Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Pablo City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

4 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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 · Vote for up to 2

Caden Cotton-BlakeLifelong San Pablo resident with experience in a county supervisor's office and a district attorney's office. His work with Richmond Land focuses on permanently affordable homeownership.3sourced
Elizabeth Pabon-AlvaradoIncumbentMayor of San Pablo with over 20 years of experience in accounting, payroll and HR leadership. She holds an MBA from Golden Gate University and is a former San Pablo City Clerk.8sourced
Anna VillalobosRecords secretary for the American Postal Workers Union, according to campaign records submitted to the city.1sourced
Rita XavierIncumbentSan Pablo Vice Mayor and former Planning Commissioner who has lived in the city since 1991. She is a past president of the League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County.7sourced

Voters citywide choose up to two of four candidates for two seats; the three other council members are not on the ballot.

2 notes on these statements

The same ballot elects a City Clerk (Dorothy Gantt) and a City Treasurer (Viviana Toledo), each with one nominee listed; this guide covers the City Council contest only. City of San Pablo · Aug 11, 2026

The city's Notice of Offices and Nominations lists Rita Xavier and Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado as the incumbents whose seats are up. City of San Pablo · Aug 6, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Arturo CruzCouncilmember; term ends November 20285sourced Abel PinedaCouncilmember; term ends November 20285sourced Patricia PonceCouncilmember; term ends November 20285sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesRent control (Measure S), Sales tax (Measure R), Tenant protections and mobile home rents Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Rent control (Measure S)

Where it standsMeasure S, a citizen initiative on rent control and just-cause eviction, is on the Nov. 3 ballot after the council voted to submit it to voters.

What's on the tableVoters decide Measure S; the next council would implement it if it passes or keep current tenant rules if it fails.

The City Attorney's analysis says Measure S would roll back rents to July 1, 2025 levels for existing tenancies and limit yearly increases to 60 percent of regional CPI growth, up to 3 percent. Contra Costa County Elections
The City's report estimates administering Measure S at $1.08 million to $2.36 million a year, funded by annual rental property owner fees. Contra Costa County Elections
The council voted 4-0 on July 13, 2026 to submit the initiative to voters and to have the Mayor and Vice Mayor file the argument against it. San Pablo City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026

Sales tax (Measure R)

Where it standsMeasure R, placed on the ballot by the council 5-0, would raise the sales tax for ten years.

What's on the tableVoters decide Measure R; the council would then budget the general-fund revenue.

Measure R would add a half-cent sales tax for five years, then a quarter-cent for five years, then expire. Contra Costa County Elections
The City Attorney's analysis says the tax is expected to bring in about $2 million a year for the first five years and goes to the general fund. Contra Costa County Elections
The council voted 5-0 on July 13, 2026 to place the measure on the ballot. San Pablo City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026

Tenant protections and mobile home rents

Where it standsThe council has debated just-cause eviction rules, the rent registry and a mobile home rent moratorium since late 2025.

What's on the tableThe next council will set tenant-protection rules, whether or not Measure S passes.

On Dec. 1, 2025 a motion to draft a temporary moratorium on mobile home rent increases failed 2-2. San Pablo City Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
On Feb. 2, 2026 the council voted 3-2 to send the just-cause eviction ordinance back to staff for revisions. San Pablo City Council minutes, Feb. 2, 2026 · Feb 2, 2026
On June 1, 2026 the council voted 4-1 to introduce an ordinance repealing the Rent Registry Program. San Pablo City Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026

New police headquarters

Where it standsThe council has authorized a design-build contract for a new police headquarters with a total project budget of $47,993,602.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee construction costs and the project's completion.

On Sept. 2, 2025 the council approved an 8 percent contingency of $3,079,320 on the police headquarters design-build contract. San Pablo City Council minutes, Sept. 2, 2025 · Sep 2, 2025
The resolution set a total project budget of $47,993,602. San Pablo City Council minutes, Sept. 2, 2025 · Sep 2, 2025

Retail cannabis

Where it standsThe council approved a ranked eligibility list for up to three retail cannabis operator permits.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee permitting of retail cannabis operators.

On Sept. 2, 2025 the council voted 5-0 to approve the ranked eligibility list from the city's request for qualifications. San Pablo City Council minutes, Sept. 2, 2025 · Sep 2, 2025

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. How should San Pablo handle rent increases?
2. When should just-cause eviction rules apply to a tenant?
3. What should the city do about rising mobile home space rents?
4. Should San Pablo allow retail cannabis shops?

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 mailedContra Costa County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Voter registration deadlineContra Costa County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballotContra Costa County ElectionsOct 27, 2026
Regional early voting begins (also Oct. 31 and Nov. 2)Contra Costa County ElectionsOct 30, 2026
Election DayContra Costa County ElectionsNov 3, 2026
Target date for certified resultsContra Costa County ElectionsDec 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Arturo Cruz, Abel Pineda, Patricia Ponce2 on this ballot

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

San Pablo is a General Law city with a council-manager form of government; the City Council hires the City Manager and the City Attorney. City of San Pablo
Council members are elected at large to staggered four-year terms. City of San Pablo
The council chooses the mayor and vice mayor from among its members; Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado was selected Mayor for the 2025-2026 term in December 2025. San Pablo City Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
The council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month in the City Hall Council Chambers. City of San Pablo

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