Placentia, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Placentia City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

5 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.

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Only voters who live in District 2 or District 4 vote in this council election; each picks one candidate for their own district.

1 note on these statements

Placentia voters also decide Measure L, the hotel tax measure, and elect a City Clerk at large; Robert "Bob" McKinnell is the incumbent City Clerk on the ballot. City of Placentia · Aug 13, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Thomas HummerCouncilmember, District 12sourcedWard L. SmithCouncilmember, District 52sourcedJeremy B. YamaguchiMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District 33sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesCity budget, Measure L hotel tax, Streets and infrastructureKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget

Where it standsThe council closed a roughly $1.5 million gap in the 2026-27 budget mostly with spending cuts and layoffs.

What's on the tableWhether to keep cutting, add revenue or draw on one-time funds as future budget gaps appear.

  • Council members are largely relying on spending cuts and layoffs to close a roughly $1.5 million deficit. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026
  • Staff proposed covering the gap with $1,458,351 from the Section 115 Trust and Hamer Island annexation funds; council members decided against it. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026
  • Mayor Chad Wanke said the council would need to look at further changes and additional revenues over the next six months, if possible. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026

Measure L hotel tax

Where it standsMeasure L on the November ballot would raise Placentia's hotel tax from 10% to 14%.

What's on the tableHow any new hotel tax revenue is used, and whether other revenue measures follow.

  • A yes vote approves raising the hotel tax rate to 14%; a no vote leaves it at 10%. City of Placentia
  • The City Council placed the measure on the ballot, and it needs approval of a majority of voters. City of Placentia
  • The existing Citizens' Oversight Committee would review the measure's expenditures and prepare an annual report. City of Placentia
  • The city's staff report estimates the increase would generate about $715,000 in additional annual revenue for 2026-27. Voice of OC · Jun 1, 2026

Streets and infrastructure

Where it standsThe 2026-27 budget leaves road and facility maintenance underfunded, according to council members.

What's on the tableHow to prioritize and fund street repairs and building maintenance.

  • Councilmember Jeremy Yamaguchi said the budget underfunds road maintenance, sidewalk repairs and street repairs by at least $3 million. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026
  • Mayor Chad Wanke said that with maintenance spending reduced, public facilities will continue to deteriorate. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026
  • On Sept. 8, 2026 the council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Golden Avenue Bridge construction management contract with T.Y. Lin International, adding $302,848 (5-0). City of Placentia · Sep 8, 2026

City management and contracts

Where it standsThe City Administrator position is vacant and the Deputy City Administrator is acting in the role.

What's on the tableWho runs city staff and how contracts are reviewed.

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. 1. Should the city publish its spending in a public online dashboard?

  2. 2. With limited money, how should the council choose which streets to repair?

  3. 3. How should the city award and extend vendor contracts?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Thomas Hummer, Ward L. Smith, Jeremy B. Yamaguchi2 on this ballot

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

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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