Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Yorba Linda City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

5 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 · Vote for up to 2

Janice LimIncumbentYorba Linda councilwoman and former mayor with dual USC degrees in business and architecture. Before public service she worked as a financial analyst on large investment projects.9sourced
Robert R. Pease IILicensed professional engineer with an MBA who served on the Yorba Linda Planning Commission for over 11 years. His fellow commissioners elected him chair three times.5sourced
Sean PhayakapongSenior GIS analyst at a local water district and member of the Yorba Linda Traffic Commission. He is past president of the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club.4sourced
Raymond PotterSmall business owner and Yorba Linda resident of more than 20 years. His campaign site says he has served on the Yorba Linda Parks & Recreation Commission.3sourced
Carlos RodriguezIncumbentMayor of Yorba Linda and a senior vice president at the Building Industry Association of Southern California. He represents Yorba Linda on the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board.8sourced

All voters citywide choose up to two of the five candidates; the two top vote-getters win four-year terms.

2 notes on these statements

Carlos Rodriguez and Janice Lim are the incumbents in this contest; Peggy Huang, Tara Campbell and Shivinder Singh are not on the ballot. Orange County Registrar of Voters · Aug 28, 2026

Five candidates qualified for the two seats: Sean Phayakapong, Raymond Potter, Robert R. Pease II, Janice Lim and Carlos Rodriguez. Orange County Registrar of Voters · Aug 28, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Tara CampbellCouncilmember; term ends December 20286sourced Peggy HuangCouncilmember; term ends December 20285sourced Shivinder SinghCouncilmember; term ends December 20286sourced

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 decidesHousing and state law, City budget and taxes, Police and wildfire safety Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day (polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Housing and state law

Where it standsOn July 21, 2026 the council voted 4-0 to approve a zoning ordinance carrying out the last four programs of the 2021–2029 Housing Element.

What's on the tableHow the city applies state housing law, density bonuses and local standards to new housing projects.

The revised 2021–2029 Housing Element was adopted by the City Council and approved by voters in 2024, according to the consultant's presentation. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
At the March 3, 2026 hearing, staff said the Housing Accountability Act limits review of housing developments to five hearings and restricts the City’s ability to deny a project or reduce its density. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Mar. 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026
At the same hearing, staff said Tentative Tract Map 19389 qualifies for a 22.5% density bonus, one incentive or concession, and waivers from certain local development standards. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Mar. 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026
The city’s consultant said that without a compliant plan the city may face penalties from $10,000 to $100,000, loss of local control, decertification of its housing plan and builder’s remedy projects. Voice of OC · Jul 1, 2026

City budget and taxes

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council voted 5-0 to put $6,766,200 of surplus General Fund reserves toward pension and retiree-medical obligations and the Special Reserve Fund.

What's on the tableHow the city spends surplus funds, and whether it looks to new revenue, in the budgets the next council adopts.

Mayor Rodriguez said property tax remains the primary revenue source and emphasized the importance of increasing sales tax revenue. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Mar. 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
The Finance Director said sales tax is projected to decrease by $30,000 due to inflation and interest rates. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Mar. 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
On June 2, 2026 the council adopted the FY 2026-27 Mid-Term Budget and the FY 2026-33 Seven-Year Capital Improvement Program (4-0, one member absent). Yorba Linda City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026

Police and wildfire safety

Where it standsThe council approved a new five-year Sheriff’s Department contract in May 2025 and updated the General Plan safety element in June 2026.

What's on the tableHow police services are contracted and funded, and how the city plans for wildfire and evacuation.

The agreement is a five-year contract for law enforcement services with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department beginning with fiscal year 2025-26. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, May 20, 2025 · May 20, 2025
On June 17, 2025 the council voted 4-1 to approve the updated 2025 CalFIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps with no changes. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, June 17, 2025 · Jun 17, 2025
The updated Safety Element includes identification of evacuation routes and neighborhoods with limited access. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026

E-bike rules and trails

Where it standsThe council adopted an e-bike ordinance 5-0 in October 2025 and received an education and enforcement update in June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, tighten or loosen the e-bike rules, including on trails.

Before the October 2025 vote, the council discussed adopting the ordinance as is and revisiting it in 6 months versus amending it to exclude e-bike use on earthen, unpaved dirt trails. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Oct. 7, 2025 · Oct 7, 2025
At the June 16, 2026 update, residents urged the council to prohibit e-bikes on trails and continue reviewing the ordinance. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026

Business and economic development

Where it standsThe council created an ad hoc economic development committee in March 2026 and approved a small-business support program in July 2026.

What's on the tableWhat the city does to support, keep and attract local businesses.

The council voted 5-0 on March 17, 2026 to create an ad hoc economic development committee and ratify the appointment of Mayor Rodriguez and Mayor Pro Tem Huang to it. Yorba Linda City Council minutes, Mar. 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
On July 21, 2026 the council appropriated $32,500 from the General Fund for the Yorba Linda Small Business University support program (4-0). Yorba Linda City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 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. How should Yorba Linda respond to state housing requirements?
2. Should Yorba Linda seek any new local taxes?
3. How should Yorba Linda provide police services?
4. What should the city do about e-bike rules?
5. How should the city grow its local economy?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Election Day (polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)City of Yorba Linda · Jul 9, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Tara Campbell, Peggy Huang, Shivinder Singh2 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members elected at-large to four-year terms. City of Yorba Linda
Each year the City Councilmembers elect one member to serve as Mayor. City of Yorba Linda
A councilmember may serve a maximum of three four-year terms. City of Yorba Linda

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