The Clerk of the Council serves as the elections official and is responsible for all candidate filings, the issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, City measures and publication of all legal notices as well as campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
The general municipal elections for the City are held on the first Tuesday in November of even-numbered years for the purpose of electing City Council members or placing special measures and/or bond issues before the voters.
The City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councilmembers, for a total of seven members. City Council members are nominated by their respective ward and elected at-large. The offices of Mayor and City Council are non-partisan.
The Mayor serves a term of two years, with a maximum of four consecutive terms. While, Councilmembers each serve a four-year term, with a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms. At the next City election, to be held on November 6, 2018, Wards 2, 4, 6, and the Mayor's seat will be up for election.
To be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember, a person must be a qualified voter and a thirty (30) day resident of the ward from which the candidate is nominated at the time nomination papers are issued, except that the mayor need only be a registered voter and thirty (30) day resident of the City at such time.
For specific questions regarding the election process, please contact the Clerk of the Council at (714) 647-6520, during regular business hours or by email at mhuizar@santa-ana.org.
NOTICE OF UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
Election of City Councilmembers and Mayor
- The following is the list of qualified candidates on the ballot; listed in alphabetical order.
| MAYOR | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
| Miguel A. Pulido* | Mayor, City of Santa Ana | Yes |
| Sal Tinajero | Teacher / Santa Ana Councilmember | Yes |
| CITY COUNCIL MEMBER (Ward 2) | ||
| Name | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
| Alfonso Ceja-Villa | Affordable Housing Coordinator | No |
| Paul Gonzales | Financial Services Manager | Yes |
| Miguel "Mike" Gonzalez | Public Safety Consultant | Yes |
| Irma Macias | Community Volunteer | Yes |
| Sandra Peña Sarmiento | Teacher / Arts Commissioner | Yes |
| David Penaloza | Engineer / Educator | Yes |
| CITY COUNCIL MEMBER (Ward 4) | ||
| Name | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
| Phil Bacerra | Small Business Owner | Yes |
| Roman Reyna | Planning Commissioner / Coordinator | Yes |
| CITY COUNCIL MEMBER (Ward 6) | ||
| Name | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
| Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias | Governing Board Member, Santa Ana Unified School District | Yes |
| Nelida Mendoza | College Boardmember / Teacher | Yes |
| Mirna Velasquez | Businesswoman / Educator | Yes |
- 2018 Election - Candidate Handbook and Resource Guide
Handbook includes minimum eligibility requirements to run for office, nomination process, and deadlines for the General Municipal Election.NOTE: The Handbook for the 2018 General Municipal Election will be published in mid-July. The Nomination Period for candidates running in the November 6, 2018 General Municipal Election starts Monday, July 16 at 8 am and closes at 5 pm on Friday, August 10.
- Council Ward Map
2018 Ballot Measures
- MEASURE X: SANTA ANA NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY, HOMELESS PREVENTION AND ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES ENHANCEMENT MEASURE
Question before the Voters: “To maintain effective 9-1-1 response; retaining firefighters and police officers; addressing homelessness; fixing streets; maintaining parks, youth and senior services, and unrestricted general revenue purposes; shall the sales tax be increased one and one half (1.5) cents until 2029 providing approximately $60 million dollars annually, then reduced to one (1) cent providing approximately $40 million dollars annually, until 2039, requiring annual audits, citizens oversight and for Santa Ana use only?” - MEASURE AA: REQUIRE BY-WARD NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF COUNCILMEMBERS, AND REDRAWING OF WARD BOUNDARIES TO COMPLY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW
Question before the Voters: “Shall City of Santa Ana Charter sections 101.2 and 400 be amended requiring City Councilmember election from his or her residency ward and only by registered voters of that ward, instead of City Councilmember elections by registered voters of the entire City, with ward boundaries to be drawn as required by law??” - MEASURE Z: CITY CHARTER MODERNIZATION AND UPDATE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS :
Question before the Voters: “Shall the Charter be amended to: modernize and remove outdated language to reflect changes or conflicts in the City or State law concerning gifts and campaign contributions and designated City funds; create consistency in the Municipal Code regarding boards or commissions; and move the qualifications for the Finance Director to the Municipal Code?” - MEASURE Y: APPROVE ORDINANCE REGARDING A MARIJUANA/COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX :
Question before the Voters: “Shall Chapter 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code be amended to enact both a gross square footage tax of between 25 cents to $35.00 and a gross receipts tax rate up to 10% for cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, selling or testing cannabis and related products to raise between $8 to $12 million to fund public safety, parks, youth and senior services, among other general City services?”
Citizen Initiated Petition (Rent Control)
On April 3, 2018, the City of Santa Ana received a Notice of Intent to Circulate a Petition entitled “City of Santa Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization, and Renters’ Rights Act”.
The proponents of the measure have 180 days to circulate their petition from the date in which they received the Title and Summary from the City Attorney’s Office (which is a true and impartial statement for voter consideration). The petitions must be received no later than October 15, 2018 and include a minimum of 9,854 qualified signatures to place their measure on the next election for voter consideration.
If you have any questions on the Voter Initiative or wish to receive a copy of related public documents, please contact the Clerk of the Council Office at (714) 647-6520 during regular business hours, Monday thru Thursday 8 am to 5 pm and alternative Fridays 8 am to 5 pm or email Maria Huizar, Clerk of the Council at mhuizar@santa-ana.org.
Election History
- Election Results – Mayor and City Council (1886-2016)
- Election Results – Measures and Charter Amendments (1886-2016)
Campaign Finance
- Search Campaign Contribution Filings (2012 to present)
- Fair Political Practices Commission Forms and Deadlines
- City of Santa Ana - Campaign Contribution Limits
- Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
The FPPC is the State agency that enforces State laws regarding, among other things, campaign financing and spending, financial conflicts of interest, and gifts and honoraria given to public officials and candidates under the Political Reform Act. The FPPC provides written and oral advice to public agencies, candidates and officials on the requirements of the Political Reform Act. The FPPC’s Advice Line can be reached at 1-866-ASK-FPPC (1-866-275-3772) or email advice@fppc.ca.gov
Voter Registration:
- Register to Vote (On-line form)
- Update my Voter Registration Information
- Check my Registration
- Vote By Mail (Request form)
- Locate my polling place
- County of Orange Registrar of Voters
The Registrar of Voters (ROV) is the County Elections Official and the office conducts all Federal, State, County, Municipal, School District, and Special District scheduled and special elections. The ROV Office is also responsible for voter registration, education and outreach; maintenance of registration files; verification of initiatives, referenda and recall petitions; and filing of campaign reports.
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