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City of Ukiah · Statewide General Election

Ukiah City Council

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person would hold one of three at-large seats up this cycle on Ukiah's 5-member City Council: city ordinances, the budget, and land use, for a 4-year term. Ukiah (2020 Census population 16,607), the Mendocino County seat, doesn't directly elect a Mayor -- the five councilmembers appoint one of their own as Mayor each year, by seniority/rotation.

Eight candidates are running for three at-large seats on the Ukiah City Council: incumbents Susan Sher (the current Mayor), Juan V. Orozco, and Mari Rodin are each seeking reelection, against five challengers -- Sean K. White, Robert Bazzani, Mia L. Uribe, John Strangio, and Matt Froneberger.

Ukiah (2020 Census population 16,607), the Mendocino County seat, is a general-law city with a council-manager government: a 5-member, at-large City Council serving staggered 4-year terms appoints both a City Manager and, from among its own members, a Mayor. Like Fort Bragg and several other small California cities in this dataset, Ukiah doesn't directly elect a Mayor -- the Council appoints one of its own members Mayor each year, by seniority/rotation. Susan Sher is the sitting Mayor, appointed to that role after her 2022 election to the Council. The three seats up this November are Sher's, Orozco's, and Rodin's.

This field is documented about as evenly as Fort Bragg's, one county over: no Ukiah Daily Journal or Mendocino Voice article specifically on this City Council race could be located this pass. But every one of the eight candidates has an official, signed Candidate's Statement on file with the City Clerk, a required filing under Elections Code Section 13307, and three (Rodin, White, and Orozco) also maintain a short city-hosted campaign webpage with added first-person detail. Each statement is genuinely individually written, not a template, so no one in this field is a bare name with no locatable background -- though two candidates' handwritten age fields (Uribe, White) were too illegible on the scanned filings to responsibly report a number.

Susan Sher

Susan Sher, 70, is the incumbent, elected to the Council in 2022 and currently serving as Mayor under the Council's rotating appointment. Before her council service, she was an attorney representing workers in employment matters and worked as a mediator. Her statement names the city's current challenges as expansion of city boundaries, economic development, homelessness and housing, and fire safety and climate resiliency, says she comes to meetings prepared and does extensive research, and wants to see more public engagement at Council meetings and less reliance on what she calls "potentially misleading information on social media."

Strengths

Sitting Mayor with a background in employment law and mediation; names the city's live issues -- annexation, homelessness/housing, fire/climate -- specifically, not just in generalities.

Trade-offs

As Mayor she owns the current council's record on those same issues; her statement describes the job and the challenges ahead more than specific votes or outcomes from her current term.

Keep in mind

Her call for less reliance on "potentially misleading information on social media" is her own framing and doesn't name examples -- read it as a stated priority (more public engagement), not a documented record of resolving misinformation.

Juan V. Orozco

Juan V. Orozco, 64, is the incumbent, a retired educator. He describes himself as the city's first Latino council member and says he created the city's diversity and equity committee, on which he still serves, crediting it with better representation in both the city's population and its staff. He cites board membership with several local organizations focused on community safety and wellbeing, names youth participation as a top priority, and frames his campaign around accountability and being "the voice that can bring us together."

Strengths

A specific, ongoing institutional achievement -- founding and still serving on the city's diversity and equity committee -- rather than only a general platform.

Trade-offs

His statement doesn't name particular policy positions on housing, budget, or infrastructure beyond the diversity-and-equity and youth-engagement themes.

Keep in mind

His statement cites "seven and a half years" on the Council but separately says he was "elected four years ago" -- the two figures don't reconcile on their face, possibly reflecting an earlier appointment; this pass couldn't independently confirm which is right.

Mari Rodin

Mari Rodin, 62, is the incumbent; like Fort Bragg's Tess Albin-Smith, she filed her occupation as "Incumbent" rather than a job title. She says she has served 16 years on the Ukiah City Council and, per her campaign webpage, is a 31-year Mendocino County resident, a professional grant writer, and a small-business owner who serves on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and the Russian River Watershed Association. She wants to keep working with the County on development that's well-planned and consistent with the city's General Plan, continue the Council's multi-year effort on its financial challenges, and names preserving agricultural land, open space, and water resources among her priorities.

Strengths

The field's longest tenure by far (16 years), paired with outside roles -- LAFCO, the Russian River Watershed Association -- that bear directly on land-use and water issues the Council handles.

Trade-offs

Her official statement is brief and general; specific priorities -- agricultural land, watershed coordination, homeless-housing programs -- come from her separate campaign webpage, not the filing.

Keep in mind

16 years in office is a long incumbency worth weighing on its own terms -- some voters may read it as valuable institutional knowledge, others as an argument for change.

