District 1

Incumbent Rashi Kesarwani has been declared victorious for Berkeley City Council District 1 with 50.03% of the votes as of 1:19 a.m. Saturday with 100% of the precincts accounted for.

Tamar Michai Freeman has begun her election campaign for Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat.

During the November general election, Berkeley community members elected four Asian American officials, which seems to be the most to ever serve Berkeley at one time, including the first Asian American City Council members in 41 years.

Rashi Kesarwani has won the race for Berkeley City Council District 1, defeating Igor Tregub, Margo Schueler and Mary Behm-Steinberg with 55.82 percent of the vote as of press time at 9 p.m.

Tuesday's midterm election will bring out Berkeley residents, students and staff to polling stations to decide the fate of measures, propositions and representative seats on local, state and national levels.

For years, District 1 has been the site of an acute homelessness crisis and poor infrastructure. In four days, Berkeley voters will have the opportunity to elect a new voice to City Council to address these pressing issues. And the candidate best suited for the job is Igor Tregub.

Rashi Kesarwani, a finance manager for the San Francisco Human Services Agency, officially filed papers to run for Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat March 19.

Igor Tregub, who is currently the chair of Berkeley’s Housing Advisory Commission, chair of the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board and a member of the city’s Rent Stabilization Board, is running for the District 1 City Council seat.

As of Feb. 18, more than 1,000 people had signed a petition supporting a name change for the Berkeley Public Library’s South Branch to honor local civil rights activist Tarea Hall Pittman.