A Lifelong Commitment to Community Service
Together, we can build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous District 5. Join our movement today!
A proven leader with decades of experience in economic development, community advocacy, and public safety. Together, let’s create a brighter future for District 5.
A Vision for a Prosperous District 5
Why Jose Leon Barraza is the Right Choice for City Council
Meet Jose Leon Barraza, a passionate advocate to creating a brighter, more prosperous future for District 5.
With over 34 years of government experience and 13+ years as CEO of a nonprofit focused on community/economic development, Jose has spent his career working to uplift his community. The son of Mexican immigrants, Jose’s journey from working in the fields to earning advanced degrees and leading impactful initiatives embodies the spirit of hard work and perseverance.
JOSE LEON BARRAZA has declared his candidacy to run for the Fresno City Council District 5 position at the upcoming June 2, 2026, election. Jose is a lifetime resident of Southeast Fresno who has extensive experience in local government as the former Fresno County Director of Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of a Southeast Fresno non-profit organization, which makes him the most qualified candidate to be elected to this District 5 Fresno City Council position. He is also a current member of the Fresno City Parks and Arts Commission. Jose is also a licensed real estate broker and general contractor.
As a community leader for Southeast Fresno, Jose has been engaged in providing job training and placement programs to residents; securing funding for an $11 million new regional park and soccer complex currently under construction; upgrading various business fronts along the Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard; and meeting with Fresno Police Department officials to enhance public safety for residents and businesses in Southeast Fresno. As a current Parks Commissioner, he participates in making funding recommendations to the City Council at around $40 million annually for the improvement and construction of new park facilities and cultural art projects citywide.
District 5 voters have encouraged Jose to run based on their interest in getting action on some important District 5 needs that are being overlooked by the current District 5 Council member. An example of project opportunities being ignored includes the adoption of the Central Southeast Fresno Plan (CESASP) and the South Central Industrial Specific Plan (SCSP). Both draft documents have been under review since April 2021 and November 2019, respectively.
These planning documents offer some compelling opportunities to improve economic and quality of life improvements in Southeast Fresno. Jose would make adoption of these plans a more urgent priority. For example, the SCSP identifies the following projects:
Find tenants to fix abandoned, blighted buildings in Southeast Fresno, like the former Valley Medical Center. the old Internal Revenue Service Center, and the Hanoian’s Market;
Create a business park and employment district;
Promote greater significant neighborhood infill;
Transform the Asian Village into an international shopping center;
Develop the Orange Avenue into a charming neighborhood “main street” project.
The SCISP promotes the expansion of industrial and commercial sites that would result in the creation of more jobs in our c ity.
Jose believes these projects should no longer be ignored and should be implemented right away before a new urban development is approved for the Southeast Fresno Development Area (SEDA) on vacant land outside the current Fresno City boundaries.
Other related districtwide needs that require more attention and funding by City officials also include:
1. Improvement of public safety for residents, small business areas, and city parks.
2. More housing access to all segments of our community, including the challenges of the unhoused-homeless population;
3. Expand recreational and social services and facilities for senior citizens and after-school programs for our youth, along with funding of the SE Fresno Cultural Arts District;
4. Promote more jobs and business opportunities for all;
5. Better roads and sidewalks in our neighborhoods.
As a leader, Jose combines grassroots community engagement with strategic policy expertise, making him uniquely qualified to address the challenges facing District 5.
They fought for over a decade to get a regional park in southeast Fresno. Here’s how they did it.
By Fresnoland
Dear Friends:
Below is a link to a story recently published by FresnoLand about the struggle and hard work of many Soccer moms and dads, residents, and community organizations in making a dream of a new regional park and soccer complex come true. This story was written by Dannielle Bergstrom, who I believe did an excellent job in capturing the essence of the history of this project. There are other very good stories on this topic on GV Wire, written by David Taub. The Fresno Bee wrote a very dry story that did not acknowledge the role of the community. TV News Media did not seem to get it. (Without the community engagement, this project would not have happened.)
City leaders take part in the groundbreaking for the new park in southeast Fresno on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2024. Credit: Pablo Orihuela / Fresnoland
Here is a nice chronology of events and how things happened. The Southeast Fresno Youth Soccer League (formerly the Roosevelt Youth Soccer League), the Hispanic Adult Soccer League, Fresno Building Healthy Communities, students and staff from Roosevelt High and Sunnyside High Schools, and church groups from Fresno played a prominent role in this process, along with many other groups that brought in volunteers.
We all should celebrate. Thank you, Fresno!!!
Jose Leon-Barraza,
Candidate for Fresno City Council District 5
Jose Leon Barraza
› Priorities
Public Safety
Jobs and Economic Growth
Housing Development
Parks & Recreation
› Recognition Awards
› Jose’s Proven Track Record
Economic Development:
- Secured $9 million for a regional park and soccer complex.
- Created the Fresno County Enterprise Zone, benefiting small businesses and residents.
Community Service:
- Improved small business façades along Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.
- Volunteered in pandemic food distribution and cleanup efforts.
Leadership:
- Supported the creation of the Parks Ranger classification, improving park safety.
- Recommends anually $40 million in Measure P funds for new and improved parks.