Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Martinez City Council Election 2026

1 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

2 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 District 1 · 1 seat

Nakenya Allen3sourced
Jay HowardIncumbentJay Howard is the District 1 councilmember and a construction superintendent. He was elected to the City Council in November 2022 and has been Superintendent for G Swanson Construction since 2014.8sourced

Only the District 1 council seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the mayor and District 4 seats were filled by appointment because each had a single candidate.

2 notes on these statements

Jay Howard and Nakenya Allen are the two candidates on the ballot for District 1. The mayor and District 4 offices do not appear on the ballot. City of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026

Martinez action minutes list each member by name in the tally; positions here are limited to votes where Jay Howard, Brianne Zorn, Greg Young, Satinder S. Malhi or Debbie McKillop is named in the tally. Martinez City Council Action Minutes, August 5, 2026 · Aug 5, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Satinder S. MalhiVice Mayor, District 3; term ends December 20284sourced Debbie McKillopCouncilmember, District 4; appointed in lieu of election in August 20264sourced Greg YoungCouncilmember, District 2; term ends December 20284sourced Brianne ZornMayor; appointed to the office in lieu of election in August 20265sourced

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesMarina and waterfront, Hidden Valley Sport Courts, Homelessness and encampments Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Write-in candidate filing closes (District 1)

Tue, Oct 20, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Marina and waterfront

Where it standsThe Council approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Tucker Sadler Architects in December 2025, and the marina continues to need General Fund support.

What's on the tableWhether and how to advance waterfront redevelopment and how to cover marina costs.

The City Council approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Tucker Sadler Architects on December 17, 2025. Martinez City Council Action Minutes, December 17, 2025 · Dec 17, 2025
The city says it has spent almost $2 million from its General Fund on urgent marina needs over the past five years. City of Martinez
The FY 2026-27 budget adopted June 24, 2026 included a $420,000 loan to the Marina Enterprise Fund. Martinez City Council Action Minutes, June 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026

Hidden Valley Sport Courts

Where it standsOn September 2, 2026 the Council deferred the tennis conversion pending the Park System Master Plan and asked staff to return with a 9:00 p.m. closure.

What's on the tableFinal hours for Hidden Valley Sport Courts and whether citywide park hours change.

The Council directed staff to return with a resolution establishing a 9:00 p.m. closure at Hidden Valley Sport Courts and to bring back citywide park hours for discussion. Martinez City Council Action Minutes, September 2, 2026 · Sep 2, 2026

Homelessness and encampments

Where it standsThe Council passed an encampment ordinance in September 2024, and the city directs residents to county services for unhoused residents.

What's on the tableHow the city balances enforcement with services and county partnerships.

The Martinez City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on September 18, 2024 to clear out homeless encampments, even if a shelter is not available. NBC Bay Area · Sep 18, 2024
The city's resource page directs residents to call 211 for social services and encampments and lists county programs for unhoused residents. City of Martinez

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. What should the Council do about the marina and waterfront?
2. What should happen with Hidden Valley Sport Courts hours?
3. How should Martinez respond to homelessness?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Write-in candidate filing closes (District 1)City of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026Oct 20, 2026
Election Day (polls 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026Nov 3, 2026
Election results publishedCity of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026Nov 9, 2026
Election ceremony and Council re-organizationCity of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026Dec 9, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Satinder S. Malhi, Debbie McKillop, Greg Young, Brianne Zorn1 on this ballot

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

Martinez is governed by a five-member City Council serving four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is elected at large and four councilmembers are elected by district. City of Martinez
The mayor and District 4 elections were cancelled because no more candidates than offices qualified; the Council appointed the qualified candidates in lieu of election on August 19, 2026. City of Martinez · Aug 25, 2026

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