Along with casting a ballot for the city’s mayoral seat, District 3 voters in Tustin have a decision to make on who they want as their City Council representative.
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Incumbent Ray Schnell is asking voters to return him to the dais, while Thomas Reed, an assistant professor and restorative justice consultant, is hoping to be the new face on the council following November’s election.
We asked the candidates questions about housing, city finances, transparency, and more, which you can read in our voter guide.
Here are some of their answers to questions:
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?
Reed: I’m committed to helping shape Tustin’s future while preserving the quality of life that makes our community special. Tustin is required to meet state housing mandates, including the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, and I believe we can meet those responsibilities while maintaining meaningful local control and thoughtfully planning for growth. Housing policy should be developed in collaboration with the people who call Tustin home.
The state of California does not make every local land-use decision. The City Council has significant authority over where housing goes, how our community grows, infrastructure, design standards, traffic impacts, parking, and whether we go beyond state requirements. I believe that authority should be exercised with the community, not simply for the community.
Residents should have meaningful opportunities to share what they value, raise concerns, and help shape how new development fits within Tustin. I consistently hear concerns about traffic, congestion, and parking. Those concerns deserve to be heard, considered, and represented. I will work to ensure community input informs our decisions and be transparent about decisions made.
We can meet our responsibilities, plan thoughtfully for growth, and protect what makes Tustin home.
Schnell: Tustin’s small-town character, historic charm, and quality of life are why families choose to live here. We must meet state housing mandates to preserve local control through smart, carefully planned residential and commercial development that increases attainable housing options while protecting existing neighborhoods.
This means collaborative, transparent processes with strong resident input, supporting projects that fit Tustin’s unique character and mitigate adverse community impacts (traffic, schools, infrastructure). I also believe in keeping the cost of doing business in Tustin low by reducing unnecessary regulations and fees, and prioritizing in-fill and appropriate density where it makes sense without overriding local control. I have supported balanced approaches that promote responsible development (including actions to remove impediments) while opposing those that would erode neighborhood quality.
Local decision-making on land use remains essential so growth serves residents rather than distant mandates. My focus continues to be attainable housing paired with preservation of the community residents value.
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In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it?
Reed: One of the greatest needs facing Tustin, and communities across our country, is ensuring people remain at the center of government. “We the People” means each and every one of us who calls this place home. Residents’ concerns, needs, and hopes should help shape our city’s future.
People can sometimes feel disconnected from politics, but I believe meaningful change can happen at the local level. Residents should have a say in decisions that affect them and their families.
An elder in my family’s Native American Tribe, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, gave me a name meaning, “He is a Good Man.” Every day, I strive to live up to my name by leading with service and integrity, representing the collective for the greatest good for the greatest amount of people.
Tustin residents are at the top of our city’s power structure, and they should feel that way. As a councilmember, I would listen to and represent residents, communicate openly about decisions, and work to bridge the gap between that ideal and residents’ experience of local government.
Schnell: Public safety remains job No. 1, alongside preserving quality of life and economic vitality amid growth pressures. We have increased police funding, expanded the force, modernized technology, and strengthened school safety — contributing to substantial crime reductions (total crime down 46% the past four years).
I will continue fighting for the resources our police, fire, and schools need to operate successfully. At the same time, we must continue disciplined fiscal management, smart development that grows revenue without sacrificing character, and transparent governance. These priorities will keep Tustin safe, strong, and prosperous for families.
Read more of the voter guide, including what the candidates said would make them good leaders and how they would represent the city’s diverse community at ocregister.com/voter-guide.
Ballots may be returned by mail (must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received within a week of Election Day) or to the OC Registrar of Voters’ drop boxes around town now, and the first vote centers will open for casting ballots in person on Oct. 24.
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