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By Francisco Ramirez Jr. | June 18, 2025
The Hanford City Council voted Tuesday to reappoint Travis Paden as Mayor, marking the second time he has held the position during his current term on the council. Paden, who had been serving as Vice Mayor, now steps back into the mayoral role following the resignation of Mayor Lou Martinez. Councilmember Nancy Howes was selected to fill the Vice Mayor position.
Martinez, who previously served two separate terms as mayor, announced he would step down from the leadership role to focus more on his family. He remains an active member of the City Council, continuing to represent his district.
While the leadership reorganization was procedural, it brought renewed public attention to the city’s ongoing financial obligations stemming from a legal settlement with Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC, approved during Paden’s first mayoral appointment in 2023.
The legal dispute began in 2014 when the City of Hanford and Helena entered into a memorandum of understanding for a property swap involving Helena’s Lacey Boulevard site and land in the Kings Industrial Park. After the deal collapsed in 2016, Helena sued the city, ultimately seeking more than $50 million in damages, interest, and attorney’s fees.
In 2023, with Paden serving as mayor, the City Council unanimously approved a settlement totaling $12.5 million in a 5–0 vote. The agreement required Hanford to pay $7.5 million within 30 days, followed by four annual payments of $1.25 million beginning in March 2024. The settlement is being funded through a combination of general fund reserves and internal department loans with interest.
According to a city staff report, the long-term repayment structure may limit Hanford’s ability to pursue major capital projects for up to ten years. This financial shift came shortly after the city had reported a general fund surplus, raising questions among some residents about budget planning and long-term fiscal strategy.
Paden’s reappointment as mayor places him once again at the center of key fiscal and policy decisions. The council is also finalizing the transition to a new interim city manager, part of a broader administrative shift, while working to address infrastructure improvements and economic development priorities.
As the city balances leadership continuity with financial constraints, some observers are asking whether past decisions will shape Hanford’s flexibility in addressing future needs and how this leadership team will respond moving forward.
