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Rancho Cordova City Council, District 5

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City of Rancho Cordova

Rancho Cordova City Council, District 5

This person holds your district's seat on Rancho Cordova's five-member City Council. They vote on city laws, the budget, and land use. An appointed city manager runs daily operations. The Mayor and Vice Mayor are not elected separately. Those two positions rotate every December among the five council members. Colleagues choose who fills them. Only District 2 and District 5 are up this cycle. Districts 1, 3, and 4 were last elected in 2024. They are not up again until 2028. The term is four years.

Three candidates are running for Rancho Cordova's District 5 council seat. Incumbent Vice Mayor Linda Budge is seeking their seventh term. Budge is challenged by fellow Planning Commissioner Tegan Mauldin and by school principal Lilia Darbinyan.

Rancho Cordova's City Council has five members, one per district, each serving a 4-year term. The Council sets city ordinances, the budget, and land-use policy; an appointed city manager runs day-to-day operations. The Mayor and Vice Mayor are not elected directly -- the two roles rotate annually each December among the five sitting councilmembers, chosen by their colleagues. Only District 2 and District 5 are up this cycle; Districts 1, 3, and 4 were last elected in 2024 and return in 2028.

This is a direct plurality election with no primary and no runoff -- whichever of the three candidates receives the most votes on November 3 wins the seat outright. Budge has represented this seat since Rancho Cordova incorporated as a city in 2003, longer than any other sitting councilmember; both challengers currently serve alongside each other on the city's Planning Commission, one in a district seat and one at-large.

Linda Budge

Linda Budge is the incumbent, seeking a seventh term. Their ballot title is Councilmember, City of Rancho Cordova. They were elected to Rancho Cordova's first City Council. The city was created in 2003. They have been reelected every term since, in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. They have served as Mayor five times, in 2004, 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023. They have served as Vice Mayor four times, in 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022. They hold that role now. They are a Certified Planner. They own Geometra Planning and Permitting, a firm that serves clients nationwide. They have lived in the area for more than 40 years. They chaired the Sacramento County Subdivision Review Committee for more than 18 years. It reviews every parcel and subdivision map filed in the county. They also led the Cordova Community Council. They helped preserve the historic Mills Station building as a community center.

Tegan Mauldin

Tegan Mauldin is a first time council candidate. Their ballot title is Planning Commissioner, City of Rancho Cordova. They hold one of the city's two citywide Planning Commission seats. They were appointed under the name Tegan Knifton. The city's website now lists them as Tegan Mauldin. No further biographical detail, campaign website, or news coverage was found for them.

Lilia Darbinyan

Lilia Darbinyan is a first time candidate. Their ballot title is School Principal and Businesswoman. No campaign website, news coverage, or further biographical detail was found for them. Nothing was found beyond that occupation filed with the county.

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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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