Thousand Oaks, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Thousand Oaks City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 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

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

Only voters in Districts 1, 2 and 3 vote in this race; each picks one councilmember, and the top vote-getter wins. These are the city's first district elections for these seats.

2 notes on these statements

No incumbent is running in District 2: Councilmember Bob Engler, who lives there, is not seeking reelection. Thousand Oaks Acorn · Aug 28, 2026

All six candidates took part in the Sept. 17, 2026 Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce forum. Thousand Oaks Acorn · Sep 25, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Al AdamCouncilmember, District 4; term ends December 20286sourcedTie GutierrezCouncilmember, District 5; term ends December 20287sourced

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 decidesDowntown Project, Where new housing goes, Affordable housingKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Mail ballots sent to active registered voters

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Downtown Project

Where it standsThe council approved the first phase of a downtown at and west of the Civic Arts Plaza 5-0 in June 2026; opponents are challenging the city in court over their failed referendum.

What's on the tableThe next council will pick a developer partner, settle on condos or apartments and land lease or sale, and oversee construction that could start in 2027.

Where new housing goes

Where it standsThe city's General Plan directs growth to planned areas such as Thousand Oaks Boulevard, under state housing targets (RHNA).

What's on the tableThe council approves or denies individual projects and zoning changes that decide how much housing is built and where.

Affordable housing

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council introduced a fee exemption for for-sale affordable housing and told staff to pursue 10 supportive housing units with the county.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether to approve a $2 million city contribution for the county units and adopt the fee exemption.

Homelessness

Where it standsThe city's first shelter, the Thrive Grove Navigation Center, opened in 2025 and is funded partly from city housing funds.

What's on the tableThe council will decide how much city money goes to running the Navigation Center and to new supportive housing.

Water and sewer rates

Where it standsThe council raised water and wastewater rates in November 2025 after a protest hearing drew too few protests to block them.

What's on the tableThe council sets future utility rates and approves the water and wastewater plant and pipeline projects those rates pay for.

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. What should happen with the Downtown Project the council approved in 2026?

  2. 2. Where should most new housing in Thousand Oaks go?

  3. 3. Should the city use its own money and fee waivers to help build affordable housing?

  4. 4. Should the city keep putting its own money into the Thrive Grove Navigation Center?

  5. 5. How should the city pay for water and sewer system upgrades?

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

2 stay (not up this year): Al Adam, Tie Gutierrez3 on this ballot

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

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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