Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fullerton City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

5 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.

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

Shana CharlesIncumbentCouncilmember, District 3 (term Dec. 2022 to Dec. 2026)17sourced
Daniel KimFounder of the Dragon Kim Foundation, which funds student service projects and college scholarships. Professionally, he is a turnaround specialist who helps failing companies return to profitability.10sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Only voters who live in District 3 or District 5 vote in this council election; each picks one candidate for their own district, and the top vote-getter wins.

3 notes on these statements

District 5 Councilmember Ahmad Zahra is not seeking reelection in 2026. Daily Titan · Dec 17, 2025

The League of Women Voters forum for Districts 3 and 5 included Valadez, Charles, Maldonado and Kim; David Fischbein was not on the panel. Fullerton Observer · Sep 26, 2026

Mayor Fred Jung contributed $5,000 to Daniel Kim's campaign. Fullerton Observer · Sep 22, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Nicholas DunlapMayor Pro Tem; Councilmember, District 2 (term Dec. 2024 to Dec. 2028)9sourced Fred JungMayor; Councilmember, District 1 (term Dec. 2024 to Dec. 2028)10sourced Jamie ValenciaCouncilmember, District 4 (term Dec. 2024 to Dec. 2028)10sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget and deficit, Roads and a sales tax, Mayor selection and recall Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and deficit

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council adopted a 2026-27 budget that closed a projected deficit with cuts, without a planned draw on reserves.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the cuts and reserves, restore services, or find new revenue.

Fullerton began the 2026-27 budget process with a projected $13.7 million deficit. Fullerton Observer · Aug 24, 2026
The budget passed 3-2, with Valencia, Dunlap and Jung in favor and Charles and Zahra against. Fullerton Observer · Aug 24, 2026
It cut 26 vacant jobs, including six police positions and a fire marshal opening. Voice of OC · Aug 19, 2026
The city projects ending the fiscal year with about $16 million in fund balance. Fullerton Observer · Aug 24, 2026

Roads and a sales tax

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted 3-2 not to put a half-cent streets sales tax on the November 2026 ballot.

What's on the tableHow to pay for road repairs, and whether to ask voters for a tax in 2028.

City staff said Fullerton's road system is the worst-rated in Orange County. Fullerton Observer · Jul 23, 2026
Staff estimated the tax would raise about $15 million a year, against a repair backlog of about $200 million. Fullerton Observer · Jul 23, 2026
The soonest the council can now ask voters for a new tax is the 2028 election. Voice of OC · Jul 22, 2026

Mayor selection and recall

Where it standsThe council picks its mayor each year; in December 2025 Jung, Dunlap and Valencia chose Jung again, and recall notices were served on Jung and Valencia in July 2026.

What's on the tableWho serves as mayor and mayor pro tem after the election.

Each year the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor and one as mayor pro tem. City of Fullerton
Jung, Dunlap and Valencia voted Jung in for his fourth time as mayor, and Dunlap was selected mayor pro tem. Fullerton Observer · Jan 8, 2026
Notices of intention to recall Mayor Fred Jung and Councilmember Jamie Valencia were delivered before the July 21, 2026 council meeting. Orange County Register · Jul 27, 2026

Housing and downtown

Where it standsThe council is studying city-owned downtown lots for housing, and it approved a contested 32-townhome project on Hermosa Drive in June 2026.

What's on the tableWhich housing projects and downtown street changes to approve.

Fullerton's 2021-2029 state housing allocation is 13,209 units. Daily Titan · May 11, 2026
In August 2026 the council voted 4-1 to start studying three city-owned properties for housing. Fullerton Observer · Aug 26, 2026
In June 2026 the council approved the Hermosa Drive townhomes 3-2, after the builder agreed to a traffic study. Fullerton Observer · Jun 20, 2026
Walk on Wilshire ended in early 2025 after a 2-2 council vote, and the street reopened to cars. Daily Titan · Jan 27, 2025

License-plate cameras

Where it standsPolice use Flock license-plate cameras; in September 2026 Zahra and Charles asked for a fuller council discussion of the policy.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or limit the city's Flock camera program.

Fullerton has 19 Flock automated license plate reader cameras, two of them mobile. Voice of OC · Sep 21, 2026
The police chief said collected data is erased after a month unless preserved as evidence. Voice of OC · Sep 21, 2026
The city has spent $236,000 on the cameras since installing them in 2021. Voice of OC · Sep 21, 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. In August 2026 the council balanced the budget with about $6.9 million in cuts, including unfunding 26 vacant jobs, while keeping about $16 million in reserves. Was that the right approach?
2. In July 2026 the council voted not to put a half-cent sales tax for street repairs on the November ballot. Should the city ask voters for a new sales tax?
3. Each December the council picks one of its members as mayor. Fullerton has a rotation policy for the post, but the council majority has chosen Fred Jung again. Should the council follow the rotation?
4. Fullerton does not allow legal cannabis stores. Should it?
5. Walk on Wilshire closed a downtown block of Wilshire Avenue to cars from 2020 until early 2025, when the council let it reopen to traffic. Should the block close to cars again?
6. In 2026 the council first upheld a denial of a 32-townhome "builder's remedy" project on Hermosa Drive, then approved it after the builder agreed to a traffic study. Should it have been approved?

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

3 stay (not up this year): Nicholas Dunlap, Fred Jung, Jamie Valencia2 on this ballot

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

Voters in Districts 3 and 5 elect their City Council representative on Nov. 3, 2026. City of Fullerton
Fullerton has a council-manager government: five elected council members set policy, and the council appoints a city manager. City of Fullerton
Each year the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor and one as mayor pro tem. City of Fullerton
Council members may serve three successive four-year terms. City of Fullerton

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.