Mayor Jung, Again, For 2026
Yes, Mayor Fred Jung will be Mayor Fred Jung again. It happened at the Fullerton City Council meeting last night.
The usual assortment of Fullerton Boohoo showed up at the meeting for their annual December moan-fest about how “Dr.” Ahmad Zahra should be Mayor of Fullerton because he is a combination of Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Jesus H. Christ. And also District 5, where Zahra has never got 50% of the vote, is somehow “disenfranchised” because Zahra can’t revel in the lofty title. Sputter, wheeze, etc. Ironically, one Zahra advocate explained as a qualification how the unemployed and family-less Zahra was always at photo-op events.
Comically, many of Zahra’s ardent followers couldn’t pronounce his name right, referring to him as “Za-ha-rah,” thus suggesting they don’t even know him.
But somehow the show seemed pretty muted, and sort of perfunctory; maybe it was because Zahra wasn’t even at the meeting and this meant that his getting three votes wasn’t in the cards.
Zahra minions spoke about the policy of mayoral rotation made years ago by other city councils that must be adhered to, even though the City Attorney had said a council majority could set it aside anytime they want, making the policy meaningless.
The endlessly self-impressed gasbag Shana Charles said it was also her turn to be mayor, cuz she had just been Mayor Pro Tem, and ya know, policy. She is running for re-election next years and probably thought, delusionally, that she had a shot at the Title. She didn’t.
In the end Valencia nominated Fred Jung who was appointed Mayor; Nick Dunlap was nominated, and appointed Mayor Pro Tem.
No one within the boohoo tribe has ever bothered to honestly figure out why the council majority has steadfastly refused to appoint Zahra to be mayor. It’s chalked up to selfish personality issues on their part, but we know the real reason. No one whom Zahra hasn’t fooled with his phony immigrant schtick and faux sincerity wants to hear his long-winded, self-praising bloviation and his promotion of his “brand.” They resent his constant condescension toward them, his performance of moral superiority, and his hysterical, behind the scenes behavior.
The same applies to the majority’s opinion of Shana Charles, with her smug, incompetent, speechifying. She loves the sound of her own voice, alright, but nobody else loves the bi-monthy waste of time that just interminably drags out meetings. Even Nick Dunlap, who nominated Charles to be mayor Pro Tem a year ago, has evidently had enough of her tedious monologues.
Speaking of Dunlap, he did excel himself before the vote, noting that the same 40 people (it’s probably closer to 20) who show up at council meetings do not represent the public or the community and that he had been elected to represent everybody. Well done, there, Mr. Dunlap. They won’t get it, but need to be reminded once in a while.
So Fred Jung gets to use the title “Mayor” during his campaign for County Supervisor which is a help in the odd world of local politics where almost nobody is paying attention to real accomplishments or real failures.
“A growing segment of the community is rallying behind Dr. Ahmad Zahra for the mayoral role, particularly as this will be his final year in Office (sic).”
– “Jack Hutt”
The Fullerton City Council meetings have devolved into a circus of hostility, a farce orchestrated by a specific mob of agitators. This is not passionate civic engagement; it is a deliberate and coordinated campaign to sabotage governance through intimidation and disruption.
The ringleaders of this chaos, Ahmad Zahra and Shana Charles, along with their propaganda arm at the Fullerton Observer, have whipped up a band of malcontents into a frenzy. This group, featuring the usual suspects like S. Kennedy, Sherry, Manaserro, Oliver, Derik with his broken appendages, Mrs. Kanuk Suspenders, D. Vena, Brandy, the guy who Loves “hateful asshole” Fullerton, Kurtis Gramble, Jinan, H. Higgins, to name a few, has a clear objective: to derail the council’s business with personal attacks, threats, and profanity-laced tirades.
The result is a climate of fear that silences the reasonable majority. Residents who want to participate are driven away, rightfully concerned for their safety. Councilmembers and the decent members of the public are subjected to “hate-bombing” sessions that are deliberately “anxiety inducing,” defeating the entire purpose of a public forum.
