Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Citrus Heights City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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 District 2 · 1 seat

MariJane Lopez-TaffIncumbentMayor of Citrus Heights, elected to the District 2 seat in November 2022.10sourced
Charles StoneRetired California Environmental Protection Agency investigator and attorney who served in the Army National Guard. Served as commander of the Citrus Heights American Legion from 2024 to 2026.4sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · Unopposed

Porsche MiddletonIncumbentVice Mayor of Citrus Heights, elected to the council in 2018 and re-elected for District 5 in 2022.7sourced

Voters elect one council member in their own district; Districts 2, 4 and 5 are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, and Districts 1 and 3 were elected in 2024.

2 notes on these statements

Charles Stone was invited to the Sept. 29 candidate forum but was unable to attend because of a pre-existing commitment, the Sentinel reported. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Oct 3, 2026

Porsche Middleton is the only qualified candidate in District 5; the Sentinel reported the council may approve her nomination or the election will be held as normal. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Aug 11, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Kelsey NelsonCouncil Member, District 1; term ends December 20286sourced Tim SchaeferCouncil Member, District 3; term ends December 20286sourced

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 decidesPolice restructuring and the Traffic Unit, Sunrise Mall redevelopment, Residential trash contract Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed; drop boxes open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Police restructuring and the Traffic Unit

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council approved a Police Department restructuring that eliminates the Traffic Unit, as part of a package that included new labor agreements.

What's on the tableWhether to keep police staffing and traffic enforcement as restructured or change them in future budgets.

Four Traffic Unit officers are being reassigned to patrol, and one sergeant and one lieutenant position are to be eliminated through attrition. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Jul 9, 2026
The city expects the restructuring to save $975,000 in 2026-27 and about $1.24 million the following year, against an estimated $1.11 million cost of the labor agreements. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Jul 9, 2026
The city's Budget in Brief says 58 percent of General Fund spending supports police services. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Sep 29, 2026

Sunrise Mall redevelopment

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council voted 5-0 for an agreement with The Mettle Shop to support a Sunrise Sports Center on part of the Sunrise Tomorrow site; land-use approvals come later.

What's on the tableWhether to approve the project's entitlements, environmental review and financing plan as they come before the council.

The March 2026 item was solely an Economic Development and Participation Agreement; if approved, land use entitlements would come later. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of March 11, 2026 · Mar 11, 2026
The estimated direct tax revenue for the City of Citrus Heights from the Sports Center is over $787,000 annually. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of March 11, 2026 · Mar 11, 2026
At the Sept. 29 forum, the candidates present agreed any changes must follow the community's expressed vision in the Sunrise Tomorrow plan. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Oct 3, 2026

Residential trash contract

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council voted 3-2 against seeking competing bids, then 3-2 to move ahead with the amended agreement with Allied Waste Services (Republic Services), subject to a public hearing on rates.

What's on the tableWhether to approve the final rates and terms of the agreement after the public hearing.

The motion to direct staff to issue a Request for Proposal failed 2-3; the motion to adopt the amended agreement passed 3-2. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of Feb. 25, 2026 · Feb 25, 2026
In a comparison of rates across the region, Citrus Heights currently has the lowest. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of Feb. 25, 2026 · Feb 25, 2026
The council agreed to reduce Neighborhood Cleanups to two per year, add an annual household hazardous waste drop-off event and shift to tri-monthly billing. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of Feb. 25, 2026 · Feb 25, 2026

Homelessness and SB 802

Where it standsThe council took a neutral position on SB 802 in January 2026; the law now requires the county and several cities, including Citrus Heights, to form a joint powers authority by January 2028.

What's on the tableHow Citrus Heights takes part in the regional homelessness and housing agency and its funding.

On Jan. 28, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to adopt a neutral position on SB 802 and asked for protections including local control over funding. Citrus Heights City Council minutes, meetings of Jan. 28, 2026 · Jan 28, 2026
The signed law gives the city and county, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and Folsom until January 2028 to finalize their joint powers authority. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Sep 26, 2026
The Point in Time count in January 2026 estimated 7,458 people experiencing homelessness across Sacramento County. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Sep 26, 2026

Budget and reserves

Where it standsThe council passed the 2026-27 budget, which the city says is balanced and keeps reserves above policy requirements.

What's on the tableHow much to deposit into reserves and how much General Fund money to spend on streets and services as revenue stays flat.

The city's Budget in Brief shows $33 million in reserves, enough to cover eight and a half months of expenses against a two-month minimum. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Sep 29, 2026
The budget allocates $4 million from the General Fund toward improving more streets. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Sep 29, 2026
At the Sept. 29 forum, candidates were asked what they would cut if General Fund revenue stayed flat while protecting police and street maintenance. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Oct 3, 2026

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. Should Citrus Heights put its residential trash contract out to competitive bid?
2. Should the city sign agreements with developers to speed up Sunrise Mall redevelopment?
3. How should the city fund the Police Department?
4. How should Citrus Heights respond to SB 802, the law creating a regional homelessness agency?
5. How much of the General Fund should the city deposit into reserves each year?

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 mailed; drop boxes openSacramento County Voter Registration and Elections: Upcoming elections, voting deadlines and key datesOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteCity of Citrus HeightsOct 19, 2026
Last day to file as a write-in candidateCity of Citrus HeightsOct 20, 2026
Some vote centers openSacramento County Voter Registration and Elections: Upcoming elections, voting deadlines and key datesOct 24, 2026
All vote centers openSacramento County Voter Registration and Elections: Upcoming elections, voting deadlines and key datesOct 31, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections: Upcoming elections, voting deadlines and key datesNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Kelsey Nelson, Tim Schaefer3 on this ballot

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

Citrus Heights has a council-manager form of government with five City Council members. City of Citrus Heights
Each council member must live in and be elected from their district, under the city's district-based election system. City of Citrus Heights
Seats for Districts 2, 4 and 5 are up for election on Nov. 3, 2026; Districts 1 and 3 were elected in November 2024. City of Citrus Heights
Council members serve four-year terms. Citrus Heights Sentinel · Aug 7, 2026
The Council selects one of its members to serve as mayor for 12 months. City of Citrus Heights

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