TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
PREPARED BY: Kimberly Ramirez, Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT:
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November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election - District 1
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ABSTRACT
The City of Murrieta called the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election to elect City Council Members for Districts 1, 2, and 5. Pursuant to California Elections Code §10229, with only one candidate being qualified for the District 1 ballot, the City Council has options to either appoint or take no action, which would result in a District 1 election.
RECOMMENDATION
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OPTION 1: Adopt Resolution No. 26-4968 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California Appointing Nominees to the Office of Council Member for City of Murrieta City Council, Voting District 1, that was to be Elected at the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election and Canceling Said Election for the Office of City Council Member for Voting District 1; which is submitted after the appointment is made; and direct the City Clerk to fulfill any administrative requirements in accordance with the law; OR
OPTION 2: Take no action, resulting in the Office of City Council Member for Voting District 1 remaining on the ballot.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On June 16, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution Nos. 26-4952 - 26-4954, calling the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election, Requesting Consolidation with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, and setting regulations for Candidate Statements (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with the City Council’s goal of maintaining a high-performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability, and organizational efficiency; and supports the City Clerk’s Department administrative goal to conduct the 2026 General Municipal Election in accordance with Murrieta Municipal Code § 1.20.
DISCUSSION
On June 16, 2026, the City Council called the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election (Election) to elect three Members of the City Council (Districts 1, 2 & 5) for the full term of four years. The City Clerk/Local Elections Official of the City of Murrieta (City) posted the Notice of Election, which included the nomination period for the three Members of City Council seats between Monday, July 13, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. and Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
During this period, one (1) individual pulled nomination papers for City Council District 1, filed the nomination papers, and qualified for the ballot: District 1: Jon Levell.
Appointment Process
Pursuant to California Elections Code §10229, if only one person is nominated to be elected from or by a legislative district, the city elections official shall submit a certificate of facts to the governing body of the city and inform the governing body of the city that it may adopt one of the following courses of action:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated; or
2. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
On Monday, August 10, 2026, the City Clerk/Local Elections Official transmitted the Notice/Certificate of Facts (Attachment No. 1) and informed the City Council of its options. California Elections Code §10229 also requires the city elections official to publish the Notice/Certificate of Facts. After the fifth day following the date of posting or publication, the governing body may make the appointment or direct an election to be held in the affected territory. If by the 75th day before the municipal election (August 20, 2026), no person has been appointed to office, the election shall be held.
On Monday, August 11, 2026, the City Clerk/Local Elections Official caused the Notice/Certificate of Facts to be posted. On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the same notice was published in the Press Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun, and The Daily Bulletin.
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated
The City Council may appoint the qualified candidate, Jon Levell. If appointed, Jon Levell will serve the full four (4) year Council Member term representing City Council District 1. Mr. Levell would take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
The appointment will result in the cancellation of the election for the Office of City Council Member for District 1. Districts 2 and 5 will continue as scheduled. The cancellation of the election for the District 1 Office will eliminate the opportunity for write-in candidates in District 1 to file with the City Clerk/Local Elections Official. In addition, it would decrease the estimated cost of the Election by approximately $50,000.00.
2. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated
The time constraint in California Elections Code §10229 provides that if the City Council does not make an appointment by the 75th day before the Election (August 20, 2026), the election shall be held. Therefore, the Election will be held as originally called with City Council Districts 1, 2 & 5 if no action is taken by August 20th. If the City Council decides to hold the District 1 Election, there would be a limited opportunity for one or more write-in candidates to qualify for the Election. Only write-in candidates who have properly qualified may be considered in the vote tally. To qualify as a write-in candidate, a person generally must follow the same process as becoming a traditional candidate. They must file certain information with the elections official and must submit the proper number of signatures nominating that person as a write-in candidate. Nomination papers for write-in candidacy are available from September 7, 2026, to October 20, 2026. If no official write-in candidates are qualified, Jon Levell would only need a single vote to be elected in the District 1 Election.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item) in addition to the posting and publication described above.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for an election in three voting districts is available in the City Clerk's FY 2026/27 operating budget for election services. General ledger account number 1102400-63520 is funded at $130,000. The original estimate provided for the cost of the Election for three (3) districts was $145,000. The exclusion of District 1 Election would decrease the cost by approximately $50,000, resulting in an updated estimated cost of $95,000.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Notice/Certificate of Facts
ATT 2 - Resolution No. 26-4968