Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Arroyo Grande Mayor & City Council Election 2026
3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seatGlenn T. MartinGlenn T. Martin chairs the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission and owns a real estate brokerage. His firm, Glenn Martin Co., has operated for over 20 years, and he has served on the commission and the Architectural Review Committee for 12 years collectively.7sourced
Sean SchuurSean Schuur operates a mortgage advising company in Arroyo Grande. He told The Tribune he has served as president of the South County Chambers of Commerce and was named Arroyo Grande's Citizen of the Year in 2015.4sourced
City Council District 1
UnopposedCity Council District 4
UnopposedVoters citywide elect the mayor, and each council member is elected by district. Districts 2 and 3 are not on this ballot.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01State water and the Lopez Lake supply3 sourced facts
Where it standsVoters will decide Measure D-26, which would let the city buy state water outside a declared drought emergency without a separate vote.
What's on the tableWhether and when to use state water as a supplement to local supplies, and how to respond to changes in Lopez Lake releases.
- About 60-65% of the city's supply comes from Lopez Lake Reservoir, and the city says access to state water would be an additional source. City of Arroyo Grande news release, state water measure · Jun 22, 2026
- Measure A (1990) required voter approval for state water participation, and Measure E-16 (2016) allowed purchases only during a locally declared water emergency. City of Arroyo Grande news release, state water measure · Jun 22, 2026
- A 2024 lawsuit by environmental groups against San Luis Obispo County over Lopez Lake releases led to a preliminary injunction in December 2024, which the 9th Circuit ruled against in December 2025. New Times SLO, Arroyo Grande's measure for state water project participation moves to November ballot · Jul 2, 2026
02City budget and a cannabis business tax3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city proposes $35.7 million in spending against $32.8 million in revenue for FY 2026-27, and voters will decide Measure C-26.
What's on the tableHow to cover the gap between revenue and spending and whether to permit cannabis businesses that would pay the tax.
- The city says the FY 2026-27 budget proposes $32.8 million in revenues against $35.7 million in expenditures, with the difference covered by reserves. City of Arroyo Grande news release, cannabis tax measure · Jun 12, 2026
- Measure C-26 would allow a tax of up to 10% of gross receipts on cannabis businesses if the city permits them, and does not itself allow any cannabis business. City of Arroyo Grande, General Municipal Election - Nov 3, 2026
- Arroyo Grande currently prohibits all local commercial cannabis activity, and the city estimates the tax at about $500,000 a year. City of Arroyo Grande news release, cannabis tax measure · Jun 12, 2026
03Housing and the General Plan2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is updating its General Plan, and the council approved a 92-unit multifamily project on James Way in April 2026.
What's on the tableHow the General Plan update guides growth and how the council handles future housing proposals.
- On April 14, 2026 the council denied an appeal and approved a conditional use permit for 92 multifamily units at 1271 and 1281 James Way (3-1). Arroyo Grande City Council action minutes, April 14, 2026 · Apr 14, 2026
- A February 2026 Planning Commission staff update said the council would hold a study session on the draft General Plan on February 24. Arroyo Grande Planning Commission minutes, February 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
04Public comment at council meetings2 sourced facts
Where it standsPublic comment on items not on the agenda is limited to one minute under current procedures.
What's on the tableWhether to change the time limit for public comment at council meetings.
- The September 22, 2026 council agenda states that community comments should be limited to 1 minute or less. Arroyo Grande City Council agenda, September 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
- Mayoral candidate Glenn T. Martin says he would propose returning to a three-minute period for items not on the agenda. Glenn Martin for Mayor campaign website
4 notes on these statements
Mayor Caren Ray Russom is not running for reelection, so the mayor's seat is open. San Luis Obispo Tribune, Who's running in Arroyo Grande? · Aug 19, 2026
Kate Secrest and Jim Guthrie are the only candidates listed in their districts, so neither council contest has an opponent. City of Arroyo Grande, General Municipal Election - Nov 3, 2026
Glenn T. Martin and Sean Schuur both answered The Tribune's candidate survey, and only Glenn T. Martin took part in a call with its editorial board. San Luis Obispo Tribune, Arroyo Grande voter guide for November 2026 election
Measures C-26 (cannabis business tax) and D-26 (state water) are also on the Arroyo Grande ballot. City of Arroyo Grande, General Municipal Election - Nov 3, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. How should Arroyo Grande treat large multifamily housing proposals?
2. Should the city be able to buy state water outside a declared drought emergency?
3. Should Arroyo Grande tax cannabis businesses if it ever permits them?
4. How long should speakers get for public comment on items not on the agenda?
5. How fast should Arroyo Grande's population grow?
Key dates
- Ballots begin mailing (county update: Sept. 30)SLO County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026, General ElectionSep 30, 2026
- Drop boxes open (county update: Oct. 1)SLO County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026, General ElectionOct 1, 2026
- Early voting begins at the SLO Elections OfficeSLO County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026, General ElectionOct 5, 2026
- Last day to register online to voteSLO County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026, General ElectionOct 19, 2026
- Election Day (polls open 7am to 8pm)SLO County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026, General ElectionNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Aileen Loe, Jamie Maraviglia3 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The City Council has five members, one mayor and four council members, and council members are elected by district while the mayor is elected at large. City of Arroyo Grande, City Council
- Council members serve four-year overlapping terms and the mayor serves a two-year term. City of Arroyo Grande, City Council
- The November 3, 2026 election is for a mayor for a full two-year term and one council member each for District 1 and District 4 for full four-year terms. City of Arroyo Grande, General Municipal Election - Nov 3, 2026
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