Perea takes over as new Fresno City Council president

Councilmembers Annalisa Perea and Mike Karbassi were unanimously voted in as Fresno City Council’s new president and vice president, respectively.

Perea takes over the president’s role from councilmember Tyler Maxwell, with Karbassi now slotted in the role of vice president, replacing Perea who served as vice president in 2023.

Maxwell ended his term as council president by endorsing his successor during Thursday’s meeting.

“She is one of the most competent people to ever set foot inside Fresno City Hall. She is going to be a fierce leader…a fair leader,” Maxwell said. “I’ve seen her judgment in play time after time and she’s never let me down…she’s never let the city down. I think our city is going to be in better hands, and I’m excited to serve under her leadership over this next year.”

The new Fresno City Council president started her term by thanking her predecessor, Maxwell, who she looks to model her leadership after and said he left “big shoes to fill.”

Maxwell also praised Karbassi, a man he says he’s grown close to throughout their time working together in council. 

“He is one of the most sincere and kindest individuals I’ve met in this line of work,” Maxwell said, “and that counts for a lot in leadership, and I know he’ll be a strong right hand for council president Perea in this upcoming year.”

Mayor Jerry Dyer expressed his satisfaction with the new Fresno City Council president, citing his relationship with Perea which started when she was younger. 

Perea has been a councilmember since 2022 when she captured the seat left open by Esmerald Soria, who was elected to California State Assembly.

Karbassi has been a councilmember since winning election in 2020. The seat was open after the expiration of Steve Brandau’s term. Karbassi ran unopposed in 2020 but will face competition in his 2024 reelection campaign attempt from challenger Matthew Gillian.

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