Sean K. White

Sean K. White is a Water Resources Manager who has lived in Ukiah since 2003, after relocating from Santa Rosa to raise his family. He's spent more than 32 years as a water-resources professional and public servant, first elected to the Marin Municipal Water District board in 1994, and has since worked with the Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River Flood Control, and the City of Ukiah. He points to PG&E's planned decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project and the ongoing consolidation of regional water districts as major issues facing the community, and says the city also needs better roads, more jobs, and housing for young families.

Strengths

The field's deepest expertise on one high-stakes issue -- Potter Valley Project decommissioning and regional water governance -- from three-plus decades of water-district experience.

Trade-offs

His statement and webpage both center almost entirely on water policy; roads, jobs, and housing are named but not detailed the way water issues are.

Keep in mind

His current employer/role as "Water Resources Manager" isn't specified further in his own materials (e.g., which agency); voters wanting to check for any conflict of interest with city water decisions may want to look into this beyond what this dataset located this pass.

Robert Bazzani

Robert Bazzani, 40, is a small business owner. He's running because he believes the city is strongest when every resident has a voice, and says he'll work to make local government more transparent, accessible, and responsive. His platform centers on responsible growth, strong public safety, fiscal responsibility, and practical solutions for neighborhoods and local businesses, and he frames his approach as listening first and putting policy over politics.

Strengths

A clearly stated governing philosophy (transparency, accessibility, fact-based decisions) alongside specific values (fiscal responsibility, public safety, responsible growth).

Trade-offs

No prior elected or appointed public office is described, and his statement doesn't name the business he owns or its size/industry.

Keep in mind

His priorities -- transparency, fiscal responsibility, responsible growth -- are broadly shared language across this field; his statement doesn't name a specific city decision the way White, Froneberger, or Sher do, making his positions harder to compare.

Mia L. Uribe

Mia L. Uribe is a retail associate and student, a lifelong Ukiah resident pursuing a double major in Political Science and Studio Arts. She says she's running because the best leaders serve the people and listen to the community, and cites her education for teaching her the value of collaboration, advocacy, and responsible decision-making. Her platform is centered on listening to residents' priorities on improving public spaces, supporting local businesses, and investing in infrastructure.

Strengths

A distinct generational perspective in this field -- the only current student -- paired with local roots as a lifelong Ukiah resident.

Trade-offs

No prior elected or appointed office; her statement speaks in general terms -- listening to residents, thoughtful solutions -- without naming a specific city issue the way most of the field does.

Keep in mind

Her statement doesn't name her retail employer or specify which public spaces, businesses, or infrastructure projects she has in mind -- voters wanting more specifics will need to look beyond what this dataset located this pass.

John Strangio

John Strangio, 48, is a business owner. Ukiah has been his home for nearly 40 years; he grew up there, graduated from Ukiah High School, and worked his first job locally. He spent more than 20 years in the fire service, rising to Fire Captain, and now owns and operates the four-location Ukiah Valley Athletic Club with his wife, Lauren. He has also served four years on the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Board. He's running on practical, accountable leadership focused on public safety, housing and affordability, homelessness, supporting local businesses, and transparency in city government.

Strengths

Hands-on public-safety experience -- 20-plus years in the fire service, Fire Captain -- plus elected service on the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Board and a local small business.

Trade-offs

No prior City of Ukiah elected or appointed office; his fire-district board experience is with an adjacent special district, not the city itself.

Keep in mind

As a business owner running for a council that sets city policy affecting local business (licensing, land use), voters weighing conflicts of interest may want to look into how the Club's four locations relate to city jurisdiction, beyond his statement.

Matt Froneberger

Matt Froneberger, 55, is a Chief Plant Operator, born and raised in Ukiah. He describes a 30-plus-year public-service career including 15 years working for the City of Ukiah itself, plus other municipalities and special districts. He has volunteered with local youth sports, served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with the Ukiah Fire Department, been appointed to the Ukiah Airport Commission, been elected to the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District board, and served on LAFCO and the Inland Water and Power Commission. He names annexation, Russian River water supply, and the unhoused members of the community as the city's big issues.

Strengths

The field's most direct experience inside city government -- 15 years as a City of Ukiah employee -- plus elected water-district and airport-commission service touching issues the Council will face.

Trade-offs

As a longtime city employee -- unclear if he still works for the City -- voters may want to weigh how that relationship intersects with council decisions on staffing, budget, or labor.

Keep in mind

His "Chief Plant Operator" title isn't further specified -- which plant or agency currently employs him -- beyond what his statement gives; voters focused on that relationship may want to look further than this pass located.

