Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fairfield Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

11 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 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

Pam BertaniPam Bertani is a patent lawyer and Fairfield's vice mayor. She was elected to the City Council in 2011, 2016, 2020 and 2024.10sourced
Nikila Walker GibsonNikila Walker Gibson is a Fairfield small business owner and First 5 Solano commissioner. She also serves on the Tri-City NAACP board.2sourced
George KennedyGeorge Kennedy is a Fairfield business owner and chair of the Fairfield Planning Commission. He has also chaired the city's Budget Advisory Committee.4sourced
Scott TonnesenScott Tonnesen is a licensed mortgage broker and Fairfield's District 2 councilmember. He served eight years on the Fairfield Planning Commission and was elected to the council in 2020 and 2024.9sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Every Fairfield voter picks one candidate for mayor; voters in Districts 1, 3 and 5 also pick one candidate for their district's council seat. The top vote-getter in each contest wins.

4 notes on these statements

Mayor Rick Vaccaro did not file to run, so no incumbent is on the ballot for mayor. Solano County Registrar of Voters · Aug 20, 2026

Pam Bertani (District 4) and Scott Tonnesen (District 2) are running for mayor; their council seats are not up this year, so they would remain on the council if they lose. Daily Republic

The Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce PAC endorsed Scott Tonnesen for mayor, K. Patrice Williams in District 1, Doug Carr in District 3 and Doriss Panduro in District 5. Daily Republic · Sep 20, 2026

The Orderly Growth Committee endorsed Nikila Walker Gibson for mayor. Daily Republic · Sep 20, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Manveer SandhuCouncilmember, District 6; term ends 20286sourced

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 decidesBudget and Measure P, Vista Ridge supportive housing, Landscaping district refunds Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

In-person early voting begins at the elections office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget and Measure P

Where it standsFairfield faces an estimated $11 million deficit, and Measure P on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise the city's transactions and use tax from 1% to 2%.

What's on the tableHow to balance the budget: how to spend the added revenue if Measure P passes, or what to cut if it fails.

City staff estimate the tax increase would bring an additional $24 million a year to the General Fund. Daily Republic
Cost-saving steps so far include freezing almost 25 positions, including four sworn police officers, and no pay raises for employees. Daily Republic
The council voted unanimously in July 2026 to put the sales tax measure on the ballot. Daily Republic
In August 2026 the council voted 7-0 to adopt resolutions supporting Measures P and Q. Fairfield City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026

Vista Ridge supportive housing

Where it standsThe city closed escrow on the hotel at 3331 N. Texas St. in March 2026, and rehabilitation into supportive housing is expected to be complete by February 2027.

What's on the tableHow the city oversees the project as it opens, and whether to revisit the approval, as some residents have asked.

The project converts 100 hotel guest rooms into 50 permanent supportive housing units. City of Fairfield · Sep 16, 2026
The Planning Commission recommended the Vista Ridge zone change in June 2025; the motion carried unanimously with one abstention. Fairfield Planning Commission minutes, June 25, 2025 · Jun 25, 2025
The council adopted the Vista Ridge zone change 4-3 in August 2025, with Councilmember Sandhu, Vice Mayor Bertani and Mayor Moy voting no. Fairfield City Council minutes, Aug. 5, 2025 · Aug 5, 2025
In April 2026, speakers for Citizens Against Vista Ridge asked the council to reconsider its Vista Ridge decision. Fairfield City Council minutes, April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026

Landscaping district refunds

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council voted 5-2 to refund property owners in eight landscaping and lighting districts four years of the difference between current and 1996 assessment levels.

What's on the tableHow refunds are handled and how landscaping in those districts is paid for in future years.

In April 2026 the council voted 6-1 to set 2026-27 assessment rates for the eight districts at 1996 levels, with Councilmember Sandhu voting no. Fairfield City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
Mayor Moy and Vice Mayor Bertani voted no on the four-year refund. Fairfield City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
The refunds go out automatically, without an application. Fairfield City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026

Measure Q: appointed city clerk

Where it standsMeasure Q asks voters whether Fairfield's city clerk should become an appointed position instead of an elected one.

What's on the tableIf Measure Q passes, the city would fill the clerk's job by appointment after the current clerk's term ends in 2028.

The council voted 7-0 in July 2026 to submit the appointed city clerk measure to voters. Fairfield City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026
City Clerk Karen Rees announced she would not seek the post again. Daily Republic
A 2022 survey by Carlsbad found that about 80% of California cities use an appointed city clerk. Daily Republic

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 Fairfield voters pass Measure P, raising the city's transactions and use tax from 1% to 2%?
2. Should Fairfield go ahead with the Vista Ridge hotel-to-supportive-housing conversion?
3. How should Fairfield refund past landscaping and lighting district assessments?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots begin mailingSolano County Registrar of Voters · Sep 18, 2026Oct 2, 2026
In-person early voting begins at the elections officeSolano County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote (conditional registration after)Solano County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
Election DaySolano County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

1 stay (not up this year): Manveer Sandhu4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The council has seven members: six elected by district and a mayor elected at large, all serving four-year staggered terms. City of Fairfield
The 2026 election fills the District 1, 3 and 5 seats and the mayor's seat, each for a four-year term. City of Fairfield
Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. City of Fairfield
Mayor Rick Vaccaro was appointed by council vote in June 2026 and will serve until the newly elected mayor is sworn in on December 15, 2026. City of Fairfield

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.