Pleasanton, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Pleasanton Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 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

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

All Pleasanton voters pick one candidate for mayor. Voters who live in District 1 or District 3 also pick one candidate for their district's council seat. Each race is won by the top vote-getter.

3 notes on these statements

District 1 is open: incumbent Jeff Nibert did not run for reelection. Pleasanton Weekly · Aug 7, 2026

Kathy Narum and Jamie Yee are both listed among the endorsers on Mayor Jack Balch's campaign site. Jack Balch campaign site

All five sitting councilmembers signed the ballot argument in favor of Measure HH. Pleasanton Weekly · Sep 15, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Craig EicherCouncilmember, District 2; term expires November 20285sourcedMatt GaidosElected in November 2024. Previously served five years on the city's Housing Commission and three years on the Planning Commission.5sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesBudget gap and Measure HH, Pension costs, Housing and East Pleasanton growthKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget gap and Measure HH

Where it standsThe city is closing a structural budget gap with service cuts and new revenue; voters rejected a sales tax in 2024 and will vote on a hotel tax increase (Measure HH) this November.

What's on the tableThe next council writes the 2027-29 budget, decides how to use any Measure HH money, and whether to pursue other new revenue.

Pension costs

Where it standsRising pension costs are a main driver of the deficit; in March 2026 the council adopted a pension funding policy that includes pension obligation bonds as an option.

What's on the tableWhether to use tools in that policy, such as pension obligation bonds, and how much to pay down pension debt each year.

Housing and East Pleasanton growth

Where it standsThe council approved annexing about 30 acres in East Pleasanton for Arroyo Lago, 189 single-family homes; Stoneridge Shopping Center redevelopment is also under discussion.

What's on the tableFurther annexations, developer contributions for roads and utilities, and how much housing goes at Stoneridge and other sites under state mandates.

Hiring a permanent city manager

Where it standsCity Manager Gerry Beaudin left in June 2026 for Alameda; former Danville town manager Joe Calabrigo is serving as interim city manager.

What's on the tableWhether the current or the newly elected council picks the permanent city manager, and on what terms.

Water and sewer costs

Where it standsNew water and sewer rates took effect in January 2026, and the city is planning debt financing for water improvement projects.

What's on the tableFuture rate increases, borrowing for water projects, and how to work with Zone 7, the regional water wholesaler.

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. Voters rejected Measure PP, a half-cent sales tax, in 2024, and the city still faces a structural budget gap. Should the city ask voters for a citywide sales tax increase?

  2. 2. Measure HH would raise the hotel tax from 8% to 10% in 2027 and to 12% in 2028. Which approach comes closest to your view?

  3. 3. The city's pension funding policy lists pension obligation bonds as one tool for managing pension costs. Should the policy keep that option?

  4. 4. The Arroyo Lago development agreement (189 homes in East Pleasanton) includes a $3 million developer contribution toward El Charro Road. What should the city require?

  5. 5. Should the redevelopment of Stoneridge Shopping Center include new housing?

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

2 stay (not up this year): Craig Eicher, Matt Gaidos3 on this ballot

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

  • The City Council is a mayor elected at-large plus four councilmembers elected by district; Pleasanton switched to district elections in 2022. City of Pleasanton
  • Councilmembers serve four-year terms and the mayor serves a two-year term; both are limited to eight years. City of Pleasanton
  • The mayor selects a vice mayor each calendar year. City of Pleasanton
  • The Nov. 3, 2026 election fills District 1, District 3 and the mayor's seat. City of Pleasanton

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