Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fountain Valley City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

9 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 3

Elizabeth AndradeExecutive Director of 2-1-1 Orange County with nearly two decades in the social services field.3sourced
Kim ConstantineIncumbentFountain Valley council member who served four years as a Chamber of Commerce director.5sourced
Jim CunneenIncumbentFountain Valley council member serving a first four-year term after being elected in 2022.4sourced
Harrison F. DibbleeCandidate for Fountain Valley City Council with the ballot occupation Educator.1sourced
Dan HayLongtime youth coach and business owner who spent 25 years as a commercial insurance broker.3sourced
Mark LeonardMarine Corps veteran and Fountain Valley resident who describes himself as an operations expert.3sourced
Patricia Odette NealCandidate for Fountain Valley City Council with the ballot occupation Registered Nurse.1sourced
John NguyenEngineer with degrees in electrical and chemical engineering who was raised in Fountain Valley.2sourced
Katy WrightRetired communication technician and former CHP public safety dispatcher.2sourced

Voters choose up to three of the nine candidates for the three open at-large council seats.

4 notes on these statements

Patrick Harper’s council term expires in November 2026. City of Fountain Valley

Patrick Harper is listed as an incumbent for this contest but is not among the nine qualified candidates. Orange County Registrar of Voters

The charter city measure that the council first placed on the 2026 ballot is not on this ballot; the council moved the public vote to 2028. Voice of OC · Jan 22, 2026

Glenn Grandis and Ted Bui are City Council members whose terms expire in November 2028. City of Fountain Valley

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Ted BuiCouncilmember; term expires November 20284sourced Glenn GrandisCouncilmember; term expires November 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 decidesCharter city proposal, Housing and rezoning requests, How the mayor is chosen Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Charter city proposal

Where it standsIn November 2025 the council voted 3-2 to put a charter measure on the 2026 ballot; in January 2026 it voted to survey residents and move the public vote to 2028.

What's on the tableThe next council will receive the survey results and decide whether to draft a charter and when to send it to voters.

The council voted 3-2 on Nov. 4, 2025 to place a charter measure on the November 2026 ballot. Fountain Valley City Council minutes, Nov. 4, 2025 (in the Nov. 18, 2025 agenda packet) · Nov 4, 2025
On Jan. 20, 2026 the council voted to create a survey to gauge community interest and move the public vote on the issue to 2028. Voice of OC · Jan 22, 2026
Becoming a charter city could give Fountain Valley more control over its local housing regulations, elections and zoning; it is currently a general law city. Voice of OC · Nov 5, 2025

Housing and rezoning requests

Where it standsThe city must plan for 4,839 new homes in the 2021-2029 cycle, and in June 2026 the council denied a rezoning for a 72-unit apartment project on Warner Avenue.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on rezoning requests and on the next housing element update.

The state housing allocation requires Fountain Valley to plan for 4,839 new homes for 2021-2029. Daily Pilot · Jun 5, 2026
The Parkside FV project proposed a 72-unit apartment complex at 8550 Warner Ave., a site with an existing commercial shopping center. Daily Pilot · Jun 5, 2026

How the mayor is chosen

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council voted 4-1 to introduce an ordinance making mayor and vice mayor selection a mandatory rotation.

What's on the tableThe next council will operate under the rotation and can remove a mayor or vice mayor by a vote.

The rotation gives the office to the council member who has gone longest since last serving as mayor. Daily Pilot · May 7, 2026
The city attorney said that after a member is rotated in, the council has discretion to remove that person. Daily Pilot · May 7, 2026

Police staffing

Where it standsThe police department has 56 sworn officers against 64 authorized positions and aims to be fully staffed by mid-to-late 2027.

What's on the tableThe next council will fund and oversee recruitment for the department.

The department grew from 52 to 56 sworn officers in 2026, leaving eight vacancies out of 64 authorized. Daily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
The police chief aims for full sworn staffing by middle to late 2027. Daily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
The council voted unanimously in June 2026 to make a police hiring incentive program permanent. Daily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026

Measure HH and the city budget

Where it standsMeasure HH, a 1% transactions tax approved in 2016, sunsets in 2037 and was expected to raise about $17 million in 2023.

What's on the tableThe council sets each year’s budget and will decide how to plan for the end of Measure HH.

Voters approved Measure HH in 2016; it assesses a 1% tax on transactions and sunsets in 2037. Daily Pilot · Mar 17, 2023
The funds can be used for essential city services such as public safety, and senior and youth programs. Daily Pilot · Mar 17, 2023
The finance director said in March 2023 that the tax was expected to bring in about $17 million that year. Daily Pilot · Mar 17, 2023

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. Fountain Valley is a general law city. Should it become a charter city?
2. The police department has eight vacant officer positions. What should the city do?
3. Measure HH’s 1% sales tax ends in 2037. What should the city do?

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 availableOrange County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote (conditional registration after)Orange County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
Vote centers openOrange County Registrar of VotersOct 24, 2026
Additional vote centers openOrange County Registrar of VotersOct 31, 2026
Election DayOrange County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Ted Bui, Glenn Grandis3 on this ballot

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

The November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election fills three City Council seats for four-year terms. City of Fountain Valley · Feb 10, 2026
The three open seats are filled in an at-large election. Orange County Register · Aug 14, 2026
The council reorganized in December 2025 with Jim Cunneen as Mayor, Patrick Harper as Vice Mayor, and Kim Constantine, Glenn Grandis and Ted Bui as Council Members. City of Fountain Valley · Dec 2, 2025
Council members can serve three consecutive four-year terms before sitting out one election cycle. Daily Pilot · Oct 22, 2025

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