This is a catastrophic failure of leadership. The right to speak is not a license to behave like a rabid animal. Mayor Jung has been derelict in his duty to maintain order. He must stop cowering to these dissidents and start leading. This means immediately calling recesses to de-escalate, issuing clear warnings to disruptors, and, most importantly, physically removing those who engage in disorderly conduct.
The rules of decorum must be enforced without bias or hesitation. Mayor Jung and the entire council—Shana Charles included, if she has any hope of re-election—must act decisively. They need to establish and enforce ironclad standards of conduct from the moment the meeting starts. Allowing this loud, aggressive minority to hijack the public forum is an abdication of duty that endangers the community. It is time to reclaim the meetings from these agitators, restore order, and protect the integrity of Fullerton’s government for all residents, not just the loudest and most threatening ones.
Is there not even a half-way competent, electable candidate in DOCTOR Shana Charles’ district ready to take this foolish idiot out? So ready to put her in our rear view mirror.
You’re gonna need to get a long way away.
Jung has been a good mayor as far as conducting meetings.
I like the idea of limiting gasbaggery from Dr. Zod and Charles to 3 minutes. No more 15 minute orations.
It was hilarious to see every public commenter share their worst experiences with Jung.
The real boohoo here is the fact that he couldn’t get one person to show up in support for him. People see how toxic associating with him is.
His 2026 supervisor campaign will be very entertaining, as will his trudge back to the dais in 2027
Why would anyone want to show up and face the usual loony mob? Stupid take. Grow up. Should the sides rumble in the parking lot after? The would be doctors have a boisterous, motley bunch is all.
You mean the ones who couldn’t pronounce Zahra’s name right?
Side note a$$hole with the stupid comment: what makes you think Jung cares about “getting one person to show up in support for him”? Don’t know for a fact, but I do know it to be true that he has been mayor 4xs and never had to “get one person to show up in support of him”. Toxic is your boy Ahmad and his pet dog Shana with their partisan politics. You are right about one thing, considering how prolific Jung is at fundraising, his supervisor campaign will be in demand entertainment. But a broken clock is right twice a day dip$hit.
People don’t show up because they are tired of the yelling and bullying and name calling from the Activists. Everything is an Outrage!!
What a complete shit show.
Dunlap couldn’t even speak without the usual gaggle of kooks screaming at him.
I really enjoyed the menagerie of F bombs screamed at the council majority after Fred adjourned the meeting.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they should charge admission at these things.
Fullerton Being Fullerton
There was a gaggle of assholes in the back rows. They are intentionally sitting in the back so they can’t be seen by the council cams.
Jung, Dunlap, Valencia, Charles and Zahra share one thing in common — they are all incompetent, whiny, self-important boobs.
Can only imagine all the great accomplishments we’d see if the Doctors had been in charge. Talk about incompetent. Thankfully one of the Doctors is ready to return to brain surgery. Hopefully the other one is voted out so she can rededicate her skill set to her just as impressive career in academia.
Zahra wasn’t a brain surgeon. He claims to have been a pathologist, I believe. I’m having trouble believing that.
Nah. He’s just pathological.
Pathologicalist. PERFECT!!
..and get on a program to lose weight and get healthy.
Dunlap, Valencia and Jung don’t whine. People like Sheena, Cannabis Kitty and Ahmad Zahara whine about everything.
Dissolutioned hippie.Why its necessary to disrespect deity within post it’s hard for me to understand.
What deity would that be?
I didn’t write the post. And please spell my name correctly.
Some choice comments from the truth telling doctor at this month’s first city council meeting :
“…I own everything I say I’ve done but truth is often manipulated. A lot of people manipulate the truth for their own personal game, whether it’s financial gain political gain, someone running for office and there’s a lot of truth you know one of things being in this life you know it’s a season of the Wizard of Oz now right so I feel like coming to Council and getting elected here is the unveiling that has happened here and seen what goes on in the back and I do wanna say we have great people working in the city, but we also have a lot of truths that are not publicized. I do know this. I do know that there are often times things that are manipulated.”
