City of Artesia

Artesia City Council

This person holds one of three seats up this cycle on Artesia's City Council. The council has five at-large members with staggered four year terms. They vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use. The council picks one of its own members to serve as Mayor. An appointed city manager runs day to day operations.

Five candidates are running for three at-large seats on Artesia's City Council. The incumbents are Melissa Ramoso, Ali Taj, and Rene J. Trevino. The challengers are Dan Rocha and Craig Francis. Voters can pick up to three. There is no primary.

Council seats carry 4-year terms, staggered so either two or three seats are up each cycle — this year it's three. Winners join two sitting councilmembers not up for election this year to make five votes on city ordinances, the budget, and land use. The council selects one of its own to serve as Mayor; day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager.

With three incumbents and two challengers competing for three seats in an at-large, vote-for-up-to-three contest, the practical choice is less which incumbent to keep and more whether either challenger should displace one of them: Rocha campaigns on specific neighborhood issues (illegal dumping, neglected properties), while Francis has filed no platform of any kind.

Melissa Ramoso

Melissa Ramoso is the incumbent Mayor Pro Tem. They were first elected to the council in 2018. They run on their council record. That record includes a dedicated Sheriff's Sergeant, street safety measures, and balanced budgets. They were the city's first Filipina and Asian American council member. They served as mayor in 2021.

Ali Taj

Ali Taj is a sitting councilmember who has also served as Mayor. Their ballot title is "Grandfather, Businessman, and Councilmember." They campaign on a record they describe as reduced crime and balanced budgets. It also includes completed independent audits and a new Public Services Station. Their priorities are neighborhood safety, local business support, and protecting taxpayer dollars.

Rene J. Trevino

Rene J. Trevino is the sitting Mayor. By their own statement, they have been a councilmember since 2018. They name public safety as their top priority. They credit the city with year-over-year crime reduction. They also point to senior programs, parks, streets, and city improvement projects. They are a business owner.

Dan Rocha

Dan Rocha is a lifelong Artesia resident. Their ballot title is "Family Caregiver." They are a business owner and digital project manager. They have served on two city commissions. They campaign on public safety and transparent government. They also name illegal dumping and neglected properties.

Craig Francis

Craig Francis is a challenger. They filed nomination papers on August 6, 2026. They filed no candidate statement. No news coverage or campaign finance filings were found for them.

Your picks · choose up to 3

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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