Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

West Covina City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

8 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 2 · 1 seat

Leslie H. GarciaAtmospheric scientist and lifelong West Covina resident who works in air quality. She is an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II at the South Coast Air Quality Management District and previously worked at the California Air Resources Board.5sourced
Letty LopezIncumbentMayor; Councilmember, District 2; term ends November 202610sourced
Carlos YadoFire safety executive with the California State University Chancellor's Office and a West Covina resident. He says he has more than 20 years in fire safety, building safety, code enforcement, and community and economic development.4sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 2, 4 and 5 each elect one councilmember for their own district; Districts 1 and 3 are not on this ballot.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Rosario DiazCouncilmember, District 3; term ends November 20287sourced Brian GutierrezCouncilmember, District 1; term ends November 202810sourced

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 decidesCity health department, Street sweeping, Budget and a public safety tax Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to receive a ballot by mail

Mon, Oct 19, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City health department

Where it standsWest Covina has worked since 2021 to set up its own health department; Los Angeles County Public Health keeps serving the city until the state approves one.

What's on the tableWhether to keep spending on a city health department or stay with Los Angeles County Public Health.

On February 23, 2021, the council voted to end Los Angeles County Health Officer services, and in May 2021 it added a Health Department to the municipal code. City of West Covina
Pasadena, Long Beach and Berkeley are the only California cities with their own health departments; the other 58 local health departments are run by counties. San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Jul 15, 2025
State officials said they would accept applications for new city health departments after new regulations take effect, no later than May 26, 2026. San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Jul 15, 2025
In May 2026 a motion to strike health department work from the proposed 2026-27 budget failed 2-3. West Covina City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · May 5, 2026

Street sweeping

Where it standsStreets are swept weekly with four-hour no-parking windows; in April 2026 the council kept the current route schedule rather than switch to alternate-side sweeping.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or roll back the weekly street sweeping schedule and its parking enforcement.

In December 2023 the council moved from every-other-week to weekly street sweeping, with parking restricted during four-hour sweeping windows. City of West Covina staff report · Apr 7, 2026
On February 4, 2025, the council adopted Ordinance No. 2526 updating street sweeping rules and enforcement. City of West Covina staff report · Apr 7, 2026
In April 2026 the council voted 3-2 to approve option one and asked staff to return with parking and warning citation data. West Covina City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Apr 7, 2026
In July 2026 a request to revert to the street sweeping schedule used before 2025 failed 2-3. West Covina City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Jul 7, 2026

Budget and a public safety tax

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026-27 operating and capital improvement budget unanimously in June 2026.

What's on the tableHow to pay for police, fire and other services, including whether to pursue a public safety tax.

The council adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 operating and capital improvement program budget unanimously on June 16, 2026. West Covina City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Jun 16, 2026
A 2024 state auditor report designated West Covina as financially "high risk." San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Jul 15, 2025
In August 2026 the council approved updates to the corrective action plan for State Auditor Report 2024-801. West Covina City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Aug 18, 2026
In May 2026 the council voted 3-2 to have Mayor Pro Tem Ollie Cantos convene stakeholders on a framework for a public safety tax for police and fire. West Covina City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · May 5, 2026

Data centers and battery storage

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing large-scale data centers and commercial battery energy storage facilities in West Covina.

What's on the tableWhat rules, if any, the city adopts to keep these facilities out.

The resolution directs staff to further evaluate and develop regulatory approaches. West Covina City Council minutes, September 15, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Sep 15, 2026
The resolution states that it is not a final determination against any future development. San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Sep 16, 2026
Monterey Park voters approved Measure NDC in July 2026, the first data center ban in California. San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Sep 16, 2026

Housing development

Where it standsIn June and July 2026 the council approved a 232-unit housing project at 1501 W. Del Norte Street, rezoning the site from single-family residential.

What's on the tableWhether to approve future requests to change land-use and zoning rules for new housing.

Ordinance No. 2541 changes the site's zoning from Single Family Residential (R-1) to the Del Norte Specific Plan and Open Space; the council adopted it 4-1 on July 7, 2026. West Covina City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 (draft presented for approval) · Jul 7, 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. West Covina has spent years seeking state approval for its own health department. What should the council do?
2. West Covina sweeps streets weekly with four-hour no-parking windows. What should the council do?
3. Should the city start planning a tax measure to fund police and fire?
4. Should West Covina act to keep large data centers and battery storage plants out of the city?
5. Should the council rezone single-family land for larger housing projects, like the 232 homes approved on Del Norte Street?

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 begin mailingLos Angeles County · Oct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026
Last day to register to receive a ballot by mailLos Angeles County · Oct 1, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Vote centers openLos Angeles County · Oct 1, 2026Oct 24, 2026
Election DayLos Angeles County · Oct 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Rosario Diaz, Brian Gutierrez3 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members elected by district to overlapping four-year terms; the city moved to by-district elections in November 2018. City of West Covina
Each year the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor. City of West Covina
West Covina is a general-law city with a council-manager form of government. City of West Covina
The council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. City of West Covina

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