Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Arvin City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

6 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Gabriel GarciaYouth organizer, per the Kern County candidate list for Arvin City Council.1sourced
Jose Luis Garcia, Jr.Community health navigator, per the Kern County candidate list for Arvin City Council.1sourced
Lissette MedinaProject manager, per the Kern County candidate list for Arvin City Council.1sourced
Nora PerezCandidate listed with no ballot designation on the Kern County list for Arvin City Council.1sourced
Susanna ReyesIncumbentSchool administrative assistant and incumbent Arvin councilmember, per the Kern County candidate list.5sourced
Anabel "Quintino" RubioCandidate listed with no ballot designation on the Kern County list for Arvin City Council.2sourced

Voters elect the mayor and four council members at large; three council seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.

1 note on these statements

Six candidates are on the ballot for three at-large council seats. Susanna Reyes is the only incumbent of the three seats up who is on the candidate list. Kern County Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Olivia CalderonMayor2sourced Jaime PerezArvin council member and mayor pro tem, per the city and KGET.2sourced

Start here

Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget and deficit, Measure H sales tax, Police staffing and leadership Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and deficit

Where it standsThe council adopted a fiscal year 2026-27 budget with spending cuts in June 2026 and approved amendments in July.

What's on the tableHow the city closes its budget gap in future budgets and whether to restore or cut services.

The adopted budget included a roughly 10% spending cut, about $1 million. KGET · Jun 25, 2026
The motion adopting the budget directed staff to return with amendments restoring two police officer positions and the K-9 unit and reducing revenue projections. Arvin City Council regular meeting minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
The council approved fiscal year 2026-27 budget amendments on July 28, 2026 (5-0). Arvin City Council regular meeting minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026

Measure H sales tax

Where it standsThe council placed a 1% local sales tax measure on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.

What's on the tableHow the city spends any new local sales tax revenue if voters approve it.

The measure would raise Arvin's sales tax from 8.25% to 9.25%. KGET · Jun 25, 2026
The measure is projected to provide about $2,350,000 annually. KGET · Jun 25, 2026
Arvin voters last passed a sales tax measure in 2008 (Measure L, a 1% increase). KGET · Jun 25, 2026

Police staffing and leadership

Where it standsThe council kept two police officer positions and the K-9 unit in the budget and appointed a new police chief in July 2026.

What's on the tableHow police staffing is funded in future budgets.

The council voted at the last minute to keep two police officers and the K-9 unit instead of laying them off. KGET · Jun 25, 2026
The council appointed Cecilio Velasco as police chief, ending a vacancy that lasted almost a full year. KGET · Jul 15, 2026

Who matches you?

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Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Election DayCity of ArvinNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Olivia Calderon, Jaime Perez3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The council is four councilmembers and a directly elected mayor, all elected at large. City of Arvin
The mayor and council serve four-year overlapping terms. City of Arvin
The city's municipal elections are consolidated with the Kern County Elections Department. City of Arvin

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