City of Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita City Council, District 2

This person holds your district's seat on Santa Clarita's 5-member City Council. They vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use. The term is four years.

Three candidates are running for Santa Clarita City Council District 2. They are Brett Haddoak, Denise Lite, and Gloria Mercado-Fortine. None of them currently holds elected city office. District 2's most recent representative is not seeking re-election. Voters are choosing among three first-time council candidates for a four-year term.

Council seats carry 4-year terms. Winners join four other district representatives voting on the city budget, land-use and development decisions, and municipal ordinances; day-to-day operations run through an appointed city manager rather than any single elected official.

None of the three candidates for District 2 currently holds elected city office, so the choice turns on which of three first-time candidates' backgrounds and priorities best fit the district, rather than a referendum on an incumbent's record.

Brett Haddoak

Brett Haddoak is a lifelong Santa Clarita Valley resident. He owns Oakworks Software, an education-software company serving more than 15,000 public school students. He has also built budgeting software for the U.S. Department of Defense. He wants to expand housing options and protect seniors from housing instability. He also wants to modernize transit and fix regional traffic problems. He volunteers on the city's Homelessness Task Force. He is endorsed by Rep. George Whitesides and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo.

Denise Lite

Denise Lite is a family-law attorney with a certified legal specialty. She is a former member of Santa Clarita's Planning Commission. Her campaign has not published a detailed platform. As a longtime Signal opinion columnist, she has written about local control, insurance costs, and government accountability. No financial disclosure has been posted for her on the city's website.

Gloria Mercado-Fortine

Gloria Mercado-Fortine is a Santa Clarita native. They served 16 years, across four terms, on the William S. Hart Union High School District's governing board. They name youth development, public safety, and neighborhood engagement as their priorities. Their campaign has not detailed specific policy proposals. They have been named to The Signal's list of the SCV's 51 Most Influential Leaders more than ten times. They are endorsed by Councilman Bill Miranda and Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Ayala.

Your pick

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

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