Two council seats are on the ballot this November in Buena Park, with one incumbent fighting for reelection in District 2 and two city commissioners vying for a seat in District 5.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Joyce Ahn faced no challenger in District 1, so she returns to the council. District 5 is guaranteed a new face in either Brandon Schooner or Sharena Walker. Current Councilmember Connor Traut is in the run-off with Tim Shaw for the OC Board of Supervisors District 4 seat.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Carlos Franco<\/a>, District 2 incumbent who is seeking a second term, is facing a challenge from Yong \u201cChuy\u201d Choi, a pastor, Taekwondo grandmaster and small business owner.<\/p>\n Franco described himself as a first-generation American and lifelong resident of Buena Park who \u201cdeeply understands\u201d the city\u2019s unique history, as well as the challenges and opportunities it has to offer, he said when answering questions in The Orange County Register\u2019s voter guide, which candidates were invited to participate in for races up and down the ballot.<\/p>\n Franco says he wants to concentrate on building new housing developments \u201cwhere it makes the most sense,\u201d through \u201cthoughtful\u201d redevelopment of aging or underutilized properties and along major corridors and transit zones. \u201cThis allows us to create more homes at different price points while protecting established single-family neighborhoods from unnecessary disruption,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Choi, who previously served on the city\u2019s Planning Commission, says on his campaign website that he immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1975, where he \u201cachieved the American dream through perseverance and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy priorities are strengthening public safety, supporting our police officers and first responders, helping local businesses grow, maintaining clean neighborhoods, addressing homelessness responsibly, protecting taxpayers, improving city services, and ensuring every public dollar is spent wisely,\u201d he said in his campaign statement for the ballot<\/a>. He did not submit a candidate questionnaire.<\/p>\n Both candidates say they want to make Buena Park affordable for working families and, if elected, say they would promote economic vitality through new businesses and job opportunities \u2014 while being mindful of how residents\u2019 tax dollars are being spent.<\/p>\n In District 5, Schooner<\/a>, who serves on the city\u2019s Climate Action Commission, said his background in design has taught him to \u201clook at problems from different angles\u201d and keep sharpening an idea until it succeeds.<\/p>\n On housing, Schooner said in answering the voter guide that the city should \u201cbuild smarter, not simply build more everywhere.\u201d He said he supports converting underused commercial properties into homes, especially near transit and local jobs, with a mix of market-rate, workforce and affordable units. Schooner points to redevelopment already approved at the old Sears site \u2014 the Village at Buena Park, a project set to replace the demolished store with 1,302 residential units \u2014 as an example.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, local control still matters,\u201d he said, and the city should have \u201ca meaningful role in deciding where growth makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n He also wants to focus on maintaining the city\u2019s physical infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks, parks, trees and lighting, and repairing any issues \u201cbefore they become more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want Buena Park to feel cared for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n