Election & Ballot Watch - November 2026 - in Camel-by-the-SeaAmidst the National, State, County Ballots, Village Candidates and their Ballot Measures - our cups runneth over!. However, as it was once said (in 1980's) - in the 1980's by Tip O'Neal "All Politics are Local". Whether you agree with this phrase or not - our local elections are where our votes can have the most impact. Whomever and whatever appears on our Village specific ballots, they are critical to our future. The decisions we make and the follow-on decisions these representatives make - touches our pocketbooks and everything that makes Carmel-by-the-Sea what we experence every day. This page will keep track of Carmel City Council Candidates and any Ballot Measures that may appear on our November Ballots - as the news and announcements roll in! Suggestions and corrections are always welcome to [email protected]. Our Village specific items including those running for Council and any pending tax measures will appear on our November 3rd General Election ballots. HERE is a 5/1/26 update on #'s of registered Village voters as provide in Carmel Pine Cone - page 18 "State reports record voter registration in advance of June 2 primary" Quote "...people registered to vote as of the beginning of April, 2,432 who live in Carmelby-the-Sea." HERE is the Carmel Pine Cone page 13 article "Election Filing Period Open Monday (July 13th)" September 7 – October 20, 2026 – Write-In Candidacy Period Candidate List FINAL - HERE, as of Aug 16, is the City of Carmel's list of Candidates Qualified Candidates for Mayor (Vote for only one)
David Boland, Banking Executive - Candidate Statement of Qualifications Contact Info: www.davidforcarmelmayor.com
Hans Buder, Carmel City Councilmember - Candidate Statement of Qualifications
Contact Info: www.hansbuderforcarmel.com | [email protected] | P.O. Box 5301, Carmel, CA, 93921 Qualified Candidates for Councilmember (Vote for no more than two)
Alissandra Dramov, City Councilmember - Candidate Statement of Qualifications Contact Info: www.renewcarmel.com
Bobby Richards, Driving Instructor & Former Councilmember - Candidate Statement of Qualifications Contact Info: www.bobbyrichardscarmel.com | [email protected] | P.O. Box 5402, Carmel, CA, 93921
Stefan Karapetkov, Planning Commissioner - Candidate Statement of Qualifications Contact Info: www.karapetkovforcarmel.com | [email protected]
Others - covered in the press, leading to the deadline.
David Parker Logan, was in prior election cycles, pulled papers for mayor run this July, but decided not to run this year
Jeff Baron - no longer running for City Council, although pulled papers, has subsequently withdrawn (see press article below)
Dale Byrne - current Mayor; not running for re-election for Mayor
Press Coverage HERE is the 8/14/26 Carmel Pine Cone issue, page 30 "Buder faces challenger after all" CRA Hosts our every election year City Council Candidates Forum. This year it's set for Tuesday September 15th at Carmel Woman's Club 5:30-7:30, held every 2 years! Details HERE Paul Miller (editor and owner of the Carmel Pine Cone) is, once again, going to MC our Candidates Panel at this years Candidates Forum.
NOTE: Carmel Chamber also hosts a Candidate Forum, with a Business Focus on September 22nd in the Church of the Wayfarer Ballot TAX Measure FINAL Documents - as provided by the City Clerk on THIS City web page HERE is the 8/21/2026 Carmel Pine Cone cover article "Council argues for passage of hotel tax increase"
FINAL Transient Occupancy Tax Measure Short Description Submitted for Voter Pamphlet Measure M – Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) To upgrade streets/sidewalks, address beach erosion, enhance wildfire preparedness, maintain City trees, and fund other general government purposes in City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, shall the measure establishing a new 2% transient occupancy tax, paid by lodging guests, in addition to the existing 10% transient occupancy tax, increasing the total tax rate to 12%, with the new 2% tax generating approximately $1,900,000 annually, and the total 12% tax generating $11,700,000 annually, until ended by voters, be adopted? Supplemental documents submitted for voter pamphlet and other resources FINAL Sales Tax Measure - Short Description Submitted for Voter Pamphlet Measure N - Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax) To upgrade streets/sidewalks, address beach erosion, enhance wildfire preparedness, maintain City trees, and fund other general government purposes in City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, shall the measure increasing the transactions and use tax (also known as sales tax) by 0.375%, from 1.50% to 1.875%, providing approximately $1,800,000 annually in additional revenue and approximately $9,400,000 annually in total revenue, and extending the total 1.875% tax until ended by voters, with independent audits and all funds benefitting Carmel-by-the-Sea, be adopted? Supplemental documents submitted for voter pamphlet and other resources
Previous Prep Council Session
HERE is the 7/7/26 City Council staff report to "Discuss Primary Arguments In Favor of Ballot Measures for Transient Occupancy Tax and Transactions and Use Tax (Sales) and Approve by Motion the Proposed Primary Arguments or Provide Other Direction"
- Argument draft supporting TOT HERE - Argument draft supporting Sales Tax HERE - HERE are the Slides from this topic as presented - including timeline - HERE is the Video for this topic Findings: These supporting arguments were approved as presented, with nominal comments from Council and the Public. HERE is 6/19/26 the Carmel Pine Cone article, page 3 "Two tax measures ballot-bound"
HERE is the Staff Report on the TOT 2% increase for our November ballot
HERE is the YouTube starting with this topic HERE are the Slides on this topic HERE is the Staff Report on the Sales Tax .375% increase for our November ballot HERE is the YouTube starting with this topic HERE are the Slides for this topic Findings: HERE is the video beginning of the public comments covering BOTH tax measures and resulting Council discussions and decisions as follows. The TOT received 5/0 vote support to be on the November ballot. The Sales Tax received a 4/1 vote support to be on the November ballot. Discussion included pros/cons of each tax as well as the risks of having one or two tax measures on the ballot. There is expanded content and Council findings on these tax measures that can be found on the CRA Budget page HERE Carmel Unified School District (CUSD)- Capital Improvement Funding Bond "How much would the local school improvement measure cost? ...(this) measure will provide $250 million for repairs and upgrades to CUSD school and is estimated to cost $36 per every $100,000 of a property's assessed (not market) value per year, while bonds are outstanding. As always you can securely mail your ballots in the official Village location in the Sunset Center Parking Lot - up to 5PM on the day of each Election (General Tuesday November 3) and our local voting in person location is in Carpenter Hall in Sunset Center - commonly beginning at 7AM and closing at 8PM Pacific Time. For more details on how to register or update your voter profile - visit the Monterey County Elections office HERE
More to come!
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