Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Benicia City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

3 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 2

Kari BirdseyeIncumbentBenicia councilmember, former Planning Commission chair and former CNN journalist. She was elected to the council in 2022.12sourced
Terry ScottIncumbentBenicia councilmember and former Hasbro executive who chaired the Arts and Culture Commission. He was elected to the council in 2022.13sourced
Justin ZollarsSoftware engineer in cancer genomics at Veracyte and a Benicia homeowner. He has spent 15 years building technology at companies including Adobe and Veracyte.6sourced

Voters choose up to two of three candidates for City Council; the two with the most votes win. The mayor is not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Three candidates are running for two City Council seats: incumbents Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye, and Justin Zollars. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026

The Vallejo Sun reports Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye were both elected in 2022. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Lionel LargaespadaCouncil Member; elected 20247sourced Trevor MacenskiVice Mayor of Benicia and an environmental and urban planner consultant.8sourced Steve YoungMayor; not up for election until 20288sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget after Valero, Measures X, Y and Z, Flock license plate cameras Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

In-person early voting with vote-by-mail ballots begins at the elections office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget after Valero

Where it standsThe Vallejo Sun reports the council faces an $8 million budget shortfall because Valero is leaving.

What's on the tableHow to balance the budget through new revenue, spending choices and grant funding.

The council adopted the biennial budget for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 by a 5-0 vote in June 2025. Benicia City Council minutes, June 17, 2025 · Jun 17, 2025
The Vallejo Sun reports the City Council is facing an $8 million budget shortfall due to Valero leaving. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026
In July 2026 the council voted 5-0 to place Measure X, a business license tax update, on the ballot, with the first-year amount changed to about $1,612,000. Benicia City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

Measures X, Y and Z

Where it standsThree city measures are on the November 3, 2026 ballot: a business license tax, a limited charter and a real property transfer tax.

What's on the tableVoters decide the measures, and the next council would carry out whichever pass.

The City of Benicia election page lists Measure X (Business License Modernization), Measure Y (Limited City Charter) and Measure Z (Real Property Transfer Tax). City of Benicia
The Measure Y ballot question says the limited charter allows the Measure Z tax to take effect if voters approve both measures and continues the council-manager form of government. Benicia City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (draft) · Aug 4, 2026
The council voted 4-1 in August 2026 to place Measures Y and Z on the ballot. Benicia City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (draft) · Aug 4, 2026

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsThe city uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers, and residents have raised concerns at council meetings.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or end the city's Flock camera system.

In September 2023 the council voted 5-0 to renew the Flock Safety license plate reader contract with additional cameras. Benicia City Council minutes, Sept. 5, 2023 · Sep 5, 2023
In October 2025 two residents spoke at a council meeting with concerns about the Flock license plate reader cameras. Benicia City Council minutes, Oct. 21, 2025 · Oct 21, 2025
In November 2025 Mayor Young reminded the public of an upcoming public meeting about the Flock camera system. Benicia City Council minutes, Nov. 18, 2025 · Nov 18, 2025

Housing and development

Where it standsThe city is considering several housing developments, and the council has amended its zoning to implement the housing element.

What's on the tableWhich housing and development proposals to approve and how fast the city grows.

In December 2025 the council approved Housing Element implementation amendments on first reading, 4-0 with one abstention. Benicia City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 (draft) · Dec 2, 2025
The Vallejo Sun reports the candidates discussed housing projects including Signature Development at the Benicia refinery, Rose Estates and Jefferson Ridge. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026

Industrial safety and the refinery site

Where it standsThe council adopted an industrial safety ordinance in 2025, and the future of the Valero site is a major local question.

What's on the tableHow to regulate hazardous industry and what to allow at the refinery site.

In April 2025 the council voted 5-0 to adopt the industrial health and safety ordinance. Benicia City Council minutes, April 1, 2025 · Apr 1, 2025
In December 2025 the council voted 4-1 to approve the Industrial Safety Ordinance fee schedule. Benicia City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 (draft) · Dec 2, 2025

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. What should Benicia do about its Flock license plate cameras?
2. How do you view Measure X, the business license tax update?
3. How do you view Measure Z, the real property transfer tax?
4. What approach should Benicia take to new housing?
5. What should Benicia do about data center proposals?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots may begin mailing (window opens)Solano County Registrar of VotersSep 15, 2026
In-person early voting with vote-by-mail ballots begins at the elections officeSolano County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote (conditional registration after)Solano County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
Election DaySolano County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Lionel Largaespada, Trevor Macenski, Steve Young2 on this ballot

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

The City Council page lists a mayor and four council members. City of Benicia
Two City Council seats are filled on November 3, 2026, and each seat carries a four-year term. City of Benicia
Benicia has no council districts; all councilmembers are elected citywide, and the two top vote-getters win. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026
The mayor, vice mayor and one other councilmember are not up for election until 2028. The Vallejo Sun · Sep 16, 2026
A ballot question describes Benicia's form of government as council-manager. Benicia City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (draft) · Aug 4, 2026

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