Kings County supervisors direct elections staff to place four Avenal council seats on Nov. 3 ballot

The Kings County Board of Supervisors on July 10 voted unanimously to direct county elections staff to place four vacant Avenal City Council seats on the Nov. 3, 2026 statewide general-election ballot, county elections staff and board members said.

Lupe Villa of the county Elections Department told the board the proposed resolution would find the four Avenal seats vacant and consolidate special elections to fill them with the Nov. 3 general election so candidate nomination and ballot preparation meet statutory deadlines. "The proposed resolution finds that the 4 seats are vacant and must be filled at the November 3rd, 2026 general election and directs me, the registered voters, to place all 4 seats on the ballot and administer the special election consolidating into the general election," Villa said.

County counsel said the action is grounded in the Elections Code and Government Code provisions cited by the Elections Department. "Elections Code 11381 provides that no person whose recall is being sought may be a candidate to succeed himself or herself at a recall election," county counsel said, adding the office had confirmed with the Secretary of State that the section applies to elections to fill seats created by a recall.

Why it matters: Avenal held a recall election on April 28, 2026 that was certified on May 28, 2026, and several council members have not vacated their seats according to speakers at the meeting. Residents and local advocates had urged the county to act so the city can regain a functioning council and restore representation.

Residents addressed the supervisors during the public-comment portion. Veronica Loya, identifying herself as an Avenal resident and registered voter, asked the board to review whether it has authority under California law to establish a lawful quorum or otherwise fill vacancies to restore the city council. "I respectfully ask the Kings County Board of Supervisors to review whether it has the authority under California law to establish a lawful quorum," Loya said.

Ginger Wallace and other speakers also urged the board to approve the resolution so the community can "move on and rebuild" with newly elected council members. Delilah Barajas urged the supervisors to take "extraordinary actions" in light of what she described as extraordinary circumstances following the recall.

Motion and vote: A supervisor moved to place all four vacancies on the Nov. 3 ballot and consolidate the elections. The motion carried on a 5-0 roll call vote. The board then announced it would adjourn into closed session to consider two existing litigation matters identified by counsel.

Next steps: The resolution directs county elections staff to open the candidate nomination period in accordance with applicable law; Villa said the nomination period starts on Monday, July 13, 2026. County counsel and elections staff indicated the resolution is drafted without prejudice to any court orders or pending litigation that might affect how vacancies are filled.

The board moved into closed session to consider existing litigation, including a matter captioned People of the State of California v. Alvaro Preciado and a matter described as Taxpayers of the City of Avenal v. City of Avenal. The public portion of the special meeting adjourned at approximately 11:28 a.m.