Arcadia City Council District 5 · Nov 3, 2026

Michael Cao

Candidate for City Council District 5 (incumbent)

7 candidates · 3 seats10 sourced positions

Michael Cao, the incumbent, is running for Arcadia City Council District 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Steve Rhee.

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Physician, U.S. Air Force veteran and Arcadia District 5 councilmember, elected in 2022. He served as Mayor of Arcadia in 2024-2025.

Where Michael Cao stands: positions on the record

Housing development2 sourced positions

Voted yes on approving the 130-unit North Village mixed-use condominium project at 225 N. 2nd Avenue, including 20 low-income units (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 (in Aug. 18 agenda packet) · Jul 21, 2026
Voted yes on approving a 30-unit condominium project at 514 Fairview Avenue on appeal of the Planning Commission's denial (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 (in July 21 agenda packet) · Jun 16, 2026

Budget1 sourced position

Voted yes on adopting the Fiscal Year 2026-27 city budget (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 (in July 21 agenda packet) · Jun 16, 2026

Foreign-government engagement1 sourced position

Voted yes on a motion directing staff to set a policy requiring City Council approval before anyone engages with foreign governments or officials on the city's behalf or individually (carried 4-0 with 1 abstention, July 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 (in Aug. 18 agenda packet) · Jul 21, 2026

Financial oversight1 sourced position

Voted yes on motions to order a third-party legal report on who may request, approve and sign city checks, and to ask the State Controller to evaluate whether city funds were misused for foreign influence (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 (in Aug. 18 agenda packet) · Jul 21, 2026

Public safety1 sourced position

Voted yes on the city's $87,895 annual cost for the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter program for fiscal year 2026-27 (passed 4-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 (in Sept. 1 agenda packet) · Aug 18, 2026

E-bike regulation1 sourced position

Voted yes on forming an ad hoc committee to evaluate regulations for electric bicycles, motorized scooters and group cyclists (passed 5-0, Aug. 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 (in Sept. 1 agenda packet) · Aug 18, 2026

Drone policy1 sourced position

Voted yes on forming a council subcommittee to evaluate drone policies (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 (in Sept. 15 agenda packet) · Sep 1, 2026

Auditor selection1 sourced position

Voted yes on the agreement with Vasquez & Company LLP for the city's financial auditing services (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council draft minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 (in Oct. 6 agenda packet) · Sep 15, 2026

City facility fees1 sourced position

Voted yes on adopting Resolution No. 7711 establishing fees for city facility use (passed 3-2, Sept. 2026).
Council voteArcadia City Council draft minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 (in Oct. 6 agenda packet) · Sep 15, 2026

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