Karbassi loses city council race

Student receives 16 percent of votes in District 2

By Maurice Ndole

There were no crying family and friends, or a candidate making excuses for a loss.

Just family and supporters gathered at the Primavera Italian restaurant in what seemed more of a social gathering than a campaign headquarters.

The results didn’t look good for Kia Michael Karbassi, 20, District 2 council candidate and Fresno State student, but he was still optimistic.

“ Losing is as much an experience as winning. It doesn’t look good for me right now, but I have to keep strong because this is the beginning of my political career,” Karbassi said. “There are many things that are happening now that are bad and I won’t be able to fix them.”

Incumbent Brian Calhoun won the seat with 58 percent of the votes.

Karbassi’s parents Mike Karbassi and Laleh Zernhal said they were proud of their son and looking forward to the future.

Karbassi Sr. said his son has a bright future in politics because of the opportunity in the U.S.

“ I have been all over the world [and] the opportunity in the United States is unbelievable, if a person is able to lead, they will elect him,” Karbassi Sr. said.

Gottschalks Senior Vice President and District 2 resident Scott Manson said Karbassi’s loss would give him experience and make him a better candidate in the future.

“ I think he ran a clean campaign,” Manson said. “His big thing is empowering and working with the people and the community and I think he will work that way in the future.”

Manson said he was attracted by Karbassi’s maturity and sincerity despite his young age. He said his age might have played a role in his loss.

“ I think they probably agreed with a lot of his concepts but probably were a little concerned about his age,” Manson said. “At 20 they think he might change his views and not stand fast on his opinions. I think this [loss] will give him the opportunity to prove that he is a man of his word.”

Brett Rawlings, executive board member of the Fresno city Employees Association, said his organization would probably support Karbassi in the next election.

“ We were very happy with some changes that he wanted to make at city hall,” Rawlings said. “He is a young man with a lot of good ideas. I think he’s got a good future if he stays focused on his message he will have a good chance.”

Fresno State students and Karbassi’s high school friends Raymond Roa and Jason Martin described Karbassi as a peoples’ person who cares for the community.