Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Delano City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

4 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 · Vote for up to 2

Elizabeth Arteaga-GonzalezDelano real estate agent who says she has spent years working with local families. She lists an associate degree from Bakersfield College.3sourced
Carlton M. LennonBusiness consultant running for Delano City Council.2sourced
Liz MorrisIncumbentDelano City Council member for 19 years, including four terms as mayor. She says her accomplishments include the Marketplace and bringing the new aquatics center to Delano.7sourced
Mario NunezIncumbentDelano City Council member since 2022 and the council's vice mayor. He says he has focused on expanding recreational programs for youth and senior citizens.7sourced

One contest for two council seats; the Kern County list shows two seats to vote for.

2 notes on these statements

The Kern County candidate list shows five candidates filed and four qualified for the two seats. Aaron De Santiago, listed as a local business owner, has no qualified date. Kern County Elections

Delano voters also decide three questions on whether to elect the mayor directly and whether the term is two or four years. City of Delano · Jun 2, 2025

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Joe L. AlindajaoCouncilmember; term 2024-20285sourced Bryan OsorioCouncilmember; term 2024-20285sourced Salvador Solorio-RuizMayor and Councilmember; term 2024-20286sourced

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 decidesElecting the mayor directly, Immigration enforcement and city property, State homelessness funding Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed (no later than)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Electing the mayor directly

Where it standsThe council put three questions on the November ballot: whether voters elect the mayor, and whether the term is two or four years. Today the council picks a member as mayor each year.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the mayor would be elected by residents rather than chosen by the council, starting in 2028.

The council ordered three measures on electing a mayor onto the November 3, 2026 ballot, including a two-year and a four-year term question. City of Delano · Jun 2, 2025
The resolution passed with Nunez, Alindajao, Osorio and Solorio-Ruiz voting aye and Morris voting no. City of Delano · Jun 2, 2025
A yes vote means citizens directly elect the mayor; a no vote continues the practice that the council chooses one of its number to preside as mayor each year. City of Delano · Jun 2, 2025
If approved, Delano residents would choose their own mayor starting in 2028. 23ABC KERO

Immigration enforcement and city property

Where it standsThe mayor's 'Community First' ordinance failed on a 2-3 vote in March 2026.

What's on the tableWhether Delano revisits rules for how federal immigration agents may enter city buildings and use city resources.

The council took up the mayor's 'Community First' ordinance to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from entering public buildings on March 16, 2026. City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026
The motion to approve failed 2-3, with Solorio-Ruiz and Osorio voting aye and Nunez, Alindajao and Morris voting nay. City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026
South Kern Sol reported that the ordinance failed in a 3-2 vote. South Kern Sol · Mar 17, 2026

State homelessness funding

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council voted 4-1 to send a letter supporting AB 1708.

What's on the tableWhether and how Delano applies for homelessness grant funding if the bill makes cities its size eligible.

Councilmember Morris asked the council to support a letter on AB 1708, the HHAP Pathways for Cities Act. City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026
The motion passed 4-1, with Solorio-Ruiz, Nunez, Morris and Osorio voting aye and Alindajao voting nay. City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026

Growth and housing

Where it standsThe council has been acting on new subdivision financing and annexation requests.

What's on the tableHow Delano approves, finances and zones new development as it grows.

On March 16, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to form Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Foxwood 2 and Wrenwood 2). City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026
A request to pre-zone about 122.49 acres from Kern County agricultural zoning to City of Delano industrial zoning was continued to April 20, 2026. City of Delano · Mar 16, 2026

Retail, downtown and parks

Where it standsIncumbents say they want more retail, a revitalized downtown and rehabilitated parks.

What's on the tableWhich economic development and park projects the council funds and pursues.

Councilmember Morris says the city is focused on retail and wants a national retailer. 23ABC KERO · Sep 30, 2026
Vice Mayor Nunez says the city recently got funding for its parks and wants to rehab all of them, starting with Cecil Avenue Park. 23ABC KERO · Sep 30, 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 Delano residents elect the mayor directly?
2. Should Delano adopt an ordinance restricting immigration agents from entering city buildings?
3. Should Delano support state legislation opening homelessness grants to smaller cities?
4. How high a priority should affordable housing be for the council?
5. Should attracting national retailers be a top economic priority for Delano?

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 (no later than)Kern County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote at a poll siteKern County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Election Day, polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Kern County ElectionsNov 3, 2026
Last day for mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be receivedKern County ElectionsNov 10, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Joe L. Alindajao, Bryan Osorio, Salvador Solorio-Ruiz2 on this ballot

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

The mayor is currently chosen each year by the council from among its members. City of Delano · Jun 2, 2025
The Kern County candidate list shows two seats to vote for in the City of Delano council contest, with five candidates filed and four qualified. Kern County Elections

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