Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Soledad City Council Election 2026

1 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

2 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 2 · 1 seat

Don J. BolinListed on the county candidate list with the occupation Patient Care Navigator.1sourced
Eugene IveyRetired peace officer and veteran who has lived in Soledad for 10 years.3sourced

Only District 2 has a contest on the ballot; the Mayor and District 1 seats are listed by the county as appointed in lieu of election.

2 notes on these statements

Fernando Cabrera is listed as appointed in lieu of election for Mayor, and Fernando Ansaldo as appointed in lieu of election for District 1, so neither contest will be on the ballot. Monterey County Elections

Mayor Anna Velazquez and District 1 Councilmember Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez had announced they would not seek reelection; Ansaldo-Sánchez later reconsidered. Monterey County Now

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Fernando Ansaldo-SánchezCouncilmember; District 1 listed as appointed in lieu of election (county list shows Fernando Ansaldo)6sourced Evarista BañuelosCouncilmember, District 4; next election November 20285sourced Fernando CabreraCouncilmember; listed as appointed in lieu of election for Mayor4sourced

Start here

Match quiz1 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesFire services funding, City budget, Housing and development Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed by

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Fire services funding

Where it standsSoledad's fire parcel tax, Measure A, failed in June, so the city will not add a third firefighter to all shifts as officials had hoped.

What's on the tableHow to staff and pay for fire services without the parcel tax.

Measure A, a parcel tax for the fire department, failed with 49 percent of the vote, short of the two-thirds needed. Monterey County Now
The council approved a CAL FIRE services agreement for July 2026 to June 2027 at a cost not to exceed $3,046,207. City of Soledad · Jul 1, 2026
Soledad is applying for grants that could fund personnel for three or four years. Monterey County Now

City budget

Where it standsThe council approved an interim budget on June 10 that was to be reviewed in August, and cuts could follow.

What's on the tableHow to balance the budget after the failed fire tax.

The council approved an interim budget on June 10 that will be reviewed in August. Monterey County Now
The city manager said the council would soon hear a plan for budget outreach. City of Soledad · Jun 17, 2026

Housing and development

Where it standsThe council adopted the Almond Acres subdivision on July 1, and is dealing with the Hacienda Apartments sewer consolidation.

What's on the tableWhich new development projects to approve and how to handle the Hacienda Apartments sewer matter.

Ordinance 781 approved a planned unit development and vesting tentative map for a 12.48-acre subdivision on the west side of Orchard Lane and Cedar Lane. City of Soledad · Jul 1, 2026
The council held a July 14 special meeting on the Hacienda Apartments forced sewer consolidation matter. City of Soledad · Jul 14, 2026

Public safety technology

Where it standsThe city's 64 surveillance cameras are old and starting to fail, and the police department would like to move to Flock cameras.

What's on the tableWhether and how to replace the camera system and other police technology.

The city manager said the current Surveillance Grid system has 64 cameras that are very old and starting to fail. City of Soledad · Jul 14, 2026
The council voted 5-0 on July 14 to move forward with a congressional directed spending request for South Monterey County public safety technology. City of Soledad · Jul 14, 2026

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 the council treat new housing and commercial development?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots mailed byMonterey County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Voting services open at Monterey County ElectionsMonterey County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Regular voter registration endsMonterey County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Last day Monterey County Elections will mail ballotsMonterey County ElectionsOct 27, 2026
Election DayMonterey County ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez, Evarista Bañuelos, Fernando Cabrera1 on this ballot

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

The City Council is made up of five members including a mayor. City of Soledad
County records list the Mayor with a two-year term and council members with four-year terms. Monterey County Elections
Districts 1 and 2 are elected by district for the first time in 2026. Monterey County Now

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