San Gabriel City Hall (Photo – sangabrielcity.com)
San Gabriel voters will join citizens around the country voting in the General Election on November 3rd. There are national, state, local races, as well as ballot measures that will affect our lives for years to come.
By Chasity Jennings-Nuñez
If you are a registered voter in the City of San Gabriel, these are your local ballot choices.
San Gabriel City Council
Councilmembers are elected to a 4-year term; there are 5 at large council seats, San Gabriel rotates the office of Mayor on a yearly basis among the sitting council members. The Mayor is selected by the current council members, not the voting public.
There are 3 city council seats up for election. The 3 incumbents are running and there are 2 candidates looking to unseat them.
Eric L Chan: Incumbent. Accountant and Property Manager. Elected in 2022 and seeking re-election. No website listed.
Jordan Guzman: A Professional Musician and Educator. Seeking election. Website goldenguzman.com
Denise Menchaca: Incumbent. Accountant and Business Owner. First elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Website: denisemenchaca.com
Wendy Wang: Small Business Owner and Home Care Worker. Seeking election. wendywangsg.com
John Wu: Incumbent. International and California-licensed Real Estate Broker. Elected to office in 2022 and seeking re-election. No website listed
The elected City Clerk and City Treasurer offices are also on the ballot, but the incumbents are running unopposed.
Questions about these races can be directed to the San Gabriel City Clerk’s office.
In addition to local government offices, candidates for the SGUSD Governing Board are on the ballot. Their election is handled by the LA County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk.
San Gabriel Unified
San Gabriel USD Governing Board members are elected for 4-year terms. There are 5 board members. Board members may be elected by the citizens of San Gabriel or appointed by the sitting school board members when there are no approved candidates in an election cycle, incumbent governing board members are unopposed, or a seat is vacated prior to the completion of the term. There have been no public elections for a governing board position since November 2013.
Three seats are open for the November 2026 election.
Leif Halgard Andersen: Physics professor at San Bernadino Valley College. Running for a first term
Gina L. Chi: Incumbent. Treasury Manager in the Banking Industry. Appointed in 2022
Rochelle Kate Ongsiako Hass: Incumbent. Mental Health therapist and Educator. Appointed in 2018, re-appointed in 2022
Cecilia Reyes Keffer: Former SGUSD teacher. Parent and community member. Running for a first term
Gary Scott Thomas: Incumbent. First elected in 2013. Appointed in 2018, re-appointed in 2022
Ballot Measure
One ballot measure, specific to San Gabriel, will be placed on the ballot. The San Gabriel Public Safety/Local Control tax measure seeks approval by San Gabriel voters of an additional 1% sales tax on local retail transactions. The funds raised would be returned from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to San Gabriel for local expenses and programs. The measure would need to be approved by a majority (50%+1) of voters.
Ballots will be mailed to every registered voter starting approximately the first week in October. October 19 is the last day to register to vote for the November 3rd election. Any eligible voter can vote by mail, and polls will open for in-person voting as early as October 24th.
Every election opportunity is consequential and a single vote matters, especially in small local races. The League of Women Voters–Pasadena Area, will moderate a candidate forum with San Gabriel City Council candidates. The date and location have not been announced.
Make a plan to vote in the upcoming mid-term elections. For more information, visit lavote.gov/home/voting-elections.
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