Elections
This web page contains information regarding municipal elections. National, statewide, and countywide elections are facilitated by the Orange County Registrar of Voters. For more information, please click here to visit the Registrar of Voters’ website or call (714) 567-7600.
The City Clerk serves as the City of Laguna Woods’ local elections official and conducts municipal elections in accordance with California Elections Code and other applicable law. For more information regarding municipal elections, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (949) 639-0500 or via our online contact form.
Elected Offices
The City of Laguna Woods is a general law city with a Council-Manager form of government, meaning that it operates within the parameters of California municipal law with an elected City Council as its legislative body. The City Council appoints a City Manager who serves as the City of Laguna Woods’ chief executive officer and a City Attorney who serves as the City of Laguna Woods’ primary legal counsel.
The five members of the City Council are residents of Laguna Woods who are elected by registered voters to four-year terms. Elections occur “at-large” (citywide) in even-numbered years with two and then three members of the City Council elected at subsequent elections. All five offices are nonpartisan.
The City Council appoints a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem from amongst its membership to preside over City Council meetings, execute certain legal instruments and authorizations, and attend to various representative and ceremonial matters. The Mayor Pro Tem serves as the Mayor in their absence.
Running for the City Council
Eligibility
Candidates for City Council offices must be:
- 18 years of age or older by election day; and
- A citizen of California; and
- A registered voter in Laguna Woods at the time nomination papers are issued; and
- Qualified to vote for the office at the time nomination papers are issued; and
- Eligible to take the oath of office.
For more information, please refer to Article XX, Section 3 of the State of California’s Constitution; California Elections Code sections 201 and 10511; and, California Government Code sections 275.2, 1020, and 1021.
California Government Code Section 1021 prohibits individuals who have been convicted of designated crimes as specified in the State of California’s Constitution and laws of the State of California from holding a City Council office (e.g., bribery, perjury, forgery, malfeasance in office, or other high crimes, in accordance with Article VII, Section 8(b) of the State of California’s Constitution).
Nomination Period
California Elections Code Section 10220 and 10225 et al. establish the nomination period for City Council offices. Nomination papers are available from the City Clerk’s Office during normal office hours beginning not earlier than the 113th day nor later than the 88th day before each municipal election. In the event that one or more of the incumbent members of the City Council who are eligible to be elected do not file nomination papers by the 88th day before each municipal election, the nomination period extends through the 83rd day before the election for all persons except the incumbent(s) who failed to file.
Nonpartisan Offices
Article II, Section 6 of the State of California’s Constitution requires all City Council offices to be nonpartisan. Accordingly, the political party preference of candidates for City Council offices is not included on the ballot.
Incompatible Public Offices
California Government Code Section 1099 contains the common law prohibition against the holding of “incompatible public offices.” The prohibition generally restricts the ability of persons to hold two different public offices simultaneously if the offices have overlapping and conflicting public duties. A person may not hold two public offices simultaneously if any of the following is true:
- Either of the offices may audit, overrule, remove members of, dismiss employees of, or exercise supervisory powers over the other office or body.
- Based on the powers and jurisdiction of the offices, there is a possibility of a significant clash of duties or loyalties between the offices.
- Public policy considerations make it improper for one person to hold both offices.
Positions of employment and positions on governmental bodies that have only advisory powers are not subject to the incompatible public offices prohibition.
The consequence of holding an incompatible public office is that the person is “deemed to have forfeited the first office upon acceding to the second.”
If you have questions about the compatibility of public offices that you hold or seek to hold, please contact the California Attorney General’s Office at (916) 322-3360 or click here to visit their website.
Campaign Contribution Limits
On December 20, 2000, the City Council unanimously adopted a $250 contribution limit from any individual to any candidate for office in the City of Laguna Woods or to any candidate controlled committee for a candidate for office in the City of Laguna Woods in any single election. The individual contribution limit does not apply to a candidate’s contribution of their personal funds, community property funds, or domestic partnership funds to their own campaign committee, but does apply to separate property contributions from the candidate’s spouse or domestic partner. The individual contribution limit is codified as Laguna Woods Municipal Code Chapter 1.14.
