Temecula City Council District 5 · Nov 3, 2026
Zak Schwank
Candidate for City Council District 5 (incumbent)
Zak Schwank, the incumbent, is running for Temecula City Council District 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Yuan Hawkes, Laurel LaMont and Russell Shirley.
Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayZak Schwank has represented District 5 on the Temecula City Council since 2018. He served on the city's Community Services Commission from 2013 to 2018 and was mayor in 2023.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Temecula Council Member
- Endorsed by
- CAL FIRE Firefighters; former mayors and council members (as listed in his ballot statement) Riverside County Registrar of Voters
Where Zak Schwank stands: positions on the record
Power line2 sourced positions
Voted yes on a resolution opposing SDG&E's Golden Pacific Powerlink as proposed through Temecula (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
Lists fighting the SDG&E Powerlink among his goals for a new term.
“Fight the SDG&E Powerlink”
Own statementRiverside County Registrar of Voters
Road diets3 sourced positions
Voted yes on the staff plan for Pauba Road, including restriping it; the motion failed 2-3 (March 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026
Voted no on directing staff to study other striping layouts for Pauba Road (passed 4-1, March 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026
Voted no on striping alternative 3 for Pauba Road (passed 3-2, May 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
Budget2 sourced positions
Lists keeping the city debt-free among his goals for a new term.
“Maintain debt-free status”
Own statementRiverside County Registrar of Voters
Voted yes on adopting the city's FY 2026-27 operating and capital budgets (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Homelessness1 sourced position
Lists homeless outreach and encampment cleanup among his goals for a new term.
“Homeless Outreach and Encampment Cleanup”
Own statementRiverside County Registrar of Voters
Housing and growth1 sourced position
Voted yes on an ordinance updating accessory dwelling unit rules to match state law (passed 3-2, May 2025).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, May 27, 2025 · May 27, 2025
Meeting times1 sourced position
Voted no on moving City Council meetings to begin at 3 p.m. (passed 4-1, May 2025).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, May 27, 2025 · May 27, 2025
City spending1 sourced position
Voted yes on a $25,000 city contribution to a Mt. San Jacinto College tribute campaign (passed 3-2, June 2026).
Council voteTemecula City Council action minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for Temecula City Council, District 5 in 2022 (won).
Own statementRiverside County Registrar of Voters · Dec 1, 2022
What Zak Schwank said vs. how Zak Schwank voted
Power line route
In their words
Lists fighting the SDG&E Powerlink among his goals for a new term.
On the record
Voted yes on a resolution opposing SDG&E's Golden Pacific Powerlink as proposed through Temecula (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Jul 14, 2026 ·Temecula City Council action minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
Also running for City Council District 5
All 4 Temecula candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.