AJ Rassamni
AJ Rassamni ran for election to the Fresno City Council to represent District 7 in California. Rassamni lost in the primary on June 2, 2026.
Rassamni completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
AJ Rassamni's career experience includes working as a small business owner.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: City elections in Fresno, California (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Fresno City Council District 7
Nav Gurm (Nonpartisan) and Ariana Martinez Lott (Nonpartisan) are running in the general election for Fresno City Council District 7 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Nav Gurm (Nonpartisan) | |
| Ariana Martinez Lott (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Fresno City Council District 7
Nav Gurm (Nonpartisan) and Ariana Martinez Lott (Nonpartisan) defeated AJ Rassamni (Nonpartisan) and Jason Keomanee (Nonpartisan) in the primary for Fresno City Council District 7 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nav Gurm (Nonpartisan) | 39.0 | 3,099 |
| ✔ | Ariana Martinez Lott (Nonpartisan) | 38.7 | 3,079 | |
 | AJ Rassamni (Nonpartisan) | 14.9 | 1,182 | |
| Jason Keomanee (Nonpartisan) | 7.5 | 595 | ||
| Total votes: 7,955 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Rassamni received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Rassamni's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Pledges
Rassamni signed the following pledges. To send us additional pledges, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
AJ Rassamni completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rassamni's responses.
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I came to this country grateful for opportunity, believing in the American dream.. I’ve been involved with nonprofit and at-risk kids since 1994, 9 years after I arrived to the US 2015- 2016 I was the president of Big Brothers Big Sisters, then I founded the Blackstone Merchants Association to promote a cleaner and safer Fresno, and launched the nonprofit Success From Within to empower the next generation. I understand how our city works and am prepared to lead effectively from day one. Our community is asking for the basics: safer neighborhoods, real solutions to homelessness, affordable living, repaired roads and sidewalks, support for small businesses, and full transparency on every taxpayer dollar. These are not partisan issues; they are common-sense priorities. By enforcing existing laws and cutting red tape, we can restore safety, affordability, and prosperity. Leadership is about service, accountability, and results. I am running to be your voice. I know how to unite people, and how to turn vision into results.
Together, we can build a Fresno that is safer, more affordable, more transparent, and more prosperous for every family.- A city cannot prosper without safety and order. Families deserve neighborhoods where they feel secure, businesses deserve streets that attract customers, and public spaces must belong to the community. People living on the streets should be moved to safe, managed camps where they can receive treatment, counseling, and job training, creating a clear path toward permanent housing and independence. Encampments should no longer dominate sidewalks and parks, but those struggling must be offered real help. We must also prevent homelessness by providing temporary low-cost housing for those facing sudden setbacks such as job loss. Safe, clean streets restore pride, attract investment, and rebuild trust in our city.
- Economic opportunity is the foundation of strong communities. When businesses grow, jobs are created and neighborhoods thrive. Too often, excessive regulations and slow permit processes discourage investment and innovation. Our city must become a partner in success by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, streamlining approvals, and creating a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs. Revitalizing commercial corridors like Blackstone and Downtown will bring life back to historic districts and attract new investment. Prosperity should reach every neighborhood, not just a few. When government removes barriers and supports small businesses, opportunity expands, families prosper, and the entire community benefits.
- Leadership is about service, not politics. Our community deserves leaders who put People before Politics. This is a nonpartisan race, it is not about right or left; it is about moving our community forward. Residents deserve safe neighborhoods, good jobs, and a city government that works efficiently. Effective leadership begins with listening to residents, business owners, and community organizations. When people work together around shared goals, real solutions emerge. Transparency and accountability must guide every decision so residents know their voices matter. Our city has tremendous potential, and with principled leadership we can restore pride in our neighborhoods, rebuild trust in local government, and create opportunity for all.
FUSD Trustee Valerie Davis
Blackstone Chevrolet
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Rassamni's campaign website stated the following:
Issues That Matter
Public Safety
"I will strengthen partnerships between law enforcement, businesses, and residentsto reduce crime and ensure safer neighborhoods. My proven track record with theBlackstone Merchants Association shows that proactive patrols and communitycollaboration can significantly reduce break-ins and thefts, with some areasseeing complete eradication of these types of crimes. Additionally, businessesin these areas have reported substantial revenue increases, with someexperiencing up to a 30% boost within 30 days."
~AJ Rassamni
Economic Growth
"Fresno has a unique opportunity to unlock millions in tax revenue and drive economic growth by supporting key developments currently stalled by zoning restrictions. Projects include current business expansions projected to add over millions in revenue, one-acre commercial sites blocked by mixed-use mandates, and a 2.6-acre investment on Veterans Boulevard offering both commercial and residential benefits. Meanwhile, the high cost of property on Blackstone—double that of Clovis—with 33% lower rental income makes residential development financially unviable. I propose reverting zoning north of Dakota Avenue to pre-2016 commercial use and piloting mixed-use zoning south of Dakota, modeled after Glendale’s successful Brand Boulevard. This balanced approach will remove barriers, boost business, and position Fresno as a leader in smart, inclusive growth."
~AJ Rassamni
Affordable Housing
"To address Fresno's housing needs, my focus is on solutions that first and foremost support our local families, especially those with school-aged children. I propose community-led initiatives to develop accessible housing options that also ensure the safety and security of our neighborhoods and local businesses. Furthermore, to encourage the development of more affordable housing, we must remove red tape, shorten the time it takes to get building plans approved, provide incentives, and make the process easier and more economical to entice investors."
~AJ Rassamni
Homeless Solutions
"Recognizing that addressing homelessness requires a unified regional response, I propose a collaboration between the City of Fresno, Clovis, and the County, with the understanding that the costs will be shared proportionally. A compassionate and practical approach includes establishing designated community-run spaces offering sanitation, holistic care, mental health support, and addiction treatment. This tri-jurisdictional partnership, working in cooperation with homeless advocates, aims to tackle the root causes of homelessness while ensuring our streets remain clean and safe. Ultimately, our goal is to provide much-needed support and opportunities for vulnerable individuals to improve their circumstances, with the financial responsibility distributed fairly among the City of Fresno, Clovis, and Fresno County.
When discussing homelessness, we must move beyond generalities and acknowledge the distinct realities of individuals: those seeking help, those unaware of their need for help, and those who prey on the homeless population."
~AJ Rassamni
Infrastructure
"My priority is enhancing Fresno's quality of life through strategic investments in our core infrastructure and public spaces. This includes modernizing roads for better commutes, upgrading lighting for safer environments, and creating vibrant parks and community areas for everyone to enjoy. My recent work addressing encampments and improving Blackstone's cleanliness shows that focused efforts, even on a smaller scale, can create significant positive change within our city.
To accelerate these improvements and undertake larger-scale projects for Fresno, securing external funding is crucial. Therefore, a key focus will be aggressively pursuing grants at the local, state, and federal levels. By actively identifying opportunities and developing strong applications, we can bring vital resources back to our community, enabling us to further invest in our infrastructure, public spaces, and the overall well-being of all Fresno residents."
~AJ Rassamni
Small Business Support
"For Fresno to reach its potential for safety and prosperity, City Hall needs to shift from creating obstacles to fostering growth. It's time to eliminate the excessive red tape hindering our entrepreneurs and developers. Since small businesses are vital to our economy, we must implement supportive, business-friendly incentive programs and simplify cumbersome zoning and permitting rules. I am dedicated to making these changes, and my zoning reform proposals already expose the significant financial burdens these outdated regulations place on Fresno businesses and job creation."
~AJ Rassamni
— AJ Rassamni's campaign website (March 28, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 27, 2026