Voter Information
To vote in municipal elections, individuals must be registered to vote in Laguna Woods. For information on how to register to vote, verify voter registration, or update voter registration, please contact the Orange County Registrar of Voters at (714) 567-7600 or click here to visit their website.
Historical Election Results
2024 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 5, 2024
City Council
Elected – Cynthia S. Conners, Shari L. Horne, and Eun Ju “Pearl” Lee
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Shari L. Horne, 7,718
- Cynthia S. Conners, 7,327
- Eun Ju “Pearl” Lee, 5,949
- James Ping-Ya Tung, 3,941
Total Ballots Cast:
- Vote Center Ballots Cast: 1,476
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 11,899
- Total Ballots Cast: 13,375
2022 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 8, 2022
City Council
Elected – Annie McCary and Carol Moore
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Carol Moore, 6,027
- Annie McCary, 4,730
- Edward H. Tao, 3,418
Total Ballots Cast:
- Vote Center Ballots Cast: 1,078
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 10,480
- Total Ballots Cast: 11,558
Measure T-City of Laguna Woods Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance
To fund City services, shall a measure establishing a tax on cannabis businesses of the higher of the following rates: 4%-10% of gross receipts or $5-$35 per square foot for retail businesses; and 1%-10% of gross receipts or $1-$35 per square foot for other businesses, with certain rates increasing annually, generating an estimated $750,000 annually if cannabis businesses were to be authorized in the future, until ended by voters, be adopted?
6,555 ballots were cast for “Yes.” 4,185 ballots were cast for “No.”
2020 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 3, 2020
City Council
Elected – Cynthia Conners, Noel Hatch, and Shari L. Horne
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Noel Hatch, 6,343
- Shari L. Horne, 5,916
- Cynthia Conners, 5,792
- Judith P. Troutman, 3,984
- Kathryn Robbins, 3,960
Total Ballots Cast:
- Election Day Vote Center Ballots Cast: 947
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 12,915
- Total Ballots Cast: 13,862
Measure V-City of Laguna Woods Advisory Measure on Marijuana Dispensaries
Should the City of Laguna Woods allow the establishment and operation of marijuana dispensaries offering the retail sale of medical and non-medical marijuana in commercial zoning districts within the City of Laguna Woods city limits?
6,651 ballots were cast for “Yes.” 6,426 ballots were cast for “No.”
2018 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 6, 2018
City Council
Elected – Carol Moore and Joe Rainey
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Carol Moore, 5,472
- Joe Rainey, 5,055
- Judith P. Troutman, 4,993
Total Ballots Cast:
- Early Voting Ballots Cast: 128
- Precinct Ballots Cast: 2,185
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 9,250
- Total Ballots Cast: 11,563
2016 General Municipal Election
City Council
The 2016 General Municipal Election was cancelled due to the number of candidates not exceeding the number of offices to be filled. Candidates Cynthia Conners, Noel Hatch, and Shari Horne were appointed to the City Council.
2014 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 4, 2014
City Council
Elected – Bert Hack and Carol A. Moore
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Bert Hack, 3,419
- Carol A. Moore, 2,963
- Rae C. Tso, 2,947
- Al Roddan, 1,473
- Mark L. Monin, 1,403
- David Russell Ohrn, 1,323
Total Ballots Cast:
- Precinct Ballots Cast: 2,008
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 6,533
- Total Ballots Cast: 8,541
2012 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 6, 2012
City Council
Elected – Cynthia S. Conners, Milton W. Robbins, and Noel Hatch
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Cynthia S. Conners, 6,055
- Milton W. Robbins, 3,965
- Noel Hatch, 3,941
- Shari L. Horne, 3,689
- David Russell Ohrn, 3,030
- Mara G. Hodgkins, 1,578
Total Ballots Cast:
- Early Voting Ballots Cast: 58
- Precinct Ballots Cast: 3,196
- Vote-by-Mail Ballots Cast: 8,495
- Total Ballots Cast: 11,749
2010 General Municipal Election
City Council
The 2010 General Municipal Election was cancelled due to the number of candidates not exceeding the number of offices to be filled. Candidates Bert Hack and Robert Ring were appointed to the City Council.
