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Lynwood City Council

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City of Lynwood

Lynwood City Council

This person holds one of three at-large seats up this cycle on Lynwood's 5-member City Council. They vote on the city budget, zoning and land-use rules, and city ordinances. The term is four years. The council doesn't elect its mayor directly -- members choose one of their own to preside each year, and day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager.

Six candidates are running for three of Lynwood's five City Council seats. Incumbents Gabriela Camacho, Luis Gerardo Cuellar, and Juan Muñoz-Guevara are seeking full terms. Challengers Mishaun Watkins, Emiliano Arellano, and Alfonso Morales are also running.

Whoever wins serves a 4-year term on a 5-member council that sets Lynwood's budget, zoning and land-use rules, and city ordinances for a city of roughly 65,000 people in southeast LA County. The council doesn't elect its own mayor directly — members choose one of their own to preside for a year, and day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager, so the job is one vote among five, not an executive post.

With three seats on the ballot and no districts, this is a citywide referendum on the sitting council as a whole rather than a single seat-by-seat choice. One seat carries an added wrinkle: Cuellar has never won it in a citywide vote — he reached the dais by council appointment in late 2024, so this is voters' first chance to ratify or reject him directly for the seat he already holds. Weigh whether you want all three incumbents back, a mix, or a clean break to the three challengers.

Mishaun Watkins

Mishaun Watkins is a community development analyst for the City of Santa Ana. She is running on public safety, small business support, and affordable housing. She filed her campaign jointly with incumbent Juan Muñoz-Guevara.

Gabriela Camacho

Gabriela Camacho is an Assistant Principal at Hosler Middle School and Lynwood's Mayor for 2026. She is seeking a second council term after two terms as City Treasurer. She has taught in Lynwood schools for 21 years.

Luis Gerardo Cuellar

Luis Gerardo Cuellar is a Marine Corps veteran and partner in a cannabis consulting firm. He was appointed to the council in 2024 and is now seeking his first election. He is the son of former Mayor Aide Castro, whose backing drew controversy.

Emiliano Arellano

Emiliano Arellano is a Southwestern Law student and Public Safety, Traffic, and Parking Commissioner. Arellano sits on the commission that advises the council on police, fire, and traffic matters. They would now vote directly on matters they currently advise on.

Alfonso Morales

Alfonso Morales is an immigration attorney and president of the school board. He wants to bring his focus on equity to city government. He has held the school board seat since 2005.

Juan Muñoz-Guevara

Juan Muñoz-Guevara is a labor organizer with UNITE HERE Local 11. They are running for reelection on labor rights, environmental justice, and housing policy. In 2022, they became Lynwood's youngest ever and first Gen Z councilmember.

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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