Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Orinda City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

4 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

Brandyn IversonIncumbent7sourced
Latika MalkaniIncumbentAttorney and business owner serving on the Orinda City Council since 2022. Served as mayor in 2025 and has lived in Orinda for 22 years.6sourced
Janet RileyIncumbentOrinda councilmember and longtime volunteer leader in local schools, the Garden Club and Girl Scouts. Also serves on the Recycle Smart board and as liaison to several city groups.7sourced
Juana RudatiPhysicist with a Ph.D. and mother of an Orinda public school student, running for council for the first time. Has lived in Orinda more than 15 years and worked as a substitute teacher in its public schools.6sourced

Voters choose up to three of four candidates for three at-large four-year seats; the other two seats are not on the ballot until 2028.

3 notes on these statements

Councilmembers Darlene Gee and Cara Hoxie are not on the ballot in 2026. The Orinda News, Orinda council candidates tackle economic development, fire safety · Sep 25, 2026

Brandyn Iverson, Latika Malkani, Janet Riley and Juana Rudati were each interviewed separately by The Orinda News. The Orinda News, Orinda council candidates tackle economic development, fire safety · Sep 25, 2026

Juana Rudati filed and qualified for the ballot on Aug. 6; Janet Riley qualified on July 22. The Orinda News, Orinda Council election draws three incumbents, one challenger · Aug 26, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Darlene GeeOrinda City Council member serving as vice mayor in 2026 and on the council's Affordable Housing Subcommittee.4sourced Cara HoxieOrinda City Council member who sits on the council's Downtown Planning and Revitalization Subcommittee.4sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesWildfire evacuation and Moraga Way, Ivy Drive school traffic, Downtown business and storefront grants Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Wildfire evacuation and Moraga Way

Where it standsThe city uses Ladris software for evacuation modeling, and a federally funded planning study will look at an emergency access lane along Moraga Way.

What's on the tableWhether to extend the evacuation-modeling contract and which evacuation improvements to fund.

Staff proposed a two-year extension of the Ladris evacuation-modeling agreement at a fixed $252,700 a year; the existing one-year agreement expires at the end of August 2026. City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Orinda and Moraga received a $508,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant for a Moraga Way planning study that will explore a shared-use path that could serve as an emergency access lane. The Orinda Way, Spring 2026
Malkani called a possible third lane on Moraga Way an incredibly big and expensive project that would need regional collaboration and outside funding. The Orinda News, Orinda council candidates tackle economic development, fire safety · Sep 25, 2026

Ivy Drive school traffic

Where it standsThe council approved most Ivy Drive pilot changes on April 7 but did not remove the left-turn restriction onto Ivy Drive.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or remove the no-left-turn restriction once pilot data is reviewed.

The pilot is to gather data from the start of the school year through the end of the year and continue until February 2027 so staff can evaluate it. Lamorinda Weekly, Divided Orinda city council vote on traffic signage actions around Ivy Drive · May 13, 2026
The incumbents listed smart traffic lights, flashing crosswalks and more police presence among the steps taken near the schools. The Orinda News, Orinda council candidates tackle economic development, fire safety · Sep 25, 2026

Downtown business and storefront grants

Where it standsThe council adopted a one-year pilot Facade Improvement Program with a $75,000 budget in June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to continue or expand storefront grants and how to fill vacant commercial space.

The pilot runs July 2026 through June 2027; projects over $10,000 require applicant matching funds, with the city contributing up to $30,000 per project. City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Iverson said both sides of town have real vacancy issues and that the city can only encourage property owners to find tenants. The Orinda News, Orinda council candidates tackle economic development, fire safety · Sep 25, 2026

Housing rules

Where it standsThe council gave staff direction on a possible inclusionary housing ordinance in May 2026 and introduced a rezoning for 23 Altarinda Road in February.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt an inclusionary housing ordinance and how much affordable housing to require.

Staff and a council subcommittee recommended reducing the affordable-housing requirement from 15% to 10% and continuing to exempt single-family developments. City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026

Meeting access and transparency

Where it standsCouncil meetings have agendas and approved minutes posted by the city; one candidate wants live access and recordings for all public meetings.

What's on the tableWhat public access the city provides to commission and committee meetings.

The city says agendas are available before meetings and minutes are available after approval. City of Orinda, City Council
Rudati calls for easier public access to recordings, minutes and supporting materials from city meetings. The Orinda News, Orinda Council election draws three incumbents, one challenger · Aug 26, 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. What should happen to the weekday-morning no-left-turn restriction onto Ivy Drive?
2. Should Orinda adopt a local inclusionary housing ordinance?
3. Should the city fund matching grants for storefront improvements?
4. What should the city prioritize to improve wildfire evacuation?
5. Which city meetings should be livestreamed and recorded?

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 mailedContra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 5, 2026
Voter registration deadlineContra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 19, 2026
Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballotContra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 27, 2026
Regional early voting beginsContra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 30, 2026
Election DayContra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, November 3, 2026 General ElectionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Darlene Gee, Cara Hoxie3 on this ballot

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

The council has five elected members who serve staggered four-year terms; the mayor is a member and presiding officer of the council. City of Orinda, City Council
The council selected its mayor and vice mayor from among its members on Dec. 16, 2025, according to its custom; Brandyn Iverson was unanimously selected mayor for 2026. Lamorinda Weekly, Orinda mayor gives awards of excellence before selection of new mayor, vice mayor · Jan 14, 2026
Three council seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, now held by Brandyn Iverson, Latika Malkani and Janet Riley. City of Orinda, Election Information

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