Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Pacific Grove Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 7

council seats up

5 contests

10 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

Luke ColettiRetired marine research technician and former Pacific Grove councilmember. He served four years on the council.4sourced
Nick SmithIncumbentMayor of Pacific Grove since 2024 and a councilmember from 2016 to 2024. He served on the Planning Commission before joining the council.5sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · Unopposed

Chris ThomasRetired auto dealership manager who serves on the Pacific Grove library advisory board.2sourced

City Council At-Large · 1 seat

Districts 1, 3 and 5 each elect one councilmember; the ballot also has the mayor and one at-large council seat for a two-year term.

4 notes on these statements

Chris Thomas is running unopposed in District 5. Monterey County Weekly, Eight candidates are vying for four seats in P.G.'s first-ever district election

Cynthia Garfield was appointed to the council on January 15, 2025 to fill a vacancy. City of Pacific Grove, Cynthia Garfield biography

The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum on September 15, 2026, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Monterey County. City of Pacific Grove, November 3, 2026 General Election and Ballot Measures

City Measure R, a 0.375% sales tax, is also on the November 3, 2026 ballot. City of Pacific Grove, November 3, 2026 General Election and Ballot Measures

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Chaps PoduriCouncilmember; term ends November 20282sourced Tina RauCouncilmember; term ends November 20282sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget, pensions and oversight, Measure R sales tax, Council and mayor pay Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed and ballot return locations open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget, pensions and oversight

Where it standsThe city closed the last fiscal year with a $1.96 million general fund deficit and carries a large pension liability.

What's on the tableHow the next council balances the budget, handles pension costs and oversees spending.

Pacific Grove closed the last fiscal year with a $1.96 million general fund deficit. Carmel Pine Cone, Oct. 2, 2026, Eight vie for P.G. council seats · Oct 2, 2026
The city's net pension liability is about $55 million, and roughly 20% of general fund spending last year went to pension costs. Carmel Pine Cone, Oct. 2, 2026, Eight vie for P.G. council seats · Oct 2, 2026
The city has identified an estimated $21 million of unfunded infrastructure needs over the next 10 years. City of Pacific Grove, Funding Update (Measure R)

Measure R sales tax

Where it standsMeasure R, a 0.375% sales tax, is on the November 3, 2026 ballot after the council voted to place it there in July.

What's on the tableVoters decide the tax; the council then decides how to spend the revenue, which is not earmarked.

Measure R would raise approximately $1,000,000 annually for 10 years. City of Pacific Grove, November 3, 2026 General Election and Ballot Measures
The council voted 6-0, with Councilmember Poduri absent, to place the measure on the ballot on July 7, 2026. Pacific Grove City Council draft minutes, July 7, 2026 (special meeting) · Jul 7, 2026
Measure R is a general tax needing a simple majority and cannot be earmarked for specific uses. Carmel Pine Cone, Oct. 2, 2026, Eight vie for P.G. council seats · Oct 2, 2026

Council and mayor pay

Where it standsVoters defeated the council pay measure in June 2026 after the council repealed its 2025 pay increase.

What's on the tableWhether any future pay change is proposed, and how it would be put to voters.

The council adopted Ordinance 25-007 on May 21, 2025 by a 5-2 vote, raising council pay to $966 a month and mayor pay to $1,610. City of Pacific Grove, Ordinance No. 25-007 (council and mayor compensation) · May 21, 2025
The council repealed Ordinance 25-007 on September 17, 2025 after a referendum petition was submitted. City of Pacific Grove, Ordinance No. 25-016 (repealing Ordinance 25-007) · Sep 17, 2025
On June 2, 2026, voters defeated Measure C, 55.97% no to 44.03% yes. Ballotpedia, Pacific Grove Measure C (June 2026)

Housing

Where it standsThe state-mandated housing element has been completed, and candidates list housing among their priorities.

What's on the tableHow the council applies housing rules and supports affordable housing projects.

Planning Commission chair Andrew Kubica said at the September 15 forum that the housing element was completed during his tenure. Carmel Pine Cone, Oct. 2, 2026, Eight vie for P.G. council seats · Oct 2, 2026
Councilmember Tina Rau lists meeting the state-mandated housing element among her council focus areas. City of Pacific Grove, Tina Rau biography

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. How should you vote on Measure R, the 0.375% city sales tax?
2. What should happen with council and mayor pay?
3. How should the council oversee the budget?
4. Should Pacific Grove share police services with another city?
5. How should Pacific Grove approach new housing?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots mailed and ballot return locations openMonterey County Elections, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 5, 2026
Regular voter registration endsMonterey County Elections, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 19, 2026
Recommended last day to return ballots by mailMonterey County Elections, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 27, 2026
Election Day; last day to return ballots in person by 8 PMMonterey County Elections, November 3, 2026 General ElectionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Chaps Poduri, Tina Rau5 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The City Council has seven voting members, including the mayor; Pacific Grove divided into six voting districts last year. Carmel Pine Cone, Oct. 2, 2026, Eight vie for P.G. council seats · Oct 2, 2026
The November 3, 2026 ballot has the mayor (two-year term), council seats for Districts 1, 3 and 5 (four-year terms) and one at-large council seat (two-year term). City of Pacific Grove, November 3, 2026 General Election and Ballot Measures
Districts 2, 4 and 6 are scheduled for election in November 2028; with no one representing District 2, the added at-large seat is for two years. Monterey County Weekly, Eight candidates are vying for four seats in P.G.'s first-ever district election

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