Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Visalia City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 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 4 · 1 seat

Nick KastleBusiness executive running on a promise of practical, family-first leadership. His priorities are responsible growth, economic development, public safety and fiscal responsibility.5sourced
Emmanuel Hernandez SotoIncumbentDistrict 4 council member who has worked with nonprofits including CSET and Self-Help Enterprises. He was the first in his family to graduate from College of the Sequoias and later the University of California, San Diego.9sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Voters in District 4 and District 5 each pick one council member for their district; the most votes wins. District 3 is not on the ballot because only the incumbent filed.

2 notes on these statements

Esther Perez, who serves on the Visalia Cemetery Board, will not attend the Oct. 8 League of Women Voters forum because of a cemetery conference. Valley Voice · Oct 1, 2026

Candidates in Districts 4 and 5 were invited to the Oct. 8 candidate forum at the Tulare County Office of Education. The Sun-Gazette · Sep 9, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Brian PoochigianCouncilmember, District 3; ran unopposed for a new term, so his contest is not on the Nov. 3 ballot12sourced Brett TaylorCEO of the Tulare County Association of REALTORS® and a former Visalia Planning Commissioner. He served on the Planning Commission for eight years before joining the council.9sourced Liz WynnVice Mayor; Councilmember, District 1; elected November 202410sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesPaying for parks and big projects, Growth and development, Streets, bike lanes and parks Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Paying for parks and big projects

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council voted 2-3 against paying for a voter survey on a 0.75% sales tax, so no city tax measure is on the November ballot.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to pay for an aquatic center, Civic Center Phase 3 and other unfunded projects, including whether to seek a new tax.

The proposed tax would have funded capital projects such as an aquatics center, the East Side Regional Park and the third phase of the civic center. Valley Voice · Mar 19, 2026
Visalia voters previously approved Measure N and Measure T sales taxes, which together generated $25 million over the last year. Valley Voice · Mar 19, 2026
In January 2026 the council voted 3-2 to pursue a 50-meter pool and a recreation pool and asked staff for funding options. Visalia City Council minutes, Jan. 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
In June 2026 the council voted 3-1 to award a $5.72 million design contract for Civic Center Phase 3 from the Civic Center Reserve Fund. Visalia City Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026

Growth and development

Where it standsThe council hears appeals of Planning Commission decisions; in December 2024 it rejected neighbors' appeals of a Sam's Club with a gas station 3-2.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on appeals of large projects and set rules for new uses such as data centers.

The Sam's Club project includes a 28-pump gas station and car wash 160 feet from the Westlake Village mobile home park. Valley Voice · Dec 10, 2024
Council members Emmanuel Hernandez Soto and Steve Nelsen voted against rejecting the appeal. Valley Voice · Dec 10, 2024
On Sept. 8, 2026 the council approved a 45-day moratorium on permits and entitlements for new data center development. Visalia Times-Delta · Sep 9, 2026

Streets, bike lanes and parks

Where it standsThe council approved Class IV bike lanes for the Tulare Avenue repaving project 3-1 in May 2026, and a $3.04 million fence for Riverway Sports Park 4-1 in July 2025.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to use similar street designs on other corridors and how to fund park projects.

The Tulare Avenue pavement project runs from Roeben Street to Demaree Street. Visalia City Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026
Council members discussed parking impacts, pedestrian crossings and using similar improvements on other corridors. Visalia City Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026
The Riverway fencing contract went to Marko Construction Group for up to $3,041,827, with $849,010 more from the General Fund. Visalia City Council minutes, July 21, 2025 · Jul 21, 2025

Cannabis businesses

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council approved a cannabis business ordinance 5-0, but the city's direction has been to set the number of licenses to zero.

What's on the tableA future council can decide by resolution whether to issue cannabis business licenses.

In March 2025 the council chose 4-1 to draft a framework with the number of cannabis businesses set to zero. Visalia City Council minutes, March 3, 2025 · Mar 3, 2025
City staff said the license count could be changed at any time by a simple resolution. Valley Voice · Apr 2, 2026
The council raised the minimum annual community benefit contribution to $75,000 or 1.5% of annual gross receipts, whichever is greater. Visalia City Council minutes, July 20, 2026 · Jul 20, 2026
Licenses would be chosen by lottery from qualified applicants. The Sun-Gazette · Jul 22, 2026

Homelessness

Where it standsThe Visalia Navigation Center, a 100-bed short-term living center from Tulare County Hope for the Homeless, was set to open in October 2024.

What's on the tableThe next council will set city spending and enforcement policy on homelessness.

The Visalia Navigation Center on North Court Street has 60 beds for men and 40 beds for women. KSEE/KGPE · Sep 30, 2024
Residents can stay 90 to 180 days as long as they make progress. KSEE/KGPE · Sep 30, 2024

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 the council ask Visalia voters to approve a new sales tax for parks, an aquatic center and other projects?
2. Should the city have approved the Sam's Club with a gas station near the Westlake Village mobile home park?
3. Should Tulare Avenue get Class IV (separated) bike lanes as part of its repaving?
4. Should the city spend about $3 million to fence Riverway Sports Park?
5. Should Visalia let licensed cannabis businesses open?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots start going outTulare County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteCity of VisaliaOct 19, 2026
Early voting at the Registrar of Voters officeTulare County Registrar of VotersOct 20, 2026
Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballotTulare County Registrar of VotersOct 27, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)Tulare County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Liz Wynn2 on this ballot

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

Visalia voters elect a five-member council by district; members serve four-year terms and choose one member to serve as mayor and one as vice mayor. City of Visalia
Visalia has a council-manager government; the council appoints the city manager, city attorney and city clerk. City of Visalia
The Districts 3, 4 and 5 council seats are up in 2026, each for a four-year term. City of Visalia
Brian Poochigian was the only qualified candidate in District 3, so that contest is not on the ballot. Tulare County Registrar of Voters

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