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City of Kingsburg · Statewide General Election

Kingsburg City Council, District 5

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person would hold one of Kingsburg's five district-elected City Council seats: city ordinances, the budget, and land use for this Fresno County city of about 12,400 residents. A 4-year term. Kingsburg's Council selects a Mayor and a Mayor Pro Tem from among its own members after each election rather than voters choosing either office directly, and the city has no elected City Clerk or City Treasurer.

Incumbent Vince Palomar faces one challenger, Charlie Soto, for Kingsburg's District 5 council seat -- whoever gets the most votes wins.

This person would hold Kingsburg's District 5 seat on a five-member, district-elected City Council: city ordinances, the budget, and land use for this Fresno County city of about 12,400 residents. A 4-year term. The Council selects a Mayor and a Mayor Pro Tem from among its own members after each election rather than voters choosing either office directly, and Kingsburg has no elected City Clerk or City Treasurer.

Fresno County's own post-filing records confirm Palomar reached this seat by direct election, not appointment -- his filed ballot designation is his occupation, "Machinist/Wrestling Coach," rather than "Incumbent" (candidates choose their own designation under California elections law, so the omission isn't itself a claim about his status). This dataset found no independent reporting comparing the two candidates or covering the race.

Vince Palomar

The incumbent, seeking another term; his filed ballot designation is "Machinist/Wrestling Coach." Fresno County's own records confirm he holds this seat by direct election in a prior cycle, not appointment. This dataset found no independent biographical detail beyond the county's own filing and the city's own Council roster, which lists him as the sitting District 5 representative.

Strengths

Sitting experience on the Council, reached by direct election rather than appointment.

Trade-offs

This dataset found no independent reporting or biography evaluating his record in office.

Keep in mind

His stated occupation (machinist, wrestling coach) is the only biographical detail available here.

Charlie Soto

A first-time candidate challenging the incumbent; his filed ballot designation is "Tax Auditor." This dataset found no independent biographical detail (background, platform, or campaign materials) for him beyond the county's own candidate filing.

Strengths

A stated occupation (tax auditor) that could bring financial-oversight experience to the Council, though this dataset could not independently verify or expand on it.

Trade-offs

No campaign materials, endorsements, or independent coverage were found for him.

Keep in mind

As a challenger, he has no council voting record to evaluate.

Source review: Very strong (90/100) · 5 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

  • cityofkingsburg-ca.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Kingsburg -- "Election Information" page: states City Council Districts 1, 4, and 5 are up for election on November 3, 2026; the candidate nomination period runs July 13-Aug. 7, 2026 (extendable to Aug. 12, 2026 if an eligible incumbent does not file); and names City Clerk Abigail Palsgaard as the contact for pulling nomination papers
  • cityofkingsburg-ca.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Kingsburg -- "City Council" page: names the sitting Council by district -- David M. Silva (District 1), Laura North (District 2, term to Nov. 2028), Brandon Pursell (District 3, term to Nov. 2028, Mayor Pro Tem), Staci Smith (District 4, Mayor), Vince Palomar (District 5) -- and states "following each election, the City Council elects from its members a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem"
  • www2.fresnocountyca.gov (opens in a new tab)Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters -- CFMR009 "Candidate List" for the Nov. 3, 2026 Consolidated Statewide General Election (printed 8/12/2026 5:37:13PM, post-filing-deadline): lists Kingsburg's three City Council district contests (5105, 5112, 5113), each Vote For 1 -- David M. Silva (District 1, "Incumbent"), Staci Smith (District 4, "Incumbent"), and District 5's two qualified candidates, Charlie Soto ("Tax Auditor") and Vince Palomar ("Machinist/Wrestling Coach")
  • www2.fresnocountyca.gov (opens in a new tab)Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters -- CFMR001 "Contest/Candidate Proof List," filtered to Contests on Ballot, for the Nov. 3, 2026 election (printed 8/18/2026 8:39:55AM): independently confirms the same three Kingsburg contests, each ON BALLOT despite Districts 1 and 4 having only one qualified candidate apiece -- not cancelled under Elections Code Section 10229 -- and separately confirms David Michael Silva, Staci Deann Smith, and Vincent Palomar each reached their current seats by direct election (not appointment)
  • en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia's Kingsburg, California article: population 12,380 (2020 census), incorporated May 29, 1908

Last updated September 1, 2026.