Thousand Oaks City Council races begin as candidate filing opens

While statewide and national races will dominate the headlines this fall, Thousand Oaks voters are turning their attention to local leadership as candidate filing officially opens for three City Council seats on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The candidate nomination period opened July 13, giving residents a window to pull papers and declare their intent to run for the nonpartisan council. According to campaign filings with the city clerk, the three races are beginning to take shape, featuring an incumbent running unopposed, a contested reelection battle, and a guaranteed vacancy as a longtime public servant steps away from the dais.

Here is a breakdown of how the 2026 Thousand Oaks City Council races are shaping up for the community.

A Changing of the Guard in District 2

The most closely watched race of the cycle may be in District 2, where a guaranteed shift in leadership is underway. Councilmember Bob Engler, who has represented the district since his election in 2018, announced he will not seek reelection.

Engler, who embarked on a second career in public service 13 years after retiring as a fire captain, told the Thousand Oaks Acorn that his decision to step down is simply a matter of timing. He noted that he wants to step aside and allow a younger generation to step up and move the city forward, emphasizing that his departure has nothing to do with dissatisfaction regarding the council's work or his enjoyment of serving the public.

District 2 encompasses a diverse and vital swath of Thousand Oaks. It includes the Rancho Conejo area, neighborhoods bordering Wildwood Regional Park, and the campus of California Lutheran University.

With Engler’s seat officially opening up, two candidates have already filed paperwork to replace him. Voters will choose between Bradley Poteet, an independent contractor, and Kyle Rohrbach, a Hollywood producer. Because there is no incumbent in this race, the dynamic sets the stage for a fresh face to represent the district's varied interests, which range from residential hillside communities to commercial corridors and educational institutions.

Incumbents and Challengers in Districts 1 and 3

In District 1, which covers Newbury Park, incumbent Councilmember Mikey Taylor currently holds a clear path to a second term. According to recent campaign filings, Taylor — who currently holds the rotating position of mayor for Thousand Oaks — is running unopposed.

District 3, covering central and eastern Thousand Oaks — including the Oakbrook and Sunset Hills neighborhoods — is shaping up to be a competitive race. First-term Councilmember David Newman is facing a challenge from Victor Hayek. Hayek brings a deep background in local education to the race, currently serving as the deputy superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

How District Elections Shape the Conejo Valley

Thousand Oaks operates on an alternating election schedule to maintain continuity on the five-member council. Because of this staggered structure, the seats held by Councilmembers Al Adam and Tie Gutierrez, who represent Districts 4 and 5, will remain untouched by voters until the 2028 election cycle.

The current district-based system ensures that specific geographic pockets of the city have dedicated representation, a structure that keeps local neighborhood issues—like development around CLU in District 2 or school district boundaries impacting District 3—at the forefront of council debates.

For residents, the outcome of these three local races will directly influence municipal policy on public safety, housing development, and city budgeting over the coming years.

Key Filing Deadlines to Watch

For residents considering a late entry into the political arena, time is running out, though the exact deadline varies depending on the district.

The standard deadline to file nomination papers with the Thousand Oaks city clerk is 5 p.m. on Aug. 7. However, California Elections Code includes a provision that extends the filing window if an incumbent does not file for reelection.

Because Engler is retiring in District 2, non-incumbent candidates in that specific district have until 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 to submit their paperwork. The extension gives potential candidates an extra five calendar days to officially enter the District 2 race. Conversely, since incumbents have already pulled papers in Districts 1 and 3, those seats will adhere to the earlier Aug. 7 cutoff.

As the August deadlines approach, local voters and civic organizations will be closely watching to see if any additional candidates emerge to challenge the current lineup before the November ballot is finalized.