What City Council Candidates Have to Say About Key Issues
Nine residents are running for a seat on the Mission Viejo City Council. Each of them was asked the same five questions about topics that matter to Mission Viejo residents.
For the candidates who chose to participate, we’re proud to publish their responses below. We hope their thoughtful answers help you make an informed decision at the polls.
Several candidates did not respond, despite multiple reminders and an extended deadline. We’ll leave it to you to decide what to make of that.
No matter who you support, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, so let your voice be heard. Get out there and vote!
District 1
| Robert “Bob” Ruesch | Kristin Wilcox | |
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| Why are you the best person to represent your district in the City Council? | In my first term in the Council and as mayor, I used my experiences as a business developer to keep our budget balanced. We have coordinated with an Olympic team to train in our city and received $1M for our hosting (this doesn’t include the benefit to local businesses from the revenue that comes with the increased exposure). We continue to look at ways to encourage new business, like a renewed Plaza del Lago. I will keep focusing on the MV look, local control and responsible growth. | I am the best person to represent District 1 because I listen to the community and stay focused on the solution. I understand residents’ needs and how things can be done better. I have a clear plan for how to save money and increase safety. |
| How can the city balance growth with preserving community character? | We have a talented and responsible Planning Commission to advise the Council on the best practices for responding to the current and future needs of our community. | Mission Viejo can maintain its charm alongside new growth by focusing on consistent aesthetics, adequate traffic flow and parking, and keeping the city peaceful. MV is a commuter city and our roads and quiet spaces are important to uphold. |
| Do you support the development of more affordable housing units in our city? Why or why not? | Yes. We have a need for housing for adults, children, teachers, nurses, technicians and other skilled workers. Returning control of this growth to local management in a careful way continues to be something I will fight for. | I do support affordable housing. Mission Viejo has an aging population that will require more attention from the health industry. Workers need to be able to afford to live here to serve those residents. Affordable housing also means that teachers, firefighters and other blue-collar workers will be able to buy houses here. |
| Do you support the use of Flock cameras in our city? Why or why not? | I have ordered a comprehensive study of the Flock system to help determine benefits and risks, including looking at alternative choices. | I do not support the use of Flock cameras in Mission Viejo. There is no proof that Flock cameras have reduced crime. The data is undisclosed and there is no oversight. Flock has been abused by law enforcement, and many cities are currently canceling contracts. Mission Viejo can save $1 million a year and avoid future liability by getting rid of Flock. |
| What should Mission Viejo be doing better? | Keep focus on Mission Viejo’s responsibility to its residents and business owners while responding to our changing needs as society progresses. | Mission Viejo can grow by embracing diversity, bringing back community programs and focusing on boosting our local economy. MV can increase revenue by renting out city-owned buildings and restoring downtown. The city can also resolve long-standing court cases. |
District 2
| Saga Conroy | Peter Molinari | |
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| Why are you the best person to represent your district in the City Council? | No response received. | I’m a longtime Mission Viejo homeowner, planning commissioner, community volunteer and neighbor who understands what makes our city special. I bring firsthand experience serving our city, practical leadership and a collaborative approach focused on protecting our quality of life, strengthening our neighborhoods, and keeping City Hall accountable to residents. |
| How can the city balance growth with preserving community character? | No response received. | I believe growth should enhance our community, not redefine it. We must encourage thoughtful development that respects existing neighborhoods, protects our quality of life and addresses future needs. My experience gives me the perspective to balance responsible planning with preserving the character residents value. |
| Do you support the development of more affordable housing units in our city? Why or why not? | No response received. | I support smart, thoughtful development that includes Mission Viejo’s 20% affordable housing requirement while preserving the character of our community. New housing should complement existing neighborhoods, consider traffic and infrastructure, and protect the quality of life that makes Mission Viejo such a special place to call home. |
| Do you support the use of Flock cameras in our city? Why or why not? | No response received. | I support giving law enforcement effective tools to help keep our community safe. But when technology involves privacy rights, residents deserve a meaningful voice in how it is used. I support strong safeguards, transparency and ongoing community engagement before critical decisions are made. Public safety is essential, but so are public trust and individual privacy. |
| What should Mission Viejo be doing better? | No response received. | I believe that Mission Viejo should do more to strengthen transparency and community engagement. Residents deserve to understand how decisions are made, and have meaningful opportunities to provide input, especially on issues that directly affect their neighborhoods, privacy and quality of life. City Hall works best when residents feel informed, heard and included before important decisions are made. |
