Eight candidates are vying for four seats in P.G.’s first-ever district election.

This Nov. 3 is a historic election day for Pacific Grove, with three new districts up for grabs under a map approved last year that divides the town into six areas, one for each council seat.

To implement the transition, districts 1, 3 and 5 were slated for election this year. Elections for districts 2, 4 and 6 will take place November 2028. With no one currently representing District 2, an additional at-large position on the ballot will be two years.

Incumbent Lori McDonnell, who was first elected in 2022, is running for the at-large seat as her first term comes to an end. One of McDonnell’s main interests is the environment, both on land and off shore. She sees protection of environmental resources as “an important driver of our economic success to gain wider support for these protections.”

Her challenger, artist James Ogle, could not be reached for comment.

In District 1, incumbent Cynthia Garfield is being challenged by Kevin Hanley, who previously served on the Auburn City Council for 12 years, including as mayor.

Garfield served on the Council from 2016 to 2020, and was appointed in January 2025 to fill a vacancy. She believes the current council is working effectively to tackle tough issues such as projected budget deficits and making it easier to build housing and wants to continue the work.

Hanley says he didn’t intend to run for office after moving to P.G. six years ago, but after noticing issues that needed fixing he changed his mind. As a founder of the Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council, he is concerned about the maintenance of George Washington Park, which he calls a “tinderbox.”

He actively worked to defeat Measure C in the June election, which would have raised council members’ compensation. Like nearly all the candidates, he believes the Council needs to balance the budget, fix infrastructure and revitalize the downtown.

Three contenders are vying to represent District 3: Tara Leweling, Susan Goldbeck and Andrew Kubica.

Kubica currently serves as the chair of the P.G. Planning Commission. He’s been involved for many years as a volunteer to the city, including on the Traffic Commission. His top priorities include “affordable housing for all.”

Leweling is a U.S. Air Force veteran who has worked for the White House National Security Council. Motivated to run by a desire to protect Monterey Bay, she believes the city can take part in that process. Beyond that, among many issues she wants to work on is housing affordability by focusing on infill housing.

Goldbeck, a resident for 30 years and a retired attorney, has previously served on the Council and Planning Commission. In her candidate statement she calls herself a “leader who knows that we must preserve what makes our town so special yet be open to changes that will keep our town dynamic and thriving.”

In District 5 one candidate, Chris Thomas, is running unopposed. Voters will also choose a mayor between incumbent Nick Smith and former councilmember Luke Coletti.