Fort Bragg City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Tess
Albin-Smith
Tess Albin-Smith, the incumbent, is running for Fort Bragg City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 3 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Tess Albin-SmithYou’re reading
- 02Levi W. Cooke
- 03Jason GodekeIncumbent
- 04Mary Rose Kaczorowski
- 05Scott J. Mayberry
- 06Marcia RafananIncumbent
- 07Mary Ann Schmidt
- 08Richard Ulveling
Background
- About
- Two-term Fort Bragg City Council member whose career included CAL FIRE and the State Water Board.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Incumbent
- Party
- Nonpartisan race. California Constitution, Article II, Section 6
On the record: Tess Albin-Smith
11 sourced01Mill site1 sourced position
Voted no on accepting the Mill Site Development Strategy Report and starting Phase 2 of master development agreement planning (passed 3-1, June 2025).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, June 9, 2025 · Jun 9, 2025LinkHow the council voted
02Housing projects1 sourced position
Voted no on approving permits for an 83-unit multifamily project with retail space at 1151 South Main Street (approved, July 2025).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, July 14, 2025 · Jul 14, 2025Link
03Housing rules2 sourced positions
Voted yes on applying to the state's Prohousing Designation Program and committing to advance housing solutions (passed 4-1, September 2025).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, September 22, 2025 · Sep 22, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Written answer to The Mendocino Voice candidate questionnaire
Said she supported shortening permit wait times by combining city and county planning review and waiving administrative fees for ADUs.
Own statementThe Mendocino Voice · Sep 22, 2026Link
04Water and sewer rates1 sourced position
Voted yes on amending the city's water and sewer rates (passed 3-2, March 2026).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, March 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Municipal broadband2 sourced positions
Voted yes on a contract change order of up to $11,242,814 with HP Communications for the municipal broadband utility project (passed 5-0, January 2026).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, January 26, 2026 · Jan 26, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Says she introduced the concept of city-owned affordable high-speed internet.
I introduced the concept of city-owned affordable high-speed internet.”
Own statementCity of Fort Bragg · Jul 15, 2026Link
06State forestry bill1 sourced position
Voted no on approving a council letter supporting Assembly Bill 2494, Modernizing Our Forest System (failed 2-3, April 2026).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, April 13, 2026 · Apr 13, 2026LinkHow the council voted
07Fire protection tax1 sourced position
Voted yes on placing a Fort Bragg Fire Protection Measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteFort Bragg City Council minutes, June 22, 2026 · Jun 22, 2026LinkHow the council voted
08Flock cameras1 sourced position
As reported by The Mendocino Voice from the League of Women Voters forum on October 1, 2026; not a direct quote unless quoted
Said the current police chief should brief the council before any decision on the Flock license-plate cameras.
I’m more on the end of taking it out than leaving them in.”
Forum answerThe Mendocino Voice · Oct 2, 2026Link
09Mill site ballot vote1 sourced position
As reported by The Mendocino Voice from the League of Women Voters forum on October 1, 2026; not a direct quote unless quoted
Said no when asked whether she would send a binding mill site master development agreement to the ballot before voting to adopt it.
I think the voters aren’t always aware of what’s going on, but I think the people that come to these workshops are the ones that know”
Forum answerThe Mendocino Voice · Oct 2, 2026Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Tess Albin-Smith: their words and their votes on the same issue
Housing rules
In their words
Said she supported shortening permit wait times by combining city and county planning review and waiving administrative fees for ADUs.
Sep 22, 2026 ·Written answer to The Mendocino Voice candidate questionnaire ·The Mendocino Voice · Sep 22, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on applying to the state's Prohousing Designation Program and committing to advance housing solutions (passed 4-1, September 2025).
Sep 22, 2025 ·Fort Bragg City Council minutes, September 22, 2025 · Sep 22, 2025
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