Atwater, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Atwater Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

4 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · Unopposed

City Council District 4 · Unopposed

Voters elect the mayor citywide and each council member from one of four districts; this year the mayor and Districts 3 and 4 are on the ballot.

3 notes on these statements

The mayor's race is the only contested race: Mike Nelson and Roberto Montes-Yepez. Shawn Conour is the only candidate for District 3 and Adam R. Conour is the only candidate for District 4. Merced County · Aug 25, 2026

No incumbents are running in Districts 3 and 4. The Merced Focus

Shawn Conour is listed as a member of the Atwater Planning Commission, with a term ending December 2028. City of Atwater

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

John CaleMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District 1; term ends November 20283sourcedKalisa RochesterCouncilmember, District 2; term ends November 20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesGrowth, annexation and the General Plan, Traffic safety, Police and fire servicesKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

County elections officials begin mailing ballots (by)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Growth, annexation and the General Plan

Where it standsThe city is updating its General Plan, and the council has begun acting on land use and Housing Element amendments.

What's on the tableWhere Atwater grows, whether it annexes more land, and which projects move forward.

Traffic safety

Where it standsA residential traffic calming policy was brought to the council in summer 2026, and red-light cameras have been proposed.

What's on the tableHow the city enforces and designs for traffic safety.

Police and fire services

Where it standsAtwater named a new police chief in September 2026, and the police department is expanding traffic enforcement.

What's on the tableStaffing, equipment and priorities for police and fire.

  • The city named a new police chief in September, William Novetzke, a former Atwater Police lieutenant. Merced County Times
  • Mayor Nelson says the department is setting up an improved street crimes unit and adding officers and vehicles to traffic enforcement. Merced County Times

City management and budget

Where it standsThe council appointed a new city manager in August 2026 after two resignations over a couple of years.

What's on the tableHow the council directs a new city manager and the city's budget.

Public engagement and young residents

Where it standsRecent council votes on public comment timing and the meeting calendar were not unanimous.

What's on the tableHow early and how often residents, including younger residents, are brought into decisions.

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. 1. How should Atwater grow?

  2. 2. How should the city weigh police and fire spending?

  3. 3. How should the council involve residents in decisions?

  4. 4. Where should the city focus for young residents?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): John Cale, Kalisa Rochester3 on this ballot

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

  • The mayor presides at council meetings and is entitled to, and must vote, but has no veto. City of Atwater
  • Municipal elections are held every two years in November of even-numbered years; the mayor and two council members are elected at one election and the other two council members at the next. City of Atwater
  • Atwater has a council/city manager form of government, and the city manager carries out the council's laws and policies. City of Atwater
  • The council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:00 PM. City of Atwater

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