Two candidates are vying for the City Council seat representing Anaheim’s District 3, the centralmost portion of the city that includes the historic colony, the downtown core with the Packing District, and some 55,000 residents.
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Incumbent Natalie Rubalcava, who won the district seat in 2022, is facing challenger and nonprofit director Elia Renteria-Garcia.
The winner will represent District 3’s interests amid the seven-member council, which will be making some big decisions in the next several years, such as how to use more than $100 million once debt from 1990s resort upgrades is paid off, handling construction projects across the city and parsing options for Angel Stadium’s future after getting a handle on its condition.
The two candidates answered questions for the newspaper’s voter guide on some of those issues and others, including what they think are priorities for the city.
“I believe one of Anaheim’s biggest needs is sustainable, attainable housing that allows people to stay in the city they work in and contribute to,” Rentreria-Garcia said of the challenges facing Anaheim and District 3, which includes “many renters, working families, seniors, and multigenerational households dealing with rising housing costs, overcrowding, and older housing stock.”
“For me, sustainable housing means more than simply building more units. It means making sure housing is affordable at different income levels, protecting existing residents from displacement, improving the condition of older properties, and making thoughtful decisions about where new housing belongs,” she said.
The city is under pressure to meet state housing mandates for more homes, especially at lower price points. The next four-year term will see the end of the city’s sixth housing cycle — essentially an eight-year plan to meet local housing needs — and the start of the city’s seventh.
“I would focus on using the tools and partnerships the city already has, supporting responsible development, looking at opportunities along appropriate corridors and underused properties, and making sure infrastructure and services can support growth,” Rentreria-Garcia said. “Most importantly, housing decisions should include the people who already live here. We can meet our housing responsibilities while protecting neighborhood character and making sure Anaheim remains a place where families can build a future.”
Anaheim’s biggest need, Rubalcava said, “is ensuring we have a sustainable revenue source for our general fund so we can continue delivering the quality city services our residents expect and deserve.”
“Without a strong and sustainable fiscal foundation, it becomes much more difficult to address the issues that affect residents’ daily lives,” Rubalcava said, adding funds could go toward “public safety, homelessness, thoughtful housing and maintaining essential city services.”
“But ultimately, many of the concerns I hear most from residents come down to quality of life: safe parks, well-maintained neighborhoods, addressing crime, improving infrastructure, and making sure residents feel safe in their communities,” she said. “I also believe transparency and accountability must remain at the center of how we manage public resources. Residents deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent and to have confidence that the city is making responsible decisions.”
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If elected for a second term, Rubalcava said, “I will continue working closely with city staff, community members and our regional partners to address these challenges. My focus is on finding practical, sustainable solutions that protect essential services today while putting Anaheim in a stronger position for the future.”
Among big decisions awaiting Anaheim councilmembers, the city’s general fund is expected to see more than $100 million annually by 2028 when the city will have paid off resort bonds.
The District 3 candidates agree the city should be strategic with its spending and said proposed the influx first go toward core city services and resources, public safety, investing in existing city infrastructure and addressing the eight-figure budget deficit.
They also agree that residents should see tangible results in their everyday lives.
“I also want to make sure resources are reaching families and neighborhoods that have historically gone without the same level of investment,” Renteria-Garcia said.
“In District 3 especially, we have older infrastructure and working families who depend on city services and community resources,” she said, adding, “most importantly, I want residents to know where this money is going and what results we are getting.”
Rubalcava said she does not view the incoming funds as “a blank check.”
“I would like to see additional investment in first-time homebuyer programs so more Anaheim families have the opportunity to own a home,” she said. “I also want to invest in our parks and public spaces and address the basics residents tell me matter most: safer streets, sidewalks, lighting, roads and neighborhood improvements.”
“We have a unique opportunity to invest in Anaheim’s future, and we should do it thoughtfully, responsibly and based on the priorities our residents have told us matter most,” she said.
This November, voters citywide are also deciding the mayor’s race, with incumbent Ashleigh Aitken facing Alfredo Rodriguez and Imran Sharief.
Councilmembers Carlos Leon and Natalie Meeks were unopposed for second terms representing Districts 2 and 6.
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