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Fountain Valley City Council

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City of Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley City Council

This person holds one of three at-large seats on Fountain Valley's City Council. The council has five members, serving staggered four-year terms. Members vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use. Each year, the council picks one of its own members to serve as Mayor.

Nine candidates are running for three of Fountain Valley's five at-large City Council seats. Two incumbents are running, Jim Cunneen, the sitting Mayor, and Kim Constantine. Seven challengers are also running. A third incumbent, Patrick Harper, is not on this ballot. He is not seeking reelection. You can vote for up to three candidates. There is no primary.

Fountain Valley is a general-law city. Council seats carry staggered 4-year terms, so only three of the five seats are up in any given cycle. Winners vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use; the council selects one of its own members to serve as Mayor each year — the county's own official candidate document lists no separate Mayor race on this ballot, confirming the title is not separately elected — and day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager. The city has been studying a possible move to charter-city status (the council voted 4-0-1, with Constantine abstaining, in January 2026 to prepare a community survey on the question), but any resulting ballot measure is targeted for 2028, not this election.

Two of the three sitting officeholders whose terms are up are running again; none of the seven challengers currently holds city office. Candidate backgrounds below are drawn from each filer's own occupation/title as declared to the county on their nomination paperwork, plus — for the two incumbents — the city's own staff biography pages; that combination is the most this pass could independently confirm for the challengers in the time available.

Jim Cunneen

Jim Cunneen is an incumbent and the sitting Mayor. Council members choose the Mayor each year from among themselves. It is not a separately elected office. His ballot title is "Fountain Valley Mayor and Businessman." The city says he is a civil engineer with at least 36 years of experience. He is a regional manager. He has consulted on projects including the OCTA I-405 widening and John Wayne Airport. He also worked on the ARTIC transportation center in Anaheim. He holds a degree from CSU Long Beach. The city's biography also says he is working toward the California State Bar. He is doing that through American College of Law.

Kim Constantine

Kim Constantine is an incumbent Council Member. Their ballot title is "Businesswoman and Council Member." The city says they were born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. They lived in Lebanon and Australia before settling in Fountain Valley. They were named the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador of the Year in 2011. They were the first person nominated from the floor in the Chamber's 45-year history. They served four years as a Chamber board director before running for council.

Elizabeth Andrade

Elizabeth Andrade is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Community Services Executive."

Harrison F. Dibblee

Harrison F. Dibblee is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Educator."

Dan Hay

Dan Hay is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Orange County Commissioner and Businessowner." That means they serve on an Orange County commission. They also have a business background.

Mark Leonard

Mark Leonard is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Entrepreneur."

Patricia Odette Neal

Patricia Odette Neal is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Registered Nurse."

John Nguyen

John Nguyen is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Engineer and Environmentalist."

Katy Wright

Katy Wright is a challenger. Their ballot title is "Speaker, Artist, and Writer."

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

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