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Mission Viejo council opts to follow municipal code on staggered terms, rejects random drawing
Summary
After public comment and debate, council voted 3–2 to assign Districts 1, 3 and 5 to four‑year terms and Districts 2 and 4 to two‑year terms for the 2026 election; council instructed staff to amend the municipal code and treat a two‑year seat as a full term for term‑limit calculations.
The Mission Viejo City Council voted 3–2 to follow its municipal code allocation for staggered terms in the 2026 election — assigning Districts 1, 3 and 5 four‑year terms and Districts 2 and 4 two‑year terms — rather than using a random drawing recommended by some residents.
Councilmember Vasquez urged a random drawing to ensure fairness and to align more seats with higher‑turnout presidential election years, saying municipal comments had favored a random process. “I do not think that assigning Districts 1, 3, and 5 to 4 year terms in 2026 is in the best interest of the residents,” she said during council debate. The mayor and several council members argued continuity and historical precedent supported following the code. The motion to follow the existing code passed 3–2, and staff will return with a revised ordinance that clarifies that two‑year terms count as full terms for term‑limit purposes.