“How big isn’t always given I do know that donors do influence. Yes they do. I also know that there are people who get planted in things or call in to sway an opinion or present themselves as if they are neutral, but they’re not they’re planted I know all these people I got to know everybody and I know how everybody thinks and operates. It’s very sad because I think the public deserves to know everything.”
“You wanna to talk about fiscal responsibility there are deals that could’ve been made better in the city cost tax payment hundreds of thousands if not millions over the course of a contract because of donor called in. And we’re denying immigrants not because of fiscal responsibility . No. So I hope we speak up and we never forget.”
This gasbag alleges that he has seen the corruption first hand and the public deserves to know everything. You have had 7 years. How many more years do you need until you reveal the truth and bring good governance to our city.
The reality is that he’s a narcissistic coward who couldn’t attend the last city council meeting. He never earned the right to be mayor.
He also said he provide his “exoneration” on the assault and vandalism rap to the media.
I wonder if he ever will. Not that it matters. Little conman is toast.
Many years ago, Fullerton’s old guard City Council appointed Committee and Commission members by majority vote, a system that often favored insiders. To fix this, the new guard City Council created an Applicant Interview Committee to vet candidates and provide a qualified list to the council. I served on this committee, which interviewed and scored applicants, but council members were not bound to pick the highest-scoring individuals. We soon noticed they were appointing personal acquaintances regardless of our recommendations, rendering our merit-based process a mere formality. Recognizing this, we recommended the committee be dissolved, and it was.
Despite its failure, the experience taught me a critical lesson about public service. I asked every candidate one key question: “If a room full of people is passionately arguing for or against an agenda item, will you be swayed by the crowd, or will you stick to your principles, vote for what is right for the entire city, and articulate your reasoning, regardless of its popularity?”
The best candidates understood that a loud crowd does not necessarily represent the city’s best interests. True public servants withstand pressure to make principled decisions that benefit the entire community, not just the most vocal voices. This commitment to integrity and independent judgment is the true test of a leader and the standard by which all public officials should be measured. Thank you Mayor Jung, Mayor Pro Tem Dunlap, and Councilwoman Valencia.
The old way was to winnow out any intelligent people (potential troublemakers) via a screening committee that consisted of the committee/commission chairman and a couple of councilmembers like Molly McClanahan.
Thanks how Bankhead worked to get his old cop pal, campaign chief, and fellow knucklehead Wade Richman on the Planning Commission year after year.
Well said. It’s a thankless job but they do it anyways.
This entire article reads like it was written by a teenager
Not sure if a teen wrote this post, but I know a preschooler wrote this dribble in the Kennedy newsletter:
“Local residents expressed particular concern over the exclusion of Councilmember Ahmad Zahra from District 5, who has faced repeated omissions from the mayoral candidacy despite strong grassroots support and having seven years of seniority. Dr. Zahra, who announced he would not seek reelection, missed the critical meeting due to prior work commitments out of state, further intensifying worries for his supporters in District 5.
The voting bloc known as ‘The Bushala Bloc,’ named for the local developer and major donor to all three political campaigns, which includes Mayor Jung, Councilmembers Nick Dunlap, and Jamie Valencia, has attracted criticism for allegedly creating a climate of distrust within the community. During the raucous meeting, Councilmember Dunlap dismissed concerns from constituents, categorizing them as a “small, select group” and labeling dissenters as “pressure groups.” Residents who once regularly attended meetings in numbers of around 10 have surged to 40, reflecting growing discontent over perceived corruption in city governance.
Despite overwhelming public support for Dr. Zahra’s candidacy, the bloc opted to nominate Jung. Valencia, while nominating Jung, referred to community members present at the meeting as the “select few,” provoking a chorus of boos from the crowd. Dr. Charles, while nominating herself for Mayor, put forward Zahra for the role of Mayor Pro Tem, arguing that he needed time to adjust to the position, just as she had. However, her nomination failed to rally support and left Zahra’s constituents feeling sidelined.”
So let me get this straight. “Dr.” Zahra got no votes! Didn’t even get nominated! Didn’t bother to show to the meeting!
