Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Ventura City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

14 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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

Liz CamposIncumbentCouncilmember, District 15sourced
Crawford CoatesCrawford Coates is a marketing executive at a public safety technology company and serves on the Ventura Water Commission.2sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 each choose one council member who represents their district. Districts 2, 3 and 7 are not on the 2026 ballot.

1 note on these statements

The County Clerk extended the District 6 nomination period because no eligible incumbent filed nomination papers before the August 7, 2026 deadline. Ventura County Clerk-Recorder · Aug 8, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Doug HalterDeputy Mayor and Councilmember, District 2; elected in November 2024 to a four-year term4sourced Alex MangoneCouncilmember, District 7; term through December 20285sourced Ryyn SchumacherCouncilmember, District 3; term through December 20282sourced

Start here

Match quiz1 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesDowntown parking garage and paid parking, Main Street Moves street closures, Card room table expansion Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Downtown parking garage and paid parking

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council voted 4-3 to fund an environmental study for a five-level garage at Palm and Santa Clara and approved changes to the downtown parking management plan.

What's on the tableWhether to build the garage, how to pay for it, and whether to expand paid parking across downtown.

The council voted 4-3 on April 14, 2026 to spend up to $211,170 on an environmental study for a five-level parking structure at Palm and Santa Clara streets that would create about 300 new spaces. VC Reporter
The council approved a parking management plan change under which the first hour of downtown parking is free. VC Reporter
City officials said expanded paid parking will be subject to a final approval later in 2026, after an employee permit system is developed. VC Reporter

Main Street Moves street closures

Where it standsDowntown business owners petitioned the council in April 2026 to reopen Main Street, and the council agreed to hear the issue in November.

What's on the tableWhether the Main Street and California Street closures continue.

Brianna Critelli spoke on behalf of more than 63 downtown business owners who believe Main Street Moves street closures are hurting business. VC Reporter
The council ultimately agreed the discussion would happen in November. VC Reporter

Card room table expansion

Where it standsOn Sept. 22, 2026 the council voted 6-0 to introduce an ordinance allowing licensed card rooms up to 29 tables.

What's on the tableFinal adoption of the ordinance and the Players Casino fees-in-lieu agreement amendment.

The recommendation was to introduce an ordinance amending Section 10.750.430 to allow targeted table expansion for cardrooms to a total of 29 tables. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
The item also included a second amendment to the agreement for payment of fees in lieu of taxes with Players Casino. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026

Flock license plate readers

Where it standsOn Sept. 22, 2026 the council received a Flock Safety license plate reader program overview from the police chief; no action was required.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city continues, expands or changes the program.

The Sept. 22, 2026 agenda item was for information only and listed dozens of public speakers. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
The item was presented by Chief of Police David Dickey. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026

City support for X Games

Where it standsOn Sept. 22, 2026 the council adopted a resolution providing city event support for X Games League Ventura in 2027 and 2028.

What's on the tableHow much the city spends supporting the event and how costs are recovered.

The resolution provides city event support services for X Games League Ventura in an amount not to exceed $250,000 per year. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
It also authorizes an agreement for X Games to fully compensate the city for supplemental law enforcement services. Ventura City Council action agenda (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026

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. What should Ventura do about a new downtown parking garage?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Election DayVentura County Clerk-Recorder · Aug 8, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Doug Halter, Alex Mangone, Ryyn Schumacher4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The Council selects the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members, and each serves a two-year term. City of Ventura · Dec 20, 2024

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.