Palmdale City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Richard J. Loa
Councilmember, District 2; term expires November 2028City of Palmdale
Richard J. Loa (Councilmember, District 2) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Palmdale City Council after the election.
Richard J. Loa is the District 2 councilmember and a lawyer practicing criminal, civil and real estate law. He was named mayor on January 1, 2025.
Where Richard J. Loa stands: positions on the record
Elected mayor3 sourced positions
Proposed amending the city code so voters elect one at-large mayor while the five districts stay intact; the motion got no second (April 2025).
“the matter of determining the mayor of the City of Palmdale shall be by election of the voters, and the five districts would remain intact, and one at-large mayor would be selected.”
Own statementPalmdale City Council minutes, April 1, 2025 · Apr 1, 2025
Said residents want a directly elected mayor.
“People want this.”
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
Sales tax (Measure PD)1 sourced position
Voted yes on delaying the next phased increases of the Measure PD sales tax and requesting an analysis of a full repeal (passed 4-0, August 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 no 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
Economic development1 sourced position
Voted yes on economic development subsidy agreements with Palmdale Auto Mall dealerships, with added language requiring a bond or other security acceptable to the city manager (passed 2-1, June 2026).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
City manager1 sourced position
Voted no 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
Voted no on Ordinance No. 1655, which has the council select the mayor and mayor pro tem each year by majority vote (passed 4-1, April 2025).
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, April 1, 2025 · Apr 1, 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
Council actions1 sourced position
Removed from the ceremonial title of mayor and from all city assignments by a City Council vote (3-1, July 2025); he recused himself from the vote.
Council votePalmdale City Council minutes, July 15, 2025 · Jul 15, 2025
What Richard J. Loa said vs. how Richard J. Loa voted
Elected mayor
In their words
Said residents want a directly elected mayor.
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
All 12 Palmdale candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
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