  • Judge D. Tyler Tharpe
  • Judge John Vogt
  • Judge James Kelley
  • Judge Gabriel Brickey
  • Judge Jonathan Skiles
  • Judge Kent Hamlin, Ret.
  • Judge Francine Zepeda, Ret.
  • Judge Jon Kapetan, Ret.
  • Judge Don Black, Ret.
  • Judge Gregory Fain, Ret.
  • Judge Rosemary McGuire, Ret.
  • Judge Carlos Cabrera, Ret.
  • Judge Timothy Kams, Ret.
  • Commissioner Gary Green
  • Commissioner Noelle Pebet
  • Commissioner Daniel J. Brickey
  • Commissioner Katherine Fogarty
  • Commissioner Jeffrey Spivak
  • Commissioner Jeff Bird, Ret.
  • Fresno County Women Lawyers
  • The Lincoln Club of Fresno County
  • Central Valley PrideLaw Association
  • P.A.C.E. (Professional Association of County Employees)
  • Mike Elliot, former CEO Fresno Superior Court
  • John Arabian Fresno County Fire Protection District, Director of Clovis Area

Jamie Xiong-Vang, Administrative Law Judge, CA Dept of Soc. Serv:

  • No public endorsements listed.

The post Who to vote for Fresno County Superior Court judge in the June Primary? Here’s a look at who is backing who. appeared first on The San Joaquin Valley Sun.