Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Lake Forest City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

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 District 2 · 1 seat

George AzerOwner of a local small business in Lake Forest who says he studied law.3sourced
Brandon CouncilResearch and development mechanical engineer who has led cross-functional technical teams for over a decade.1sourced
Becky KeeneCertified public accountant and Lake Forest resident since 1992. Lists volunteer service with the El Toro High School PSTO and the Lake Forest Race Committee.2sourced
Brittany ThompsonCommunity volunteer, nonprofit founder and ordained minister running for the Lake Forest City Council.3sourced
Benjamin YuIncumbentCouncilmember, District 2; term ends November 20264sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Lake Forest elects its council by district: each voter chooses among the candidates in their own district, and Districts 2, 3 and 4 are on the ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Benjamin Yu is the incumbent in District 2 and faces George Azer, Brandon Council, Becky Keene and Brittany Thompson. Orange County Register · Aug 14, 2026

Council members Mark Tettemer and Scott Voigts are set to term out of office in November 2026. Voice of OC · Feb 10, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Doug CirboMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District 1; term ends November 20282sourced Robert PequeñoMayor and Councilmember, District 5; term ends November 20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCouncil term limits (Measure F), Whispering Hills site and housing, Costco and industrial development Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Council term limits (Measure F)

Where it standsOn July 7, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to put a measure on the November ballot that would let former council members run again after a four-year break.

What's on the tableVoters, not the council, decide Measure F; the next council will serve under whichever rule passes.

Voters set the current two-term lifetime limit in 2018 with 82.5% of the vote. Daily Pilot · Jul 11, 2026
City staff said placing the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot costs $8,500. Orange County Register · Jul 8, 2026
Ballotpedia lists the term-limit referral as Lake Forest Measure F on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Ballotpedia

Whispering Hills site and housing

Where it standsOn June 16, 2026 the council voted 4-0, with Councilmember Scott Voigts absent, to abandon the park designation on the Whispering Hills site and put it up for sale with a deed restriction.

What's on the tableHow the site is sold and developed, including affordable housing, and how Lake Forest meets its state housing requirements.

On June 16, 2026 the council voted 4-0, with Councilmember Voigts absent, to abandon the land and put it up for sale with a deed restriction. Voice of OC · Jun 1, 2026
In April 2026 the council voted 4-0, with Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo absent, to authorize staff to start the park abandonment and Surplus Land Act process for the site. Lake Forest City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 (in the April 21 agenda packet) · Apr 7, 2026
The June plan designates 2.5 acres as park space, and the remaining 4 acres are to be developed for low-income housing. Voice of OC · Jun 1, 2026
The state requires Lake Forest to zone for 3,236 new housing units, and 983 had been zoned as of the end of last year. Voice of OC · Jun 1, 2026

Costco and industrial development

Where it standsThe council approved a Costco at Foothill Ranch Towne Centre in March 2026 and a large industrial building at 26200 Enterprise Way in July 2026.

What's on the tableFuture retail and industrial projects, and how the city weighs traffic and environmental findings against business growth.

The Planning Commission approved the Costco project in February 2026. Lake Forest Planning Commission minutes, February 5, 2026 · Feb 5, 2026
The council adopted resolutions approving the Costco project on appeal, 5-0, in March 2026. Lake Forest City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 (in the April 7 agenda packet) · Mar 17, 2026

Cavanaugh Park renovation

Where it standsThe council approved the Cavanaugh Park concept plan in February 2026 and awarded a $589,107 design contract in July 2026.

What's on the tableConstruction funding and phasing for the park renovation.

In January 2026 the council tabled the concept plan so staff could add information on budgeting and funding sources. Lake Forest City Council minutes, January 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
In February 2026 the council approved the concept plan and directed phased construction in the final design scope, 5-0. Lake Forest City Council minutes, February 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026

Sheriff contract and e-bike safety

Where it standsThe council approved the 2026-27 law enforcement agreement with the County of Orange in May 2026, and e-bike safety has come up at recent meetings.

What's on the tableLaw enforcement staffing and spending, and any city response to e-bike safety.

The council approved the fiscal year 2026-27 law enforcement agreement with the County of Orange 4-0 on May 21, 2026. Lake Forest City Council special meeting minutes, May 21, 2026 (in the June 2 agenda packet) · May 21, 2026
The city's 2025-26 contract with the Sheriff's Department was $22,738,891, a 6.45 percent increase over the prior year. City of Lake Forest
At the May 21 meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo invited a sheriff's captain to share information on the department's education and enforcement of e-bike regulations. Lake Forest City Council special meeting minutes, May 21, 2026 (in the June 2 agenda packet) · May 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. Should former council members who served two consecutive terms be allowed to run again after a four-year break?
2. Should the city approve a Costco on the old theater site at Foothill Ranch Towne Centre?
3. Should the city renovate Cavanaugh Park in phases as planned?
4. How should Lake Forest respond to e-bike safety concerns?

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): Doug Cirbo, Robert Pequeño3 on this ballot

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

The five-member City Council is elected by district, and council members are nonpartisan. City of Lake Forest · Aug 9, 2026
The council is made up of five residents elected to four-year terms. City of Lake Forest
Districts 2, 3 and 4 are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. City of Lake Forest · Aug 9, 2026
The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are selected by a vote of the council members each December to serve the following calendar year. City of Lake Forest · Aug 9, 2026
Districts 1 and 5, held by Doug Cirbo and Robert Pequeño, are up in 2028. City of Lake Forest

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