Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

El Cerrito City Council Election 2026

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council seats up

Vote for up to 2

6 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

Mary Ann "MJ" JawiliMary Ann "MJ" Jawili lists her ballot occupation as Accessibility Product Manager.4sourced
Forrest M. LanningForrest M. Lanning lists his ballot occupation as Earthquake Resilience Engineer.3sourced
Wally NowinskiWally Nowinski lists his ballot occupation as Clean Energy Marketer.2sourced
Gabe QuintoIncumbentGabe Quinto is the mayor of El Cerrito and has served 12 years on the City Council.8sourced
Kimberly WhiteKimberly White lists her ballot occupation as Executive Advisor.4sourced
Carolyn WysingerIncumbentCarolyn Wysinger is a city councilmember, educator and author seeking a second term.6sourced

El Cerrito elects its council at large, and two seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

1 note on these statements

Wally Nowinski and Kimberly White are running a joint campaign, according to Richmond Confidential. Richmond Confidential · Oct 1, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

William KtsanesCouncilmember; term ends 20284sourced Lisa MotoyamaCouncilmember; term ends 20284sourced Rebecca SaltzmanMayor Pro Tem; term ends 20284sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesFlock license-plate cameras, City budget, Library and Measure C Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Early voting begins (Richmond Memorial Auditorium)

Fri, Oct 30, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Flock license-plate cameras

Where it standsOn May 5, 2026 the council voted 3-2 not to extend the Flock Safety contract.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to revisit license-plate-reader cameras and what to do about public-safety technology.

The proposed agreement was for up to three years at a cost not to exceed $315,000. El Cerrito City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
The council passed a motion not to extend the contract, with Mayor Quinto and Councilmember Wysinger voting no. El Cerrito City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
On Apr. 21, 2026 the council gave direction to bring the Flock renewal back on May 5 with additional options. El Cerrito City Council minutes, Apr. 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026

City budget

Where it standsThe council has held study sessions on a two-year budget for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 that includes balancing scenarios.

What's on the tableThe next council will carry out the adopted budget and decide on future balancing choices, reserves and one-time spending.

At the May 5, 2026 study session the council reviewed proposed budget-balancing scenarios and directed staff to return on May 19 with options for Scenarios B and C. El Cerrito City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
El Cerrito underwent a state audit of its budget management from October 2020 to March 2021 and came off the state's high-risk list in December 2024. Richmond Confidential · Oct 1, 2026

Library and Measure C

Where it standsVoters rejected Measure C, a parcel tax for a new library, on June 2, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether and how to pursue a new library after the measure's defeat.

On Feb. 19, 2026 the council voted 4-1 to call a June 2, 2026 election on the library initiative. El Cerrito City Council minutes, Feb. 19, 2026 · Feb 19, 2026
Richmond Confidential reports that about 70% of voters rejected Measure C. Richmond Confidential · Oct 1, 2026
On Jan. 20, 2026 the council directed staff to bring back a proposal for a library task force (5-0). El Cerrito City Council minutes, Jan. 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026

Richmond Street Complete Streets project

Where it standsThe $11 million project was approved last year and is expected to break ground this fall.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee construction and any changes, including parking and bike-lane questions.

Richmond Confidential reports the project will add protected bike lanes and remove parking spots along Richmond Street from Fairmount Avenue to Elm Street. Richmond Confidential · Oct 1, 2026

Move to district-based elections

Where it standsThe city began the process on March 21, 2026 to elect council members by district starting in November 2028.

What's on the tableThe council will settle district boundaries and the method for choosing the mayor under the new system.

The city says the transition does not affect the November 3, 2026 election. City of El Cerrito
On Apr. 21, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to declare its intention to move to district-based elections. El Cerrito City Council minutes, Apr. 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026
The May 5, 2026 public hearing covered the number of districts and the method of election for mayor. El Cerrito City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 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. El Cerrito's council voted in 2026 not to extend its Flock license-plate camera contract. What should the city do about such cameras?
2. The Richmond Street Complete Streets project adds bike lanes and removes parking. What should the council do?
3. Voters rejected the Measure C library parcel tax in June 2026. Should the city ask voters for a new library tax?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Nomination period closedCity of El CerritoAug 7, 2026
Early voting begins (Richmond Memorial Auditorium)City of El CerritoOct 30, 2026
Election DayCity of El CerritoNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): William Ktsanes, Lisa Motoyama, Rebecca Saltzman2 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members. City of El Cerrito
Two seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and council terms are four years. City of El Cerrito
The council elects a mayor and mayor pro tem from among its members to serve one-year terms. El Cerrito City Council minutes, Dec. 16, 2025 · Dec 16, 2025
Beginning with the November 7, 2028 election, council members will be elected by district. City of El Cerrito

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