Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Canyon Lake City Council Election 2026

2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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22days to Nov 3

The candidates

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

Two City Council seats are on the ballot, and the three candidates appear on one citywide list; the council selects the mayor each year.

Last day to register to vote online · Oct 19

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Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

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

What the next council decides

01Measure E public safety sales tax3 sourced facts

Where it standsMeasure E, a citizen-backed 1% sales tax for public safety, is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot after the council certified the petition.

What's on the tableHow the council funds police, fire and emergency response, with tax revenue restricted to those uses if voters approve it.

02Local rules on e-bikes, kratom and nitrous oxide3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted ordinances on nitrous oxide, kratom, drug paraphernalia and electric bicycles in August 2026.

What's on the tableHow the new rules are enforced and whether to change them.

03Accessory dwelling unit rules2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a replacement ADU ordinance in August 2026 to comply with state law.

What's on the tableHow the city responds to state housing review of its ADU rules.

04Police and fire departments3 sourced facts

Where it standsCanyon Lake runs its own police and fire departments and committed to a new fire engine in August 2026.

What's on the tableStaffing, equipment and funding for city police and fire services.

05Economic development1 sourced fact

Where it standsThe City Manager reported a restaurant investment in city-owned units in August 2026.

What's on the tableWhich businesses and projects the city supports.

2 notes on these statements

The county lists Kasey A. Castillo and Jeremy Smith (as Jeremy A. Smith) as the incumbents for the two seats; Castillo is not among the three qualified candidates. Riverside County Registrar of Voters · Sep 11, 2026

Paul Kakis was scheduled to appear remotely at the Sept. 21, 2026 Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. Canyon Lake Insider

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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. 1. What should the city do about electric bicycles?

  2. 2. How should the city handle accessory dwelling units?

  3. 3. How much should the city push economic development?

  4. 4. Who should provide police and fire services?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.New · How Canyon Lake is runWho runs Canyon Lake, and what it costsThe city manager earns $280,045. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Josh Steeber, Mark Terry, Dale Welty2 on this ballot

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

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