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# All five Mission Viejo council seats are up Nov. 3; three incumbents are not on the city's candidate list
- URL: https://missionviejopost.com/all-five-mission-viejo-council-seats-are-up-nov-3-three-incumbents-are-not-on-the-citys-candidate-list/
- Published: 2026-10-21T19:36:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T11:34:22.000Z
- Description: Mission Viejo voters will elect all five City Council members on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The city's candidate list, current as of Aug. 7 at 5 p.m., has nine candidates for the five council districts. District 5 has one candidate on the list.
- Author: Mission Viejo Post Staff
- Tags: City Hall, Election Guide

Mission Viejo voters will elect all five City Council members on Tuesday, Nov. 3\. The city's candidate list, current as of Aug. 7 at 5 p.m., has nine candidates for the five council districts. District 5 has one candidate on the list.

The city is staggering the terms. Districts 1, 3 and 5 will be elected to four-year terms. Districts 2 and 4 will be elected to two-year terms and then to four-year terms in 2028.

## Council District 1

Current council member: Bob Ruesch (Council Member). Candidates, in the order the city lists them: Kristen Wilcox and Robert "Bob" Ruesch (incumbent). The seat carries a four-year term.

## Council District 2

Current council member: Brian Goodell (Mayor Pro Tem). Candidates, in the order the city lists them: Saga Conroy and Peter Molinari. Brian Goodell does not appear on the city's candidate list. The seat carries a two-year term and returns to the ballot in 2028.

## Council District 3

Current council member: Cynthia Vasquez (Council Member). Candidates, in the order the city lists them: Bryan Zahn and Cynthia Vasquez (incumbent). The seat carries a four-year term.

## Council District 4

Current council member: Trish Kelley (Council Member). Candidates, in the order the city lists them: Laura Lacko and James Morrison. Trish Kelley does not appear on the city's candidate list. The seat carries a two-year term and returns to the ballot in 2028.

## Council District 5

Current council member: Wendy Bucknum (Mayor). Candidate on the city's list: Steven Thornton. Wendy Bucknum does not appear on the city's candidate list. The seat carries a four-year term.

The period for write-in candidates to file ran Sept. 7 to Oct. 20\. The candidate list is current as of Aug. 7 at 5 p.m., before that period began.

The city points voters to the Orange County Registrar of Voters at [ocvote.gov](https://ocvote.gov/?ref=missionviejopost.com) for voting information and results. Residents can [find their council district](https://missionviejo.geoviewer.io/?ref=missionviejopost.com) on the city's map. The city says residents must re-register if they move, change their name or change their party affiliation, and can [register to vote online](https://registertovote.ca.gov/?ref=missionviejopost.com).

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*Sources:* [*City of Mission Viejo election information*](https://www.missionviejo.gov/departments/city-clerk/election-information?ref=missionviejopost.com)*;* [*City of Mission Viejo City Council*](https://www.missionviejo.gov/government/city-council?ref=missionviejopost.com)*;* [*Orange County Registrar of Voters*](https://ocvote.gov/?ref=missionviejopost.com)*.*

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