Two areas with open City Council seats in Aliso Viejo will ask voters whether incumbents should stay, or if newcomers should represent Districts 2 and 3.
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Mayor Max Duncan is up against Steven Von der Porten, an aerospace engineer, for the District 2 seat. Current council member Garrett Dwyer is hoping to retain his District 3 seat, while opponent Marie Tsaasan hopes to join the dais.
The candidates, in an Orange County Register questionnaire, addressed what they believe are the biggest needs facing the city and shared why they believe they are best suited to help run the city.
Duncan said the biggest need facing the city is the rising cost of everything.
“Running a city just costs more than it used to, and that pressure doesn’t let up,” he said. “The good news is Aliso Viejo is already the best-managed city in Orange County financially, and I plan to keep it that way. That means sticking to disciplined budgeting, not raising taxes or fees on residents to cover the gap. It also means staying smart about growth — and making sure we’re investing in the things that actually matter to our residents and families here.”
When asked what would make him a good leader, Duncan said his time in office has proved steady leadership gets results.
He’s been on the City Council since 2022, has served as mayor since 2026 and has focused on responsible financial stewardship, “helping to make Aliso Viejo the most fiscally sound city among all 34 in Orange County — while investing in our parks, infrastructure, and public safety,” he said.
Duncan said he’s brought stability to City Hall by staying out of divisive politics and focusing on what’s best for residents.
“Aliso Viejo is a tight-knit, family-oriented, diverse, and accepting community, and I believe good leadership means representing all of it,” he said. “I’ve worked to bring public meetings back to council chambers so every resident has a voice — and with genuine engagement, from re-establishing citywide awards that recognize our youth and residents to working directly with local businesses and families to solve real problems.”
Von der Porten, an aerospace engineer, said the city’s biggest need is leadership focused on the everyday concerns of its residents.
“Street safety, the cost of living, housing, and responsible financial stewardship deserve consistent attention from City Hall,” Von der Porten said. “When City leaders become focused on personal or political priorities, important local issues can take a back seat. I believe City government works best when decisions begin with the needs of the community.”
City government should remain focused on practical local problems and be accountable to residents for the results, he said.
When asked what would make him a good leader, Von der Porten said good leadership requires listening to people, understanding the facts and making thoughtful decisions even when the issues are complicated.
“As an aerospace engineer, I rely on sound judgment and practical problem-solving every day to evaluate information, understand risks, and find solutions that work,’ he said. “I would bring that same discipline to the City government.”
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For District 3, current City Council member Dwyer is hoping to keep his seat.
The biggest need the city faces is housing, he said.
“Because so little vacant residential land remains in our city, we are rezoning business parks and office sites into residential and mixed-use communities to meet our mandate. The challenges with this strategy are the loss of commercial land and its associated revenue, as well as resident opposition to additional traffic and congested spaces,” Dwyer said. “Our budget, roads and economic development are all interwoven with decisions on housing, so our Housing Element must allow for new measured growth while combating external overreach.”
There are a number of new developments under discussion with city staff. The plan is to approach new builds with a focus on increasing available homes for purchase while preserving the quality of life our residents expect, he said.
When asked what makes him a good leader, Dwyer said it’s his experience the last two decades serving the community, volunteering for community groups and sports, serving as HOA board member and a YMCA Council Member.
“You can find me every week serving at our food bank. Our diversity is in our neighborhoods, families, and backgrounds, and I represent them by prioritizing the issues that affect our everyday life,” he said.
His opponent Tsaasan, an hourly instructor, said the town’s biggest needs are housing and e-bike safety.
“Suitable housing options are increasingly important for residents who want to remain in our community as their needs change. Growing children might be seeking roommates and shared housing as they develop their independence, young families may be looking for their first home, while longtime residents may want to downsize without leaving Aliso Viejo,” Tsaasan said.
The second issue is street and sidewalk safety as e-bike use continues to grow.
“We need a combination of education, enforcement and safer infrastructure. I would support exploring bicycle patrols, pursuing available grants for bike and pedestrian improvements, and improving connections to our existing trail system so riders have safer alternatives to sidewalks,” Tsaasan said.
The issues are different, but both affect quality of life, Tsaasan said.
“One helps residents remain part of our community; the other helps make sure we can all move safely through it.”
Tsaasan said she would be a good leader because of her background as an educator and researcher, which has taught her the importance of listening to people with different experiences, perspectives and needs.
“My training has also taught me to work directly with the people affected by an issue and develop practical solutions together,” Tsaasan said. “If elected, I would bring this approach to the City Council. Every resident deserves to be heard and treated with respect, and good ideas can come from anywhere in our community.”
She would also make City Hall more accessible by providing information earlier and creating more opportunities for residents to participate.
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