Seal Beach, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Seal Beach City Council Election 2026

1 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

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 District 1 · 1 seat

Only District 1 (Old Town and Surfside Colony) is on the ballot; its voters choose one council member, and a candidate needs more than 50% to win outright.

5 notes on these statements

Lisa Landau (District 3) and Nathan Steele (District 5) were the only qualified candidates in their districts, so those elections were cancelled and the City Council appointed them to new four-year terms on Aug. 19, 2026. City of Seal Beach · Sep 8, 2026

Scott Davis and Matt Smith suspended their campaigns but remain on the ballot, and votes cast for them will be counted. City of Seal Beach · Sep 8, 2026

The Sun reported that votes for Scott Davis or Matt Smith count toward whether any candidate receives a majority of all votes cast. Seal Beach Sun

Current District 1 Council Member Joe Kalmick has termed out of office. Seal Beach Sun

The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce forum on Sept. 21, 2026 featured Perla Mendoza and Matthew Terry. Seal Beach Sun

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Lisa LandauCouncilmember, District 3; appointed to a new four-year term Aug. 19, 20264sourcedPatty SenecalCouncilmember, District 4; term ends 20284sourcedNathan SteeleCouncilmember, District 5; appointed to a new four-year term Aug. 19, 20264sourcedBen WongCouncilmember, District 2; term ends 20284sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesWater and sewer rates and projects, Budget forecast, Main Street and beach parkingKey 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

Water and sewer rates and projects

Where it standsThe council voted 3-2 on Aug. 11, 2025 to raise water and sewer rates through 2029; an alternative with five capital projects instead of 11 failed 3-2.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the water and sewer capital projects and rate adjustments adopted in 2025.

  • Rates rise effective Aug. 1, 2025, up to 2029, under the council's 3-2 vote. Seal Beach Sun
  • The alternative would have cut capital projects from 11 to five; the studies it called for were estimated at about $500,000 and about three years. Leisure World Weekly · Aug 20, 2025
  • Written protests covered 431 of 5,614 water parcels and 426 of 5,076 sewer parcels, short of a majority. Seal Beach Sun

Budget forecast

Where it standsThe proposed 2026-27 budget is balanced, and the five-year forecast projects deficits starting in 2027-28.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt budgets under a forecast that shows revenue growing more slowly than spending.

  • The five-year forecast projects a $17,728 surplus for 2026-27, with deficits in the following four years. Seal Beach Sun
  • The forecast projects revenue growth of 2.7% and expenditure growth of 3.5%. Seal Beach Sun
  • Seal Beach has 25% in reserves ($12.4 million). Seal Beach Sun

Main Street and beach parking

Where it standsA parking code update was approved in an initial vote in April 2026 but was removed from the Apr. 27 agenda, so it has no final approval.

What's on the tableThe next council may take up residential permit parking rules and any future proposal for paid street parking on Main Street.

  • The council deleted the parking ordinance from its April 27 agenda, so the changes have not received final approval. Voice of OC
  • City officials said any future paid street parking on Main Street would need a separate council vote and Coastal Commission approval. Voice of OC

Short-term rentals and the Olympics

Where it standsShort-term rentals are a live question as the city plans for the 2028 Olympics; staff were to return with a proposed Olympic committee.

What's on the tableThe next council may decide how many short-term rentals to allow, including during the 2028 Olympics.

  • At the Nov. 2025 strategic planning meeting, staff said they were looking for two council members to sit on an Olympic committee. Seal Beach Sun
  • The Finance Director named short-term rentals among revenue opportunities at the May 2026 budget workshop. Seal Beach Sun

Sand loss and the local emergency

Where it standsThe council ratified a local emergency on Sept. 28, 2026 over sand loss and an expected El Nino.

What's on the tableThe next council will review the emergency at least every 60 days and decide how to pursue sand replenishment.

  • The city manager declared the emergency on Sept. 22, and the council ratified it at its Sept. 28 meeting. Voice of OC
  • Officials said they do not know the amount of sand lost or the total related costs. Voice of OC

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. How should the council handle the water and sewer rates adopted in 2025?

  2. 2. How should the city address projected budget deficits?

  3. 3. Should the city charge for curb parking on Main Street?

  4. 4. How should the city set beach parking lot fees?

  5. 5. How many short-term rentals should Seal Beach allow?

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

4 stay (not up this year): Lisa Landau, Patty Senecal, Nathan Steele, Ben Wong1 on this ballot

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

  • The council has five members, each elected by the voters of one of five council districts. City of Seal Beach
  • Council terms are four years, with a term limit of two terms (8 years). City of Seal Beach
  • The mayor is selected annually from among the council members, and the council also elects a mayor pro tempore. City of Seal Beach
  • If no candidate wins 50% plus one, the top two go to a run-off election, per the city charter as quoted by the Sun. Seal Beach Sun

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