Bell Gardens, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Bell Gardens City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

5 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

Voters citywide elect three of the five council seats to full four-year terms; each voter may vote for no more than three candidates.

3 notes on these statements

Measure W, whether the city may sell its municipal water system to Golden State Water Company, is also on the Nov. 3 ballot and is not a candidate contest. City of Bell Gardens City Clerk

Jorge O. Verdin appears on the city's candidate filing list as qualified; CALÓ News reported it could not independently verify whether his campaign is still active and that he did not respond to a request for comment. CALÓ News

Jorgel Chavez, whose council seat is not on this ballot, is also running for Water Replenishment District Division 4 director; SELASun reports he would leave the council if he wins. SELASun

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jorgel ChavezBell Gardens councilmember elected in 2020 who leads Chavez Public Affairs, LLC.6sourcedIsabel GuillénMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember; seat next up for election in 20285sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz1 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesSale of the city water system (Measure W), Tenant eviction rules, City budgetKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Sale of the city water system (Measure W)

Where it standsMeasure W on the Nov. 3 ballot asks voters whether the city may sell its municipal water system to Golden State Water Company; the council voted 3-2 on June 8, 2026 to send the proposal to voters.

What's on the tableIf voters approve the sale, the council will carry out the transfer to Golden State Water Company; if they reject it, the city keeps the system.

Tenant eviction rules

Where it standsThe council introduced Ordinance No. 972 on July 27, 2026, to set a minimum threshold for evictions based on nonpayment of rent.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the city's tenant eviction rules, including any further changes to Ordinance No. 972.

City budget

Where it standsThe council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 operating and capital improvement budgets 5-0 on June 8, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee spending under the adopted budget and set future annual budgets.

Public safety and neighborhood streets

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council introduced a Military Equipment Use Policy ordinance for the police department, and in September it approved a lower speed limit near Ford Park on the consent calendar.

What's on the tableThe next council will set policing policy and street safety measures.

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. Should the city set a minimum amount of unpaid rent before a landlord can evict a tenant?

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): Jorgel Chavez, Isabel Guillén3 on this ballot

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

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