Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Read more Patrick Phat Bui, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Name: Cindy Ngoc Tran
Age: 50
Current job title: Garden Grove Councilwoman/Engineer
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: Orange County Sanitation District, SCAG, Garden Grove Housing Authority
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: cindyntran.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The city can best balance housing mandates with local control and neighborhood preservation by proactive local zoning updates and adapting reuse of empty commercial spaces. Updating zoning laws to protect historic single-family neighborhoods while creating affordable housing options.
How should the city balance rising costs, paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves, all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, economic development, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Cities can look into how to cut costs and focus on operational efficiency. Having economic growth will help with bringing in more revenues. Connecting small businesses to resources and helping them with the first couple years so that they can stay longer in business.
The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the city do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Read more Joe DoVinh, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Cities often provide spending and governance to the public. For further action, public meetings and open budgets are also options for more transparency from public leaders. The city can provide short seminars to show how to read the city budget/report and encourage residents to be more involved.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Homelessness and affordable housing remain the most pressing challenges for Garden Grove city. For homelessness, Garden Grove City is working with County and State to find more options of helping individuals exiting the Central Cities Navigation Center to long-term housing. For Affordable Housing, the city needs to provide more incentives to encourage builders with providing more affordable units to low-income families, senior, and vulnerable populations.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As soon as I got out of military boot camp, I was promoted to be a leader. With five years active duty leading my team, I always take charge to help others. Being the current councilmember for the last four years, I have accomplished most of the items that I promised to take action and make a positive impact. I have walked my district regularly to listen to feedback from our constituents. When a resident reaches out to me, I act on it and forward to staff for further action for cases that they can resolve. I often create or organize community events to include everyone in my district. I created multiple cleanup events for residents to come together or multiple Free Food Distributions to help the needed families. During the crisis of GKN, I reached out to nonprofit groups, finding shelters for our residents and reached out to small businesses to provide food and resources for the evacuees.
Read more Hieu Nguyen, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire