Tustin City Council District 3 · Nov 3, 2026

Ray Schnell

Candidate for City Council District 3 (incumbent)

4 candidates · 2 seats8 sourced positions

Ray Schnell, the incumbent, is running for Tustin City Council District 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Thomas Reed.

Vote-by-mail ballots available · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Tustin Mayor Pro Tem, elected in 2022, who works in financial services. He holds an MBA from Chapman University.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Councilmember/ Business Executive
Endorsed by: Tustin Police Officers Association, Tustin Police Support Services Association, the Orange County Sheriff and Orange County Firefighters Association Local 3631. Ray Schnell
Campaign website: rayfortustin.com

Where Ray Schnell stands: positions on the record

Public safety1 sourced position

Says public safety is his first priority.
“public safety as job number one”
Own statementRay Schnell

City budget2 sourced positions

Says he has kept city fees and taxes low.
“kept city fees and taxes low”
Own statementRay Schnell
Made the motion to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteTustin City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026

Development1 sourced position

Says he voted to advance development that grows revenue while preserving the city's small-town character.
“Voted to advance smart, thoughtful development that grows revenue while preserving Tustin’s unique small-town character.”
Own statementRay Schnell

Pensions1 sourced position

Says he accelerated the city's pension paydown to retire the debt early.
“accelerated our city pension paydown to retire this debt early”
Own statementRay Schnell

Tustin Legacy1 sourced position

Seconded the motion to approve the Clearwater at Tustin Legacy senior living project and introduce its development agreement ordinance (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteTustin City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026

Housing1 sourced position

Seconded the motion to direct staff to keep preparing code and specific plan amendments on density bonus, height, mixed use and parking (passed 4-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteTustin City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026

Term limits1 sourced position

Made the motion to place the 2024 term-limit measure on the ballot (passed 3-2, June 2024).
Council voteTustin City Council minutes, June 18, 2024 · Jun 18, 2024

In their words

On the record

Made the motion to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Jun 2, 2026 ·Tustin City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026

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