Chico City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Mike O'Brien
Councilmember, District 1; term ends 2028City of Chico
Mike O'Brien (Councilmember, District 1) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Chico City Council after the election.
Retired Chico police chief who now works for the Butte County District Attorney's Office. He has chaired the Jesus Center board.
Where Mike O'Brien stands: positions on the record
Measure H1 sourced position
Voted no on a budget policy to dedicate 51% of Measure H funds to streets, roads and sidewalks (failed 3-4, May 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
Downtown streets1 sourced position
Voted no on approving Alternative 1, protected one-way bikeways on Main Street and Broadway (failed 3-3, April 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Sewer rates2 sourced positions
Voted yes on a sewer plan financing $50 million in debt over 20 years (failed 2-5, June 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Voted no on sewer rate increases of 55% in each of the first two years (passed 4-3, June 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Homelessness4 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing staff to begin enforcing rules that do not violate the Warren agreement and to bring back code changes (passed 4-3, August 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Added a friendly amendment, accepted into the August 2026 nuisance-enforcement motion, asking that proposed ordinances come back as quickly as possible.
Council voteChico City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Voted yes on declaring a local emergency over fire danger in and around the Lindo Channel (passed 6-1, August 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, July 7 to August 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026
Said during the Lindo Channel emergency debate that he would not sit back and do nothing about the fire risk.
“I for one will not sit back and do nothing,”
Own statementAction News Now · Aug 3, 2026
City manager1 sourced position
Voted no on approving Gillian Haen's contract as city manager (passed 5-2, July 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, July 7 to August 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026
Budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting the 2026-27 city budget (passed 6-1, May 2026).
Council voteChico City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
What Mike O'Brien said vs. how Mike O'Brien voted
Homelessness
In their words
Said during the Lindo Channel emergency debate that he would not sit back and do nothing about the fire risk.
Aug 3, 2026 ·Action News Now · Aug 3, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on declaring a local emergency over fire danger in and around the Lindo Channel (passed 6-1, August 2026).
Aug 3, 2026 ·Chico City Council minutes, July 7 to August 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026
Voted yes on directing staff to begin enforcing rules that do not violate the Warren agreement and to bring back code changes (passed 4-3, August 2026).
Aug 18, 2026 ·Chico City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Added a friendly amendment, accepted into the August 2026 nuisance-enforcement motion, asking that proposed ordinances come back as quickly as possible.
Aug 18, 2026 ·Chico City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
On the ballot this time
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