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 Joe DoVinh, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Name: Patrick Phat Bui
Age: 68
Current job title: Businessowner/Nonprofit Chairman
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Orange County Housing and Community Development Commissioner, Former Garden Grove Councilmember, Former Garden Grove Planning Commissioner
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: phatbui.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.)
Garden Grove must take a balanced and responsible approach to housing as mandated by the State’s housing requirements and create opportunities for housing at different price points, including housing that is attainable for working families, young people, seniors, and first-time homebuyers.
The influx of ADUs and high-density condos has led to a shortage of parking along public streets, more traffic congestion, and costly infrastructure water and sewage capacity upgrades.
New development should be done responsibly and match the community surrounding it. Also, new development must be accompanied by adequate infrastructure improvements, including traffic, parking, water and sewer capacity, public safety, schools, parks, etc. Growth should not overwhelm city infrastructure.
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.)
Garden Grove faces significant budget challenges, and we must address them responsibly while maintaining adequate reserves for emergencies and economic downturns.
My first priority is protecting essential services, especially public safety, while carefully reviewing city spending to identify inefficiencies, duplication, and unnecessary administrative costs. Budget reductions should be thoughtful and targeted, not across-the-board cuts that weaken services residents depend on.
We must address pension liabilities honestly. Ignoring them only makes them more expensive for future taxpayers. I will protect our Section 115 Pension Trust, pursue responsible funding strategies, and work collaboratively with city employees to safeguard earned benefits while protecting long-term financial stability.
I favor economic growth and greater efficiency before asking residents to pay higher taxes or fees. We should aggressively pursue economic development that attracts quality businesses, generates sales tax and hotel tax revenue, and creates local jobs. Technology can streamline city operations, reduce administrative costs, and deliver better service to residents.
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.)
Transparency is essential to public trust. Residents have a right to know how their tax dollars are spent and whether city government is delivering results.
Read more Hieu Nguyen, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
I support an easy-to-use online financial transparency portal where residents can review how taxpayer dollars are collected and spent, examine major contracts and expenditures, and compare budgeted amounts with actual spending, all without submitting a public records request for basic information.
City programs must have measurable goals, with regular public reporting on whether they are producing results. If a program is not working, we should be willing to make changes.
I also support strong internal financial controls, independent audits, competitive bidding, and clear safeguards against conflicts of interest. Public officials must hold themselves to high ethical standards and disclose potential conflicts whenever they arise.
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.)
Garden Grove’s three most pressing challenges are public safety, fiscal responsibility, and homelessness.
Crime has increased while our Police Department remains understaffed. I will make fully staffing GGPD a top priority and ensure officers have the technology, training, and resources needed to reduce vehicle thefts, robberies, and other crimes.
Garden Grove families and small businesses are already struggling with California’s high cost of living. I will oppose any new taxes or fee increases and insist that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly. I will direct the City’s Business and Community Development department to attract new investment, create local jobs, and help our economy thrive.
Our homelessness crisis is growing, and residents deserve safe, clean neighborhoods. I will enforce city laws to remove illegal encampments from parks, commercial areas, and neighborhoods, while holding homeless programs accountable through measurable outcomes. We must compassionately connect those who want help with mental health treatment, substance abuse services, and employment resources.
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.)
Garden Grove has been my family’s home for more than 40 years. I served on the City Council from 2014 to 2022, previously served as Planning Commissioner, am a business owner and CEO, and currently serve as an Orange County Housing and Community Development Commissioner. These experiences have taught me that good leadership means listening, making difficult decisions, and delivering results.
Garden Grove is one of the most diverse cities in Orange County, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. As a refugee who came to America with very little, I understand what it means to work hard, make sacrifices, and pursue a better future. That experience shapes my commitment to seniors, working families, small businesses, veterans, and residents who feel their voices are not being heard.
I will represent every resident of Garden Grove regardless of where they live, where they came from, or what language they speak. No neighborhood should feel forgotten. I will listen carefully, seek common ground, and make decisions based on the long-term interests of Garden Grove, not political pressure or special interests.
Read more Soldiers and Gold Star families press Army leadership after deadly Iranian drone strike