Five candidates, including the incumbents, are on the November ballot in Yorba Linda for two seats on the City Council.<\/p>\n
The Register\u2019s 2026 Voter Guide<\/p>\n
The Orange County Register asked the candidates vying to represent you several questions in order to help you get to know them better. This story is based on their responses. You can find the full questionnaires from these and other candidates on your ballot \u2014 as well as helpful tips on how to vote, explainers on the multitude of propositions and more \u2014 on our Voter Guide here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Janice Lim and Carlos Rodriguez are running for re-election, facing challenges from Robert R. Pease II, Sean Phayakapong and Raymond Potter.<\/p>\n We asked the candidates questions about housing, city finances, transparency, and more, which you can read in our voter guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lim<\/a>, a business owner and a councilmember since 2023, said one of the biggest needs facing Yorba Linda is affordability. She said she has \u201cfocused on programs that improve quality of life while being mindful of taxpayer dollars.\u201d One such example, she said, is the expansion of the city\u2019s senior mobility program with the help of the Orange County Transportation Authority.<\/p>\n \u201cAffordability also means keeping our city financially strong, supporting local businesses, maintaining essential services and opposing unnecessary costs and unfunded mandates,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to continue looking for ways to keep Yorba Linda affordable, attract businesses that expand our tax base, and protect the quality of life that makes our community special.\u201d<\/p>\n Pease<\/a>, who is a professional chemical engineer and has served on the city\u2019s Planning Commission, said strengthening infrastructure and emergency preparedness is a big need facing the city, and that includes \u201cresilient emergency communications and an emergency operations capability that stays functional and keeps residents accurately informed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne priority I would pursue is improving evacuation egress where traffic could become a serious choke point, especially in Bryant Ranch,\u201d he said. \u201cThe city has already commissioned studies of the La Palma Avenue corridor. What we need now are decisions and funding.\u201d<\/p>\n Phayakapong<\/a>, a senior GIS analyst who has served as a city traffic commissioner, said the rising cost of living is a big need that has to be addressed.<\/p>\n \u201cI would focus on responsible budgeting, protecting taxpayers, and making sure we are getting the most out of every dollar the city spends,\u201d he said. \u201cI would also look for ways to strengthen our local economy and attract businesses that generate revenue without simply asking residents to pay more.\u201d<\/p>\n Though rate-setting is a state function, he said the city could help with home insurance costs with \u201cpractical wildfire mitigation, including defensible space, home-hardening education, and community-wide fire prevention efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n City Hall listening to the community, Potter<\/a>, an entrepreneur, said it is a big need in Yorba Linda. \u201cIt\u2019s simple, just listen to what the people want,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He would also support \u201ca ban on EV charging in residential garages and stop the recklessness of kids on their EV bikes,\u201d he said. \u201cYorba Linda should pass an ordinance against it.\u201d<\/p>\n