Palmdale City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Austin Bishop
Mayor Pro Tem; Councilmember, District 1; term expires November 2028City of Palmdale
Austin Bishop (Mayor Pro Tem) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Palmdale City Council after the election.
Austin Bishop is the District 1 councilmember and owner of a printing business. He was first elected to the City Council in 2016 and served as mayor through 2024.
Where Austin Bishop stands: positions on the record
Elected mayor3 sourced positions
Spoke in support of the rotational mayor system and nominated Eric Ohlsen as mayor (December 2025).
Own statementPalmdale City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Said the community is divided and voters should decide how the mayor is chosen.
“We’re at the point where we need to let the people decide and we need to put this issue to bed,”
Own statementAntelope Valley Press · Jul 25, 2026
Voted yes on placing a measure on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot to create a directly elected mayor starting in 2028 (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council agenda packet, Sept. 1, 2026 (draft minutes of July 7 and Aug. 4, 2026) · Sep 1, 2026
City contracts1 sourced position
Voted yes on extending the Tripepi Smith communications contract to a total of up to $5,552,000 through December 2028 (passed 3-2, July 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council agenda packet, Sept. 1, 2026 (draft minutes of July 7 and Aug. 4, 2026) · Sep 1, 2026
City manager1 sourced position
Moved and voted yes on the employment agreement making Salvador Mendez city manager (passed 3-2, March 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, March 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026
Budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting the city's 2026-27 budget (passed 3-1, June 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
Council pay and benefits1 sourced position
Voted yes on resolutions setting executive staff compensation and creating a medical benefit program for active councilmembers (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council agenda packet, Sept. 1, 2026 (draft minutes of July 7 and Aug. 4, 2026) · Sep 1, 2026
How the mayor is chosen1 sourced position
Moved and voted yes on Ordinance No. 1655, which has the council select the mayor and mayor pro tem each year, with no back-to-back terms (passed 4-1, April 2025).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, April 1, 2025 · Apr 1, 2025
Council actions1 sourced position
Voted yes on removing Richard J. Loa from the ceremonial title of mayor and from all city assignments (passed 3-1, July 2025).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, July 15, 2025 · Jul 15, 2025
Development1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance No. 1652 and Resolution No. CC 2025-011, approving a zone change and permits for a Beyond Foods project (passed 4-1, March 2025).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, March 4, 2025 · Mar 4, 2025
What Austin Bishop said vs. how Austin Bishop voted
Elected mayor
In their words
Said the community is divided and voters should decide how the mayor is chosen.
Jul 25, 2026 ·Antelope Valley Press · Jul 25, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on placing a measure on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot to create a directly elected mayor starting in 2028 (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Sep 1, 2026 ·Palmdale City Council agenda packet, Sept. 1, 2026 (draft minutes of July 7 and Aug. 4, 2026) · Sep 1, 2026
On the ballot this time
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