WillowsNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Willows City Council Election 2026

2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 3-question quizSee who is on your ballot

No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Glenn County Elections office open Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Oct 31): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters citywide choose up to two of the three candidates for two four-year City Council seats on Nov. 3, 2026.

Glenn County Elections office open Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. · Oct 31

Take your ballot with you

Candidates, positions and key dates in one email, sent now.

Your cheat-sheet comes right away. You'll also get a reminder before Election Day, the results, then what your council decides next. Unsubscribe anytime. No ads, never sold.

Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Rebuilding the police department4 sourced facts

Where it standsWillows' law enforcement contract with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office expired June 30, 2026, and the council voted in August to re-establish the Willows Police Department.

What's on the tableHow quickly to hire a police chief and officers, where the department is housed, and whether to seek an interim contract for patrols.

02Paying for the police department3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council ended work on a Community Facilities District to fund the police department while the city explores other funding.

What's on the tableHow to pay the startup and ongoing costs of a city police department.

03Measure K cannabis business tax4 sourced facts

Where it standsMeasure K on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot would let Willows tax cannabis businesses at up to 10% of gross receipts.

What's on the tableWhat tax rate to set after the first year and how to spend the general fund revenue if the measure passes.

04Hiring a new city manager3 sourced facts

Where it standsCity Manager Marti Brown resigned in September 2026, and an interim city manager starts Oct. 19, 2026.

What's on the tableWhom to hire as the permanent city manager.

05Sewer rates and billing3 sourced facts

Where it standsCal Water ended its sewer billing for the city, and in September 2026 the council voted to bill commercial customers in-house.

What's on the tableSewer rates for later years, which the council reviews each budget cycle, and how sewer billing is run.

2 notes on these statements

The seats held by Vice Mayor Rick Thomas and Councilmember Lorri Pride are up for election. Willows City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026

On Aug. 18, 2026, the council voted 3-1 to appoint John Lowe to fill a vacant City Council seat. Willows City Council special meeting minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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. How should Willows provide police services?

  2. 2. How should Willows find its next permanent city manager?

  3. 3. Who should handle commercial sewer billing in Willows?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted16 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Gary Hansen, Evan Hutson, John Lowe2 on this ballot

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

  • The Willows City Council has five members elected at-large to staggered four-year terms. City of Willows
  • Every two years, in even-numbered years, the council selects a Mayor and Vice-Mayor from among its members. City of Willows
  • Two City Council seats, each for a four-year term, are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. City of Willows

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.