Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Petaluma Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

10 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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

John HananiaSmall business owner and 36-year Petaluma resident who has attended City Council meetings since 1991. He says he is a former board member of Petaluma Community Access.3sourced
Kevin McDonnellIncumbentCurrent Petaluma mayor and former civil engineer who has served on city Planning, Parks, Art and Youth commissions. He says he was president of the Petaluma Youth Soccer League.9sourced
Shelina MoredaFifth-generation farmer and small business owner who grew up in Petaluma. She says protecting open space and local food security is very important to her.4sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

Voters citywide choose the mayor, and voters in Districts 1, 2 and 3 each choose one councilmember for their own district.

2 notes on these statements

Elece Hempel withdrew her candidacy in District 2, leaving Brent Newell as the challenger to John Shribbs, according to the Argus-Courier. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Aug 11, 2026

Frank Quint, Alex DeCarli and Brian Barnacle serve on the council but are not on the 2026 ballot. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Aug 11, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Brian BarnacleCouncilmember, District 6; up for reelection in 20288sourced Alex DeCarliCouncilmember, District 5; up for reelection in 20286sourced Frank QuintCouncilmember, District 4; up for reelection in 20288sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesDowntown hotel and building heights, New General Plan and growth, Animal services Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing; early voting sites open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Downtown hotel and building heights

Where it standsEKN Development told the city in September 2026 it will not build its approved four-story downtown hotel and is exploring a sale of the site.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to respond to the abandoned hotel project and what downtown height and density rules apply.

The council adopted the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay and EKN Appellation hotel approvals on a 5-1 vote in April 2025, with Karen Nau voting no. Petaluma City Council minutes, April 21, 2025 · Apr 21, 2025
In March 2026 the council voted to repeal the General Plan amendment that would have raised the overlay's allowed floor area ratio from 2.5 to 6.0. Petaluma City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
The city placed a lien on the property to recover $860,000 in project costs, and says the four-story hotel approval remains in place for another developer. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Sep 25, 2026

New General Plan and growth

Where it standsThe council voted 6-1 on Sept. 14, 2026 to approve the new General Plan and its environmental impact report, with Alex DeCarli voting no.

What's on the tableThe next council will implement the General Plan through zoning changes, development approvals and building-height decisions.

The council voted 6-1 in December 2025 to approve the preferred citywide land use map and designation standards for the General Plan update. Petaluma City Council minutes, December 15, 2025 · Dec 15, 2025
The council voted 6-1 in May 2026 to direct staff to prepare the final environmental impact report and final General Plan for adoption. Petaluma City Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026
Alex DeCarli was the sole council member to vote against both the General Plan and its environmental impact report on Sept. 14, 2026. Petaluma Voice

Animal services

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council directed staff to terminate the city's animal services contract with NBAS and transition to new service providers.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the transition to new animal services providers and the follow-up to the Civil Grand Jury report.

On March 2, 2026 the council directed staff to move forward with Option 2, to terminate the NBAS contract and transition to new service providers. Petaluma City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
The council voted 5-2 on July 20, 2026 to approve its response to the Civil Grand Jury report titled Animal Services Revisited: A City Asleep at the Wheel. Petaluma City Council minutes, July 20, 2026 · Jul 20, 2026

Lucchesi Park field

Where it standsIn February 2025 the council directed staff to replace the Lucchesi Park field with all-weather synthetic turf and subsurface upgrades.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee construction of the field project and later parks maintenance spending.

The council voted 5-2 in February 2025 to proceed with all-weather synthetic turf field replacement and subsurface upgrades, over a natural grass alternative. Petaluma City Council minutes, February 3, 2025 · Feb 3, 2025
The February 2025 item asked the council to choose between a new all-weather synthetic turf system and a new natural grass playing field at Lucchesi Park. Petaluma City Council minutes, February 3, 2025 · Feb 3, 2025

Mobile home park residents

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council voted 7-0 to send a letter supporting AB 2596 on mobilehome parks and opposing a state housing department fee proposal.

What's on the tableThe next council will consider further city and state actions affecting mobile home park residents.

Janice Cader Thompson, in her District 1 ballot statement, says the council stood strong with mobile home park residents to protect affordable housing. Sonoma County Registrar of Voters

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. Should Petaluma allow taller downtown buildings, up to a 6.0 floor area ratio, in exchange for community benefits?
2. How should the new General Plan handle growth near transit?
3. Should Petaluma keep its Urban Growth Boundary where it is?
4. What should replace the Lucchesi Park field?
5. How active should the city be in protecting mobile home park residents?

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 begin mailing; early voting sites openCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 19, 2026
Same-day conditional registration availableCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 20, 2026
Vote centers open in Voter's Choice Act countiesCalifornia Secretary of StateOct 24, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)California Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Brian Barnacle, Alex DeCarli, Frank Quint4 on this ballot

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

Petaluma elects its council by district, and all voters in the city choose the mayor at large; council members serve four-year terms. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Jul 31, 2026
Four of the council's seven seats are on the November 2026 ballot: the mayor and Districts 1, 2 and 3. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Aug 11, 2026
Council members elected in 2024 for Districts 4, 5 and 6 are Frank Quint, Alex DeCarli and Brian Barnacle, who are up for reelection in 2028. Petaluma Argus-Courier · Aug 11, 2026
The mayor is listed voting in council roll calls, including the 7-0 vote on the FY 2026-27 budget in May 2026. Petaluma City Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters lists the Petaluma mayor and each council seat on the ballot as a four-year term. Sonoma County Registrar of Voters

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