Review note: Ron Kies for Half Moon Bay City Council (District 4) -- campaign site: a 20-plus-year Half Moon Bay resident and first-generation homeowner running on coastline/environmental protection, local-business support, housing affordability, and resident-first, town-hall-style governance; states an endorsement from sitting Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose and Debbie Ruddock for Half Moon Bay City Council (District 4) -- campaign site: states 37 years on the Coastside, a 24-year cumulative council record including as Mayor, chairing the OneShoreline coastal-resilience agency, and past votes for Measures A and D, the Local Coastal Land Use Plan update, Stone Pine Cove farmworker housing, the city's library project, and its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan may have more bias because they are advocacy voter guides compared to other formal government and nonprofit journalism sources.
- smcacre.gov (opens in a new tab)San Mateo County ACRE (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections) -- Roster of Candidates, Qualified Candidates Only, November 3, 2026 General Election (CFMR009), dated 2026-08-25: the county's own certified candidate list, confirming both District 5 (Short Term) candidates and their ballot designations, and that Board of Education Trustee Area 2 is the only one of three expiring county trustee areas flagged 'On Ballot: Yes'
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "2026 City Council Qualified Candidates" page: the city's own list of qualified candidates by district (1, 4, 5), matching the county's certified roster name-for-name and confirming ballot order per the Secretary of State's August 13, 2026 randomized alphabet drawing
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "Half Moon Bay Election Districts" page: the city's 5-district by-district council election system, adopted 2018 with boundaries redrawn by a 2021 redistricting process; confirms Districts 1, 4, and 5 elect in November 2026 (Districts 2 and 3 next elect in 2028), 4-year council terms, and no term limits
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "City Council Members" directory page: names the sitting 5-member council by district -- Mayor Debbie Ruddock (District 4), Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose (District 5), and Councilmembers Robert Brownstone (District 1), Patric Bo Jonsson (District 2), and Paul Nagengast (District 3)
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- official biography for Mayor Debbie Ruddock: first served on the council 1991-2003 (three terms, twice Mayor), returned in 2014, elected Mayor again in 2017, and holds a current term the page states as 2022-2026 representing District 4; a career as a legislative analyst/project planner for the California State Coastal Conservancy and as an alternate on the California Coastal Commission
- kiesforcouncil.com (opens in a new tab)Ron Kies for Half Moon Bay City Council (District 4) -- campaign site: a 20-plus-year Half Moon Bay resident and first-generation homeowner running on coastline/environmental protection, local-business support, housing affordability, and resident-first, town-hall-style governance; states an endorsement from sitting Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose
- deborahruddock.com (opens in a new tab)Debbie Ruddock for Half Moon Bay City Council (District 4) -- campaign site: states 37 years on the Coastside, a 24-year cumulative council record including as Mayor, chairing the OneShoreline coastal-resilience agency, and past votes for Measures A and D, the Local Coastal Land Use Plan update, Stone Pine Cove farmworker housing, the city's library project, and its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Last updated September 7, 2026.
City of Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay City Council, District 4
This person holds one of five district seats on Half Moon Bay's City Council. They vote on coastal land-use and development decisions, the city budget, and oversight of an appointed city manager. The council chooses its own Mayor and Vice Mayor each year rather than voters electing them directly. The term is four years; the city has no term limits.
Ron Kies and Debbie Ruddock are running for the District 4 seat. Kies is a political newcomer. Ruddock is Half Moon Bay's sitting Mayor and the incumbent for this seat.
Whoever wins takes one of five seats on Half Moon Bay's City Council, which sets the budget, decides coastal land-use and development matters, and oversees an appointed city manager. Councilmembers choose their own Mayor and Vice Mayor each year rather than voters electing them directly. The term is four years; the city has no term limits.
Ruddock is the city's current Mayor and, per the city's own bio page, holds a District 4 term running 2022-2026 -- but the county's certified roster lists her ballot designation as "Retired Legislative Analyst," not "Incumbent," a choice candidates are free to make. Kies, a first-time candidate, is endorsed by sitting Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose, whose own District 5 seat is on this same ballot without her on it.
Ron Kies
Ron Kies is a first-time candidate for the District 4 council seat. Kies wants to protect the coastline, help local business, and add housing. They are a geologist who has lived in the area more than 20 years.
Debbie Ruddock
Debbie Ruddock is Half Moon Bay's sitting Mayor. She is also the current District 4 councilmember. She has held that seat across three separate stretches on the council dating to 1991. That includes two terms as Mayor. Before that she spent more than two decades at the California State Coastal Conservancy. She was a legislative analyst and project planner there. She also served as an alternate on the California Coastal Commission.
Your pick
A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.