Laguna Beach, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Laguna Beach City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

9 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.

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Voters citywide may vote for no more than three candidates for the City Council.

1 note on these statements

Votes shown as 'passed 5-0' are minutes entries reading 'carried unanimously 5/0' with all five councilmembers present. Laguna Beach City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Hallie JonesMayor Pro Tem; Councilmember; term ends 20284sourcedBob WhalenCouncilmember; term ends 20284sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesEmergency room at Mission Hospital, Measure E: council term limits, Design review and permittingKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed; early voting opens at the Registrar of Voters office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Emergency room at Mission Hospital

Where it standsThe council is forming a Hospital Task Force and heard a Mission Hospital Laguna Beach presentation as speakers urged keeping an emergency room.

What's on the tableWhat role the city takes in keeping emergency services in Laguna Beach.

Measure E: council term limits

Where it standsA voter initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot would limit council members to two consecutive four-year terms.

What's on the tableWhether Laguna Beach adopts the term limit is decided by voters on Nov. 3.

Design review and permitting

Where it standsThe council extended an urgency ordinance streamlining design review and adopted objective design standards in August 2026.

What's on the tableHow much design review stays at public hearings versus staff level, and how strictly projects must follow city rules.

Visitors, beaches and enforcement

Where it standsThe council adopted an ordinance and resolution on beach shade covers in April 2026 and added funding for the Clean Laguna campaign.

What's on the tableHow far to tighten rules and enforcement for visitors on beaches and in neighborhoods.

City finances and a possible city charter

Where it standsThe council raised its General Fund contingency reserve and directed staff not to pursue a city charter.

What's on the tableBudget priorities, fee and tax proposals and reserve levels in the next budget cycle.

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. 1. What role should the city take in keeping an emergency room at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach?

  2. 2. How should Laguna Beach handle design review of home projects?

  3. 3. How should the city manage visitors on beaches and in neighborhoods?

  4. 4. Should the city add new local taxes, such as a business license tax?

  5. 5. How should the council treat development proposals that stretch the city's rules?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Hallie Jones, Bob Whalen3 on this ballot

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

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

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