The City of Kerman is located at the Central Valley crossroads of State Route 145 and Hwy 180, deep in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Originally a small farming town, Kerman has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several years. Kerman has grown 150% since 1990 and remains one of the fastest growing cities in central California. The City of Kerman is the business and commercial center for Western Fresno County.

The Kerman Municipal City Election will be held on November 2, 2010.  The offices to be filled by the election will be the office of Mayor and the offices of two City Council persons.                                                           

Mayor Trinidad M. Rodriguez has served two consecutive terms, and is not currently eligible to run another two-year term as Mayor.   This election will elect a mayor to serve a two (2) year term from 2010 to 2012.

 Kanwaldeep Dhaliwal and Charles Jones currently serve as Council Persons and each are eligible to be elected for a four (4) year term from 2010 to 2014.               

The Nomination Period for Council and Mayoral seats will open on July 12, 2010, and close on August 6, 2010.

Extensions to Nomination Period:

Mayoral Seat:   There is no incumbent who could run for this office.  Consequently, there will not be any extension allowed for this seat.

Council Member Seats:   If any one of the incumbents does not file the nomination period will be extended to Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

Nomination Papers:Nomination Papers can be obtained from the Kerman City Clerk at 850 S. Madera Ave., Kerman (846-9380) or from the Fresno County Elections Office, 2221 Kern St., Fresno (488-3683).

The 80/20 Stimulus Program is an employer assistance plan provided to Fresno County business that meet certain criteria. These Fresno County businesses including non-profits and government entities, are able to hire new employees at a significantly reduced cost. The qualified businesses are eligible to be reimbursed in cash for up to 80% of the cost for new, qualified hires filling full-time positions.

Qualified employees are individuals who are part of needy families, those with an income less than 200% of the official federal poverty level and who meet other criteria. Employees working part time, doing piece rate work, independent contractors (IRS 1099) and those working solely on commission are not eligible. Subsidized employees must work a minimum of 35 hours per week.

Employers will be reimbursed 80% of subsidized employment costs up to 125% of wages. The employers will provide the remaining 20% as a match. Reimbursement will be sent in 45 days after employer submits a monthly invoice.

This program is part of the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding is available through September 30, 2010. You can register for an upcoming workshop at www.fresnoetastimulus.org/home/calendar

Despite its recent growth, Kerman remains true to its agricultural roots and local history. Citizens and visitors enjoy Kerman’s small town flavor and community activities. The Harvest Festival brings the community together each September to celebrate the bountiful harvest and end of the hot valley summer. Other community events include the Christmas “Pageantry of Lights” Parade, and the July 3rd Festival of the American Spirit Fireworks Show.

With a January 2009 population of 14,064 population of, Kerman residents note its friendly people and inviting neighborhoods as to why they live in Kerman. Residents enjoy 53  acres of park space, and most neighborhoods have a community park within walking distance. The Kerman community has a legacy of taking pride in its hometown and caring for those in need. Local business employees can be seen wearing red shirts on game days in support of the Kerman High School Lions. Local churches, non-profit organizations, and government get together each holiday season to provide food for over 230 families and toys for over 1,000 children.

The award-winning Kerman Unified School District (KUSD) continues to be one of the strongest small school districts in the Central Valley. Dedicated and competent staff lead the way in providing quality education for Kerman’s youth. In August 2008, KUSD opened new multi-purpose facilities at Kerman High School and Kerman Middle School, and will break ground for the new Kearney Elementary School at the intersection of Kearney and Goldenrod.

Kerman Telephone Company operates a leading-edge broadband network that covers 175 square miles and serves over 6,000 customers. The network backbone is entirely fiber-optic with an abundance of capacity, which enables throughput of up to 22Mbps to every customer and is designed to support voice, data, and video traffic. KTC was one of the first companies in the nation to install a digital soft switch capable of managing IP and circuit switched technology.

Kerman hosts a predominantly agriculturally based economy, and is currently promoting diversified business growth through the development of industrial and commercial properties. Kerman has recently experienced a number of business expansion projects, which have brought additional tax revenues and jobs into the city. The City approved an updated General Plan in the beginning of 2007, and is working with Fresno County and Fresno Local Agency Formation Commission to expand its sphere of influence.