Jung got nominated. Got three votes. If you don’t like the result, change your approach. But you won’t because losers think they are always right and that self-righteousness always does them in, in the end.
The comment below the article is rather amusing.
Frank
December 18, 2025 at 8:41 am
How can so many turn a blind eye to this blatant corrupted council. Bushala Bloc & the Bushala’s themselves not being investigated is a crime in itself.
Elijah Manassero and Saskia Kennedy trying so hard to have Bushala Bloc catch on is weirdly satisfying. The committing crime angle is unhinged. If you think Jung committed a crime, contact the DA or the Attorney General. If you believe Bushala committed a crime, do the same. Otherwise, shut the fuck up about it because all you’re doing is dumbing down your point. That’s if you had one in the first place.
Dig the big balls on Frank.
Cursing out the rational commenter.
Brian Northcut
December 18, 2025 at 2:51 pm
You and your publication constantly making stuff up, and then printing it as fact should really stop. It is not journalism. It is pure sophistry.
That’s because to the Kennedy KKKlan, it will always be rules for thee, not for me.
Sitka is still doing her “Ed Response” bullshit, but you have to admit, she has a gift for comedy.
ED Response: Brian – you are in error if you think that the paper orchestrated anything at any council meeting. The paper’s mission is to inform residents about what is going on in our town. Whether residents decide to take action is up to each individual.
The paper is operated by local resident volunteers. We all strive to be completely truthful in reports. If you find errors in reports and tell us and we find you are correct we will make corrections.
Orchestration? Stupid broad doesn’t even remember her own headline:
“Fullerton Residents Urged to Uphold Fair Rotation Policy at City Council Meeting”
Poor Sitka (sp?) is even dumber than her old sister, although it’s a horse race.
Brian Northcut
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 pm
You and all your cohorts can not go to a meeting, create all the discord and ther report on it as being an organic thing that has happened. It is all orchestrated and perpetuated by you and vour elk
To act like vou are a neutral party is grossly deceptive to the residents of the community you claim to serve. The things you create yourself and with the others you “employ’ meaning gather to execute a common goa are nothing short of liable that way you use your voice in the community to peddle your own agenda. It’s a really bad look for someone who is supposed to not be biased
ED Response: Brian – you are in error if you think that the paper orchestrated anything at any council meeting. The paper’s mission is to inform residents about what is going on in our town. Whether residents decide to take action is up to each individual.
The paper is operated by local resident volunteers. We all strive to be completely truthful in reports. If you find errors in reports and tell us and we find you are correct we will make corrections. Try watching the video of the Dec 16 meeting which is available on the city website under “Meetings & Agendas” tab.
Reply
Sharon K
December 18, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Brian – I hardly ever go to meetings because I have a bad temper when I see injustice happening and embarrass myself by yelling out (which I apologise for to everyone).
I didn’t know most of the people at the meeting and I don’t live in District 5 – But – I thought it was important to come down and support that district’s voters who deserve to have their representative serve as mayor.
I would like to see more councilmembers like Zahra – he has vision for improving the city. Zahra consistently comes up with great ideas that I like – for instance allowing businesses to have patios that don’t bankcrupt them with fees, keeping Walk on Wilshire open, building the UP Trail with the $1.7 million grant, making sure our water is clean, doing something to attract new business, and more.
By the way Brian – some residents of this town are your customers and care about those things too.
Zahra is the longest-serving councilmember – he deserves to be mayor.
Four times in a row for Jung? That is not fair.
“Four times in a row for Jung?” Yes, Sharon it isn’t fair because it isn’t TRUE you fucking liar! Dunlap was Mayor in 2024. Or did you conveniently fucking forget so it fits your world view. And. Also. Dunlap is the one who lowered outdoor patio fees not Ahmad. Or did you conveniently fucking forget that fact too.
Siskyou:
“…fueled by allegations of potential violations of the Brown Act and speculation around undisclosed negotiations among council members.”
Um, really?
Trump has ordered 100 de-naturalizations a month for citizen application fraud. If I was Zahra, I wouldn’t show up again either.
Aw leave him alone. As has been said, Zahra is one immigrant who never took an American’s job.