Source review: Strong (83/100) · 15 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

  • mendocinocounty.gov (opens in a new tab)Mendocino County Elections -- "CANDIDATE LIST - NOVEMBER 3, 2026" (2-page certified PDF): lists "CITY OF UKIAH -- 3 Long Term -- to election" with all eight qualified candidates, flagging Susan Sher, Juan V. Orozco, and Mari Rodin as incumbents. Same document already on file for this dataset (sources/mendocino-candidates-nov2026.txt) from a prior county-races pass.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)City of Ukiah -- "November 3, 2026 Election Information" page: confirms three City Council seats up for election, four-year terms (Dec. 1, 2026 - Nov. 30, 2030), that the Mayor is not directly elected but appointed annually on a rotational basis by the Council, and lists all eight filers with each candidate's filed Candidate's Statement, campaign webpage (where filed), and FPPC Form 470 linked.
  • en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia, "Ukiah, California": used narrowly for the 2020 Census population (16,607) and the council-manager government structure -- a five-member council elected at-large to four-year terms, which appoints the Mayor by seniority for a one-year term.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Susan Sher's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement (City of Ukiah, Section 13307 Elections Code): age 70; elected to the Ukiah City Council in 2022 and currently serves as Mayor; previously an attorney representing workers in employment matters and a mediator; cites council decisions on city-boundary expansion, economic development, homelessness and housing, and fire safety/climate resiliency, and wants more public engagement at Council meetings.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Juan V. Orozco's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: age 64, occupation Retired Educator; describes himself as the city's first Latino council member; says he created the city's diversity and equity committee, on which he still serves; cites board membership on several local organizations focused on community safety and wellbeing, and names youth participation as a priority. States council tenure as "seven and a half years" while separately saying he was "elected four years ago" -- the statement itself doesn't reconcile the two figures.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Juan V. Orozco's city-hosted 2026 campaign webpage: reiterates his diversity-and-equity-committee role and roughly seven-and-a-half-year council tenure; no formal endorsements listed.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Mari Rodin's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: age 62, occupation filed as "Incumbent"; says she has served 16 years on the Ukiah City Council; professional grant writer; cites wanting to keep working with the County on well-planned valley development consistent with the General Plan, and continuing the Council's multi-year effort on the city's financial challenges.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Mari Rodin's city-hosted 2026 campaign webpage: adds that she is a 31-year Mendocino County resident who raised two sons and built a small local business, and serves on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and the Russian River Watershed Association; names preserving agricultural land, open space, and water resources, and public-health/homeless-housing programs, among her priorities. No formal endorsements listed.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Sean K. White's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: occupation Water Resources Manager; a Ukiah resident since 2003, relocated from Santa Rosa; 32 years as a water-resources professional and public servant, first elected to the Marin Municipal Water District board in 1994, later working with the Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River Flood Control, and the City of Ukiah; cites PG&E's Potter Valley Project decommissioning and regional water-district consolidation as major issues, plus roads, jobs, and housing for young families. Handwritten age field is illegible on the scan and was not guessed.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Sean K. White's city-hosted 2026 campaign webpage: substantively reiterates his candidate statement (water-resources career, Potter Valley Project decommissioning, regional water consolidation, roads/jobs/housing). No formal endorsements listed.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Robert Bazzani's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: age 40, occupation Small Business Owner; running because he believes the city is strongest when every resident has a voice; platform of more transparent, accessible, responsive local government, responsible growth, strong public safety, and fiscal responsibility.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Mia L. Uribe's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: occupation Retail Associate/Student; a lifelong Ukiah resident pursuing a double major in Political Science and Studio Arts; platform centers on listening to residents and turning community ideas into action -- improving public spaces, supporting local businesses, and investing in infrastructure. Handwritten age field is illegible on the scan and was not guessed.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)John Strangio's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: age 48, occupation Business Owner; a nearly-40-year Ukiah resident and Ukiah High School graduate; more than 20 years in the fire service rising to Fire Captain; with his wife Lauren, owns and operates the four-location Ukiah Valley Athletic Club; four years on the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Board; platform of public safety, housing/affordability, homelessness, supporting local businesses, and government transparency.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Matt Froneberger's own filed 2026 Candidate's Statement: age 55, occupation Chief Plant Operator; born and raised in Ukiah; 30-plus-year public-service career including 15 years working for the City of Ukiah plus other municipalities and special districts; volunteer firefighter/EMT with Ukiah Fire; appointed to the Ukiah Airport Commission, elected to the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District board, and served on LAFCO and the Inland Water and Power Commission; cites annexation, Russian River water supply, and the unhoused population as the city's big issues.
  • cityofukiah.com (opens in a new tab)Susan Sher's 2026-cycle FPPC Form 470 (Officeholder and Candidate Campaign Statement -- Short Form), filed with the Ukiah City Clerk July 27, 2026: declares under penalty of perjury that she anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the 2026 calendar year, and lists no committee. The City's elections page links an identically named "Form 470" filing for all eight 2026 Council candidates; this one was directly opened to confirm the form type.

Last updated September 2, 2026.