Fresno County plans to appeal a ruling from a local judge that sets the county’s top two local elections in line with presidential elections.
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors decided during closed session on Tuesday to appeal the ruling.
Driving the news: Last week, a Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled against the county in a lawsuit brought forward by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
- Bonta and Weber sued Fresno County over Measure A, which local voters passed in 2024.
- Measure A set the elections for district attorney and sheriff during California’s gubernatorial elections, which occur during the national midterm elections.
- Measure A came in response to Assembly Bill 759, which requires district attorney and sheriff elections to be held in conjunction with presidential primaries.
- But AB 759 allows an exception for charter counties who had a rule in place before 2021 that specify when local elections are held. California contends that Fresno County did not have such a rule in place by 2021.
- Fresno County Superior Court Judge Tyler Tharpe agreed, ruling that AB 759 supercedes Measure A. That means Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni will serve through 2028 before being up for reelection.
What they’re saying: The Board of Supervisors announced its plans regarding Measure A on Tuesday, saying in a statement, “The County respectfully disagrees with the Superior Court and intends to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeal.”