District 3
| Cynthia Vasquez | Bryan Zahn | |
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| Why are you the best person to represent your district in the City Council? | As your incumbent councilmember in District 3, I’ve spent four years protecting your tax dollars and making decisions that improve your quality of life. With an MBA, more than two decades in legal technology, experience as a small business owner, and life as a working mom and volunteer, I understand the everyday issues facing our community. I am not a rubber stamp. I ask tough questions and won’t make promises I can’t keep. I will continue to put our community first. | No response received. |
| How can the city balance growth with preserving community character? | This requires thoughtful development and redevelopment, meaningful community input, and careful attention to neighborhood character and quality of life. | No response received. |
| Do you support the development of more affordable housing units in our city? Why or why not? | Yes. I supported our Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which requires at least 15% of residential units in new developments to be affordable. We can meet housing needs, but it has to make sense, ensure development is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and be guided by thoughtful planning. Expanding housing options can help attract and retain teachers, first responders, healthcare workers and other essential workers, while maintaining the quality of life that makes Mission Viejo a great place to live. | No response received. |
| Do you support the use of Flock cameras in our city? Why or why not? | No. These devices are intended to increase public safety, but privacy is also a matter of public safety. While they can be useful law enforcement tools, documented examples about their use raise legitimate privacy and data-sharing concerns. I do not believe the benefits outweigh the privacy risks and costs to our community. We should not create a system where protecting one comes at the expense of the other. | No response received. |
| What should Mission Viejo be doing better? | Mission Viejo is a wonderful community, but there is always room to do better. We should be more proactive, more transparent and more focused on the issues residents experience every day. That means addressing traffic and neighborhood safety concerns, spending taxpayer dollars carefully, and making sure major projects have a clear purpose and long-term plan. We also need to listen to residents and make sure growth is thoughtful and compatible with our community. | No response received. |
District 4
| Laura Lacko | James Morrison | |
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| Why are you the best person to represent your district in the City Council? | I’ve demonstrated continuous commitment to the community with my service work. Being elected to City Council would be an extension of my work for the residents of Mission Viejo as a whole. I was taught to help others and give back. My strong sense of responsibility, leadership skills, adaptability and willingness to listen represent qualities that lead to getting work done where it is most needed. | No response received. |
| How can the city balance growth with preserving community character? | Every community experiences the need to address areas where improvements are needed while keeping in mind the values and foundations that built it. This is what we face in Mission Viejo today. Having a fresh perspective, new ideas and a targeted focus on the most pressing issues will be what moves us to do the work that residents have asked the city to do but haven’t seen come to fruition. Town hall events will be a priority for me to hear the residents’ concerns and ideas. | No response received. |
| Do you support the development of more affordable housing units in our city? Why or why not? | Yes. It’s plainly a necessity in order to grow our younger population and keep the city evolving positively. We need housing so our service community can live and work in the same area. Nurses, teachers, firefighters, assisted living professionals... While we have a few projects underway, we need more that are not rent-based. Finding a way to bring new housing for first-time homebuyers is one of my goals. | No response received. |
| Do you support the use of Flock cameras in our city? Why or why not? | No, I do not. I believe they are constitutionally illegal, and have heard very little discussion about any positives coming out of them being here versus the negatives, which include unknowns regarding the storage of and access to data, as well as false information leading to wrongful detainment and even arrest. | No response received. |
| What should Mission Viejo be doing better? | Mission Viejo is a beautiful city! I’m extremely lucky that I get to live in the place my family originally settled in back in 1988 when I was a freshman in high school. Changes and improvements have been made as the city grew, and we are now at a place where some tough decisions have to be addressed. We can do better with affordability, expansion of housing, bringing new businesses, exploring the creation of a space for community-based arts programs, and getting proper funding back to places that matter most. | No response received. |
District 5
| Steven Thornton (unopposed) | ||
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| Why are you the best person to represent your district in the City Council? | No response recieved. | |
| How can the city balance growth with preserving community character? | No response recieved. | |
| Do you support the development of more affordable housing units in our city? Why or why not? | No response recieved. | |
| Do you support the use of Flock cameras in our city? Why or why not? | No response recieved. | |
| What should Mission Viejo be doing better? | No response recieved. |
