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NOVEMBER 3, 2026 • PACIFIC GROVE

The local ballot,
without the campaign fog.

A neutral, source-linked guide to what Pacific Grove voters are being asked to decide, why each item matters, and where to read the official documents yourself.

Guide statusCurrent official city record reviewed August 7, 2026
AT A GLANCE1city ballot measure
LOCAL OFFICES5elected positions

This page covers Pacific Grove municipal items. County, state and federal contests will be added when the official Monterey County voter guide and certified ballot are published.

01CITY MEASURE
OFFICIALLY PLACED ON BALLOTMeasure letter pending

Preserving General Services Measure

“Shall the measure…establishing a 0.375% transactions and use (‘sales’) tax, providing approximately $1,000,000 annually for 10 years, with independent audits, and all money locally controlled, be adopted?”
What would change

A 0.375% local transactions-and-use tax would be added for ten years.

City revenue estimate

Approximately $1 million per year, according to the ballot language.

Stated purpose

General city services, including streets, sidewalks, beaches, parks, facilities, fire, paramedic, crime prevention and 9-1-1 response.

Oversight in the measure

Independent audits and local control of the revenue are stated in the measure.

WHY IT MATTERS

Voters are deciding whether to raise the local sales-tax rate for a fixed ten-year period. Because this is described as a general-services tax, the official text—not campaign messaging—is the best place to examine its legal terms, duration and accountability requirements.

Primary recordResolution 26-023 and full measure text ↗Election statusPacific Grove City Clerk election page ↗
DOCUMENTS STILL TO COMEImpartial analysis and primary arguments due August 13Rebuttals due August 20Public-review periods: August 14–24 and August 21–31

MyPG.news will label official analysis, arguments for, arguments against and rebuttals separately when filed.

02CITY OFFICES

Five positions will shape the next City Council.

The city nomination period closed August 6 with no extension. The names below are candidates the City Clerk lists as qualified; this is not an endorsement.

01

Mayor

Citywide office
2-year term
02

Councilmember — District 1

Voted on by District 1 residents
4-year term
03

Councilmember — District 3

Voted on by District 3 residents
4-year term
04

Councilmember — District 5

Voted on by District 5 residents
4-year term
05

Councilmember — At Large

Citywide office
2-year term
OFFICIAL QUALIFIED-CANDIDATE LIST • REVIEWED AUG. 7

Mayor

  • Luke Coletti • qualified Aug. 3
  • Nick Smith • qualified July 27

District 1

  • Cynthia Garfield • qualified July 20
  • Kevin Hanley • qualified July 27

District 3

  • Tara Leweling • qualified July 23
  • Susan Goldbeck • qualified July 30
  • Andrew Kubica • qualified Aug. 4

District 5

  • Chris Thomas • qualified July 20

At Large

  • Lori McDonnell • qualified July 27
  • James Ogle • qualified Aug. 5
WHY IT MATTERS

District seats give residents in Districts 1, 3 and 5 a direct choice of representative. The mayor and at-large councilmember remain citywide choices. Candidate statements will be linked when election officials publish them.

Verify names and qualification dates with the City Clerk ↗
03FOLLOW THE RECORD

Read beyond the summary.

Pacific Grove City ClerkLocal election notices, candidates and ballot-measure documentsMonterey County ElectionsCertified ballot, voter guide, deadlines and results when postedCampaign disclosuresPacific Grove FPPC filings and campaign-finance resources

Editorial rule: MyPG.news does not advocate for or against a candidate or measure. Official analyses, campaign arguments and newsroom explanations are labeled separately. This guide will be corrected and expanded as official election documents are filed.