City Council Election 2022: Mission Viejo Announces Candidates

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Mission Viejo is gearing up for the November elections, and this year, residents in all five city districts will have the chance to vote.

The nomination to run for a four-year term on the Mission Viejo dais ended Friday, the city said. Now, Mission Viejo voters must decide who they want to represent them and their district.

To find out what city district you live in, view the map on the City of Mission Viejo's website.

Here's what to know about the city council candidates running in your district:

District 1

Three candidates have thrown their hats into the election ring.

• Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik, a small business owner in the city, has been a Mission Viejo resident since 1987. She runs her platform on transparency, communication and clean energy. To read her full candidate statement, view the city's website.
• Robert "Bob" Ruesch serves on the city's Planning Commission and has been a Mission Viejo resident for over 25 years. Ruesch runs his platform on keeping a balanced city budget, resolving traffic issues and supporting local business growth in the city. To read his full candidate statement, view the city's website.
• Linda Shepard, a businesswoman and mother, has lived in Mission Viejo for 28 years. She runs her platform on promoting good relationships with local authorities, responsible use of taxpayer money and protecting scarce resources. To read her full candidate statement, view the city's website.

District 2

Two candidates will be vying for the chair this November.

• Councilmember Brian Goodell will be seeking re-election this November. According to Goodell's candidate statement, he hopes to continue his work on the Oso Creek Golf Course vision plan and bring new housing, cultural and business opportunities to Mission Viejo. To read his full candidate statement, view the city's website.
• Stacy Holmes, a retired educator, worked in the public service sector for over 40 years. She runs her platform on safety, environmentally-conscientious projects, transparency and affordable housing. To read her full statement, view the city's website.

District 3

Three candidates will be running to represent District 3 in Mission Viejo.

• Councilmember Greg Raths will seek re-election this November. According to his candidate statement, his platform remains the same: he hopes to promote and maintain a family-oriented community in Mission Viejo, support neighborhood association and senior community centers and promote good relations with local businesses in the area. To read his full statement, view the city's website.
• Councilmember Ed Sachs will seek re-election this November. If re-elected, Sachs hopes to address the lack of senior recreation in the city by building community pickleball courts. He also hopes to continue promoting good relations between the city and local businesses and help build a quality of life that is the "envy of Orange County," according to his statement. To read his full statement, view the city's website.
• Cynthia Vasquez, a small business owner, focuses her campaign on putting community members first and using her voice to speak strongly for District 3. She runs her platform on community safety, financial transparency and honesty and community engagement. To read her full statement, view the city's website.

District 4

Two candidates will face-off for the District 4 council seat come November.

• Terri Aprati, a paralegal and notary, has lived in Mission Viejo for 21 years. She runs her platform on financial transparency, community engagement and preserving natural resources. She also said she would address rental limits in regard to AirBNBs if elected. To read her full statement, view the city's website.
• Councilmember Patricia "Trish" Kelley will be seeking re-election this November. Her platform prioritizes supporting the police, maintaining safe schools and bringing new businesses into Mission Viejo. To read her full statement, view the city's website.

District 5

Two candidates will be vying for the chair this November.

• Mayor and Councilmember Wendy Bucknum will be vying for re-election this November. Her campaign emphasizes maintaining local control over the City of Mission Viejo, preserving the community's "safest city" status and improve traffic congestion issues across the city. To read her full statement, view the city's website.
• Jon Miller, a supply chain consultant, has served the nation as a Navy Supply Officer managing multi-million dollar budgets. He runs his campaign with an emphasis on responsible spending, supporting small businesses and improving parks, trails and city traffic flow. To read his full statement, view the city's website.