Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

South Pasadena City Council Election 2026

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council seats up

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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 4 · 1 seat

Michael CacciottiIncumbentSouth Pasadena councilmember since 2001 and a former California Deputy Attorney General. He has served as Mayor in several terms, most recently 2021-2022.5sourced
Nevin Stanton-TrehanFinance Commission chair and executive vice president at the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. He coaches South Pasadena Little League and Jr. Clippers Basketball and serves on the SPEF board.4sourced

Voters choose one candidate for the City Council seat in their own district. Only District 4 is on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the District 5 and City Treasurer elections were cancelled.

2 notes on these statements

District 4 is the only City Council race on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Michael Cacciotti and Nevin Stanton-Trehan are the two candidates. Colorado Boulevard, South Pasadena's Only Contested 2026 Election Race · Sep 21, 2026

The write-in nomination period for City Council District 4 opened on September 7, 2026 and closes on October 20, 2026. City of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Janet BraunJanet Braun is the City Council member for District 5, elected in November 2022. She previously served on the Planning Commission and the Public Safety Commission.4sourced Omari FergusonCouncilmember, District 1; Mayor Pro Tem4sourced Jon PrimuthCouncilmember, District 34sourced Sheila RossiMayor and Councilmember, District 24sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesStreets bond (Measure SOS), State SB 79 housing rules, Objective Design Standards Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Write-in nomination period for District 4 closes

Tue, Oct 20, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Streets bond (Measure SOS)

Where it standsThe council placed an $80 million general obligation bond for streets and related repairs on the November 3 ballot. It needs two-thirds voter approval.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the council would decide the timing, structure and amount of each bond series. If not, the city says the council will need to consider cuts to city services to fund street repair.

The ballot question asks whether to authorize $80,000,000 in bonds, levying on average $33 per $100,000 of assessed valuation and generating approximately $4,400,000 annually while the bonds are outstanding. City of South Pasadena, Measure SOS
The council adopted Ordinance No. 2416 submitting the bond proposition to voters on July 7, 2026, by a 5-0 roll call vote. South Pasadena, Ordinance No. 2416 (roll call, July 7, 2026) · Jul 7, 2026
The city's Infrastructure Financing page says a draft Pavement Management Plan concluded that more than half of the city's streets are in poor or fair condition. City of South Pasadena, Infrastructure Financing
The city's staff report says that if the measure is not approved, the City Council will need to consider cuts to city services to fund the street repair program. South Pasadena Finance Commission, staff report on the bond measure (Sept. 24, 2026) · Sep 24, 2026

State SB 79 housing rules

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council adopted two ordinances delaying SB 79 for certain sites: sites with a locally designated historic resource, and sites zoned Downtown Specific Plan Mixed Use Core and Mixed Use Core-50.

What's on the tableWhether and how SB 79 transit-oriented development rules apply to local sites.

The council adopted an uncodified ordinance to delay SB 79 for certain sites zoned Downtown Specific Plan Mixed Use Core and Mixed Use Core-50. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of July 30, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Jul 30, 2026
The council adopted a second uncodified ordinance delaying SB 79 for individual sites containing a locally designated historic resource. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of July 30, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Jul 30, 2026

Objective Design Standards

Where it standsOn September 2, 2026 the council approved an amendment to its agreement with Torti Gallas + Partners for a two-phase Objective Design Standards program and a $50,000 budget amendment.

What's on the tableWhether and how to adopt Objective Design Standards for new development.

The amendment revises the scope to a two-phase approach for preparing and adopting Objective Design Standards. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of September 2, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Sep 2, 2026
Resolution No. 8026 approved a $50,000 amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget for the work. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of September 2, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Sep 2, 2026

Library rules and appeals

Where it standsOn September 2, 2026 the council introduced Ordinance No. 2421 on library rules and an administrative appeal process for suspension of library visitation privileges.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt Ordinance No. 2421 on second reading.

The council introduced for first reading Ordinance No. 2421, amending the municipal code on library rules and establishing an administrative appeal process for suspension of library visitation privileges. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of September 2, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Sep 2, 2026
The item was pulled from the consent calendar after public comment and approved on a separate 5-0 roll call vote. South Pasadena City Council, minutes of September 2, 2026 (in Sept. 22, 2026 agenda packet) · Sep 2, 2026

City budget and reporting

Where it standsThe city's proposed General Fund budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 was balanced at about $45.5 million in revenues and expenditures. The Finance Commission is chaired by District 4 candidate Nevin Stanton-Trehan.

What's on the tableHow the council oversees the budget, reserves and capital spending in the coming year.

The city says its proposed General Fund budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 has approximately $45.5 million in revenues and $45.5 million in expenditures. City of South Pasadena, Infrastructure Financing
The Finance Commission lists Nevin Stanton-Trehan as Chair, with a term ending 12/31/2027. City of South Pasadena, Finance Commission

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. Should South Pasadena issue an $80 million bond to repair its streets?
2. How should South Pasadena handle the state's SB 79 housing rules?
3. Should library users be able to appeal a suspension of their visitation privileges?
4. How often should the public see city budget reports?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Write-in nomination period for District 4 closesCity of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)Oct 20, 2026
Election DayCity of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Janet Braun, Omari Ferguson, Jon Primuth, Sheila Rossi1 on this ballot

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

South Pasadena is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council, and each Councilmember is directly elected by the registered voters of their district. City of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)
The City Council selects the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem from among its members, each typically serving a one-year term commencing in December. City of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)
The terms of the District 1, 2 and 3 seats expire in November 2028; the District 4 and 5 seats expire in November 2026. City of South Pasadena, Elections (November 3, 2026)

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