2008 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 4, 2008
City Council
Elected – Brenda Ross, Martin “Marty” Rhodes, and Milton W. Robbins
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Brenda Ross, 3,959
- Martin “Marty” Rhodes, 3,596
- Milton W. Robbins, 3,535
- Arlene Sontag, 3,079
- Mark Stein, 2,431
- Ronald Beldner, 2,265
- James “Jim” Kane, 1,955
- Margo Bouer, 1,946
- Robert “Bob” Tucker, 1,923
- Marilynn J. Sortino, 1,766
2006 General Municipal Election
City Council
The 2006 General Municipal Election was cancelled due to the number of candidates not exceeding the number of offices to be filled. Candidates Bert Hack and Robert Ring were appointed to the City Council.
2004 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 2, 2004
City Council
Elected – Brenda Ross, Robert “Bob” Bouer, and Milton W. Robbins
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Brenda Ross, 6,551
- Robert “Bob” Bouer, 6,039
- Milton W. Robbins, 5,229
- Elizabeth “Bea” McArthur, 4,537
- Denise D. Welch, 3,846
- Gerald Wass, 2,300
2002 General Municipal Election
Election Date: November 5, 2002
City Council
Elected – Robert B. Ring and Bert Hack
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Robert B. Ring, 5,041
- Bert Hack, 4,898
- Dave Schlenker, 3,461
- Maurice S. Kravitz, 3,198
Measure O-Laguna Woods Appropriation Limit
Approved 7,546 (Yes) to 1,870 (No)
Measure P-Laguna Woods Appropriations Limit Inc
Approved 6,672 (Yes) to 2,769 (No)
2000 General Municipal Election
Election Date: April 11, 2000
City Council
Elected – Robert Bouer, Brenda B. Ross, and Jan Nelson McLaughlin
Ballots Cast by Candidate:
- Robert Bouer, 4,850
- Brenda B. Ross, 3,698
- Jan Nelson McLaughlin, 3,196
- Jacqueline Carey, 2,845
- Victor Kay, 1,777
- Ann M. Snider, 1,642
- Mary Stone, 1,428
- Helen Mencher, 862
- Juel Anderson, 550
1999 Incorporation Election
Election Date: March 2, 1999
Measure A-Incorporation of the City in the Leisure World Area
Shall the order adopted on September 15, 1998 by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange ordering the incorporation of the territory described in the order and designated in the order as the incorporation of the Leisure World subject to the terms and conditions specified in the order, including the establishment of an appropriations limit for the new city of the Leisure World area of $3,581,586.00 and the continuance as city taxes of the sales and use tax, transient occupancy, the real property transfer tax, and other general taxes presently imposed by the county at the same rate as imposed by the county and using the same manner of collection, be confirmed?
Approved 5,394 (Yes) to 5,052 (No)
Measure B-District/At Large
Should the order of incorporation be confirmed, shall the members of the city council in future elections be elected by district or at large?
“At Large” Approved 4,804 to “District” 3,557
Measure C-City Name
Should the order of incorporation be confirmed, should the city be named: Laguna Verde or Laguna Woods?
“Laguna Woods” Approved 5,527 to “Laguna Verde” 2,953
City Council
Elected – Jim Thorpe, Bert Hack, Ann Snider, Brenda Ross, and Victor Kay
Jim Thorpe and Bert Hack were elected to three-year terms. Ann Snider, Brenda Ross, and Victor Kay were elected to one-year terms.
