What readers need to know

Monterey County NOW reporter Pam Marino reports on the eight candidates seeking four Pacific Grove City Council seats in the city’s first district-based election. Her story adds candidate interviews and stated priorities, including budget, infrastructure, downtown, housing, environmental and urban-forest issues. Those interview observations belong to Marino’s reporting and remain credited to her.

MyPG.news’ City Hall desk matched the report to the City Clerk’s qualified-candidate record and the election work already maintained in the permanent November ballot guide. The eight-candidate headline counts the four council contests: Cynthia Garfield and Kevin Hanley in District 1; Tara Leweling, Susan Goldbeck and Andrew Kubica in District 3; Chris Thomas unopposed in District 5; and Lori McDonnell and James Ogle for the two-year at-large seat.

The complete municipal field is 10 candidates across five races because the mayoral contest is separate: Luke Coletti and Nick Smith are the two qualified candidates for the two-year mayoral term. Under the city’s transition schedule, Districts 1, 3 and 5 vote in 2026; Districts 2, 4 and 6 are scheduled for 2028. A voter’s home address determines whether a district contest appears on that voter’s ballot, while the mayor and at-large contests are citywide.

The MyPG.news permanent ballot guide adds the official qualification dates, candidate-submitted statements or required Charter Article 8 disclosures, district finder, office terms and Measure R documents. It does not rank or endorse candidates. Marino’s original article remains the source for her interviews and descriptions of candidate positions; the City Clerk record controls candidate qualification status.