Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Eureka Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

4 contests

10 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

Kim BergelIncumbentEureka's incumbent mayor, with eight years on the Eureka City Council before nearly four as mayor. She says she launched and led a Mental Health Initiative with seven town halls.6sourced
Casey DresserElectrician who moved to Eureka from the Bay Area about a year and a half before July 2026.2sourced
Anil DwivediEureka local business owner and housing provider. He says his properties have housed about 40 extremely low-income seniors, people with disabilities and other residents.4sourced

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 · 1 seat

Voters choose one candidate for mayor citywide and one council candidate in their own ward, if the ward is on the ballot (Wards 1, 3 and 5).

2 notes on these statements

The Ward 1 seat has no incumbent running because Councilmember Leslie Castellano is termed out. Lost Coast Outpost · Jul 8, 2026

Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach announced she would not seek reelection in Ward 5. Lost Coast Outpost · Aug 7, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Scott BauerCouncilmember, Ward 4; seat not on the November 2026 ballot2sourced Kati MoultonCouncilmember, Ward 2; seat not on the November 2026 ballot2sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesHomelessness and camping rules, Housing on city lots and downtown parking, Rates and revenue Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

County elections officials begin mailing ballots; ballot drop-off locations open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Homelessness and camping rules

Where it standsThe council voted 3-2 in May 2025 to reject a camping, sitting and lying ordinance. The city runs the CSET, CARE and Uplift Eureka programs.

What's on the tableWhether to bring back a camping ordinance and how to expand or change the city's outreach and housing programs.

The council voted 3-2 on May 20, 2025 to reject Bill 1040 C.S., which would have added an Unlawful Camping, Sitting, Lying section to the city's general offenses. Eureka City Council minutes, May 20, 2025 · May 20, 2025
At the Oct. 1, 2026 forum, virtually all candidates emphasized accountability as lacking in current homelessness policy and almost all listed CARE, Uplift and CSET as strengths. Times-Standard · Oct 2, 2026

Housing on city lots and downtown parking

Where it standsThe city is building affordable housing on formerly city-owned parking lots and must plan for 1,740 more units in the next state housing cycle.

What's on the tableWhere the next housing goes, how to replace or manage downtown parking, and whether to keep the Passport Parking Program.

City staff will have to plan for another 1,740 housing units over the next decade under the state-mandated Housing Element, almost double the current target. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026
Measure F, a 2024 ballot initiative that sought to halt planned or in-progress affordable housing on four city-owned downtown parking lots, failed. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026
The Passport Parking Program, which requires app-based pre-payment, generated $40,000 in its first four months, with an estimated $30,000 in unpaid citations. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026

Rates and revenue

Where it standsThe council approved an 8.52% garbage rate increase in August 2026 and placed a 2% hotel tax increase on the November ballot as Measure I.

What's on the tableFuture Recology rate requests under a franchise agreement that runs through 2030, and how to respond if voters pass or reject Measure I.

On Aug. 4, 2026 the council approved a Recology rate increase of up to 8.52%, with Mayor Bergel casting the tie-breaking vote. City of Eureka · Aug 4, 2026
The city's agreement with Recology runs through 2030, and the company may request rate adjustments every year. Lost Coast Outpost · Aug 5, 2026
Measure I would raise the city's transient occupancy (hotel) tax from 10 percent to 12 percent; the city manager said it would bring in $700,000 more in annual revenue. Redheaded Blackbelt · Jul 10, 2026
On July 7, 2026 the council introduced the hotel tax bill and placed it on the ballot with three yes votes; Councilmembers Fernandez and Contreras-DeLoach voted against. City of Eureka · Jul 7, 2026

Street redesigns and public outreach

Where it standsThe C Street Bike Boulevard has drawn complaints about notice, and the city is planning a G Street Bike Boulevard.

What's on the tableWhether and how to build the G Street Bike Boulevard and what outreach the council requires before street projects.

The C Street Bike Boulevard reconfigured C Street between Waterfront Drive and Harris Street to deter through driving and make the road safer for cyclists. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026
Many residents say the city did not provide adequate notice about the C Street project. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026
The city is planning another bicycle boulevard on G Street between Seventh and Henderson streets. Lost Coast Outpost · Sep 22, 2026

What the mayor does

Where it standsThe Charter makes the mayor head of city government for ceremonial purposes with no regular administrative duties; candidates described the job differently at the October forum.

What's on the tableVoters choose who presides over Council meetings and breaks tie votes, and what role the mayor plays beyond them.

The Charter says the Mayor presides at Council meetings, decides tie votes, and is the head of city government for ceremonial purposes, with no regular administrative duties. Charter of the City of Eureka
Anil Dwivedi said at the Oct. 1 forum that the mayor is head of the city and that leading the city is about 90% of the job. Times-Standard · Oct 2, 2026
Mayor Bergel said at the Oct. 1 forum that the mayor's role is ceremonial and not administrative. Times-Standard · Oct 2, 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 Eureka pass an ordinance penalizing camping, sitting and lying in public spaces?
2. Should the city keep building housing on downtown and Old Town parking lots?
3. Should the council approve Recology's requested garbage rate increases?
4. How should the city handle street redesigns like C Street and the planned G Street Bike Boulevard?
5. Should Eureka's mayor take on a bigger role directing city policy?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

County elections officials begin mailing ballots; ballot drop-off locations openCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote onlineCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 19, 2026
Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.California Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Scott Bauer, Kati Moulton3 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The City is divided into five wards, and the voters of each ward elect one Council member. Charter of the City of Eureka
Council members and the Mayor are elected to four-year terms, and the Mayor is elected separately from the Council. Charter of the City of Eureka
The Mayor presides at Council meetings and decides by vote all tie votes of the Council. Charter of the City of Eureka
The Charter requires ranked choice voting in the elections of the Mayor and Council members. Charter of the City of Eureka
The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot includes the offices of Mayor and City Council Wards 1, 3 and 5. City of Eureka · Aug 14, 2026

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