South El Monte City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Manuel
Acosta
Manuel Acosta, the incumbent, is running for South El Monte City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 3 candidates are running for 2 seats.
The race · City Council
- 01Manuel AcostaYou’re reading
- 02Rudy BojorquezIncumbent
- 03Kimberly Valencia
Background
- About
- Manuel Acosta is a South El Monte councilmember and a tenured professor of chemistry and biomanufacturing. He leads the biomanufacturing certificate and associate degree program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Professor/Incumbent Councilmember
- Party
- Nonpartisan race. California Constitution, Article II, Section 6
Manuel Acosta and Rudy Bojorquez hold the two seats on the ballot; their terms expire in November 2026. City of South El Monte · Dec 3, 2025
On the record: Manuel Acosta
7 sourced01Elected mayor2 sourced positions
joint argument signed by Mayor Gloria Olmos and Councilmember Manuel Acosta
Signed the ballot argument against Measure RM, which would end the directly elected mayor.
Keep our right to vote and elect our Mayor.”
Own statementArgument Against Measure RM (City of South El Monte)
Voted no on the resolution placing Measure RM, which would end the directly elected mayor, on the November 2026 ballot (passed 3-2, July 2026).
Council voteSouth El Monte Resolution No. 26-058 (July 21, 2026) · Jul 21, 2026
02Cannabis buffer1 sourced position
Voted no on Ordinance 1287, allowing commercial cannabis in the manufacturing zone and cutting the buffer from neighboring jurisdictions to 350 feet (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
Council voteSouth El Monte Ordinance No. 1287 (adopted Feb. 17, 2026) · Feb 17, 2026
03Term limits2 sourced positions
joint argument signed by Mayor Gloria Olmos and Councilmembers Rudy Bojorquez, Hector Delgado, Larry Rodriguez and Manuel Acosta
Signed the ballot argument urging a yes vote on Measure CL, four four-year lifetime term limits for the council.
Vote YES on Measure CL for reasonable four-term limits”
Own statementArgument in Favor of Measure CL (City of South El Monte)
Voted yes on the resolution placing Measure CL, council term limits, on the November 2026 ballot (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteSouth El Monte Resolution No. 26-057 (July 21, 2026) · Jul 21, 2026
04Censure of the mayor1 sourced position
Voted against the sanctions in the council's March 2026 action on Mayor Gloria Olmos (council vote 3-1, with Olmos abstaining).
Council voteSan Gabriel Valley Tribune · Apr 5, 2026
05Past candidacy1 sourced position
Ran for City Council in 2022 (won).
Own statementLA County Registrar-Recorder · Nov 8, 2022
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
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