KXFM & NCC Present:
CANDIDATE GOOD LUCK POTLUCK
THE 2026 CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
5:30 PM — POTLUCK
6:30 PM — FORUM
Neighborhood Congregational Church
340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach
Bring a good dish to share, and share a good wish for our brave candidates who devote so much time in service of our community.
WHY THIS FORUM?
Local elections affect the things we encounter every day: our streets, schools, neighborhoods, and the future of Laguna Beach. So before you hit the polls, come meet the people asking for your vote.
GOOD FOOD. GOOD NEIGHBORS. GOOD GOVERNMENT. Come for the potluck. Stay for the conversation.
KXFM does not endorse or oppose candidates appearing at this forum. Candidate information on this page is provided for informational purposes. For official election and voting information, visit the City of Laguna Beach and Orange County Registrar of Voters.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Three seats on the Laguna Beach City Council and three seats on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education are up for election on November 3, 2026.
This forum is an opportunity to hear directly from the people asking to represent Laguna Beach — and to hear what they have to say about the issues that matter to our community.
KXFM is committed to providing a fair and open forum for the candidates and the community.
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
Nine candidates are running for the three at-large City Council seats. Every voter can vote for up to three candidates.
SUE KEMPF
INCUMBENT
Sue Kempf was first elected to the Laguna Beach City Council in 2018 and has served twice as mayor. Before joining the council, she served on the Planning Commission and worked on emergency preparedness and wildfire issues. Her professional background is in technology and telecommunications.
Website: Sue for Council
Email: vote@sueforcouncil.com
ASHLEY CINTAS
Ashley Cintas is a local restaurateur and the owner of Oto Sushi.
Website: Ashley For Laguna
Email: ashley@ashleyforlaguna.com
LAURA PARISI
Laura Parisi has served as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer since 1999. She has a background in accounting and finance and has worked in senior financial management positions.
MARK ORGILL
INCUMBENT
Mark Orgill was elected to the City Council in 2022. He has lived in Laguna Beach since 1984 and works in architecture, design and real estate development. He was involved in creating the Laguna Arts District and [seven-degrees], and serves on the boards of Visit Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Community Clinic.
Email: mark.orgill@cox.net
NICK ARONOFF
Nick Aronoff is a fourth-generation Laguna Beach resident and grew up attending Laguna Beach schools. His campaign focuses on resident input, city finances, local businesses and preserving Laguna’s character.
Website: Nick for Laguna
Email: nick@nickforlaguna.com
EDWARD BAYUK
Edward Bayuk’s professional background includes consulting work in energy, oil and gas, electrical, emergency communications and real estate.
JOY BERRY
Joy Berry is a longtime Laguna Beach resident and local business owner. She is vice president of Village Laguna and has been involved in local discussions around land use, development and protecting Laguna’s hillsides and canyons.
Email: joy4laguna@gmail.com
ALEX ROUNAGHI
Alex Rounaghi was elected to the Laguna Beach City Council in 2022. He is a lifelong Laguna Beach resident and previously served as chair of the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee. Before joining the council, he worked as a policy advisor to Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley. His current priorities include public safety, infrastructure, housing, environmental issues and city finances.
Website: Alex for Laguna
Email: arounaghi@lagunabeachcity.net
KAREN MARTIN
Karen Martin is a land-use professional and principal with Pacific Planning Group, a Laguna Beach planning and architecture firm. She has worked in planning and environmental design and previously applied for positions on the city’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board.
Email: karenmartin4laguna@gmail.com
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Three seats on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education are up for election.
JOAN MALCZEWSKI
INCUMBENT
Joan Malczewski is seeking another term on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education. She is a historian of American education and a faculty member at UC Irvine. She joined the school board in 2022 and has been involved with district committees and local schools as a parent and volunteer.
Website: Joan for School Board
Email: Joan4schoolboard@gmail.com
DEE PERRY
INCUMBENT
Dee Perry is seeking another term on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education. A longtime Laguna Beach educator, Perry spent 35 years working in the district, teaching at all four LBUSD schools before retiring in 2010. During her career, she served as a special education teacher, speech pathologist, classroom teacher, and math and science specialist. She was first elected to the school board in 2014.
Website: Dee Perry for Laguna School Board
SHAHEEN SHIEK-SADHAL
Shaheen Shiek-Sadhal is running for the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education. She is an attorney and has been involved with FUEL (Families Unified for Education in Laguna), a local parent group focused on Laguna Beach schools.
Website: Shaheen for LBUSD
KIMBERLY SMITH
Kimberly Smith is a Laguna Beach parent and technology executive running for the LBUSD Board of Education. She is the CEO of Copia, a Public Benefit Corporation, and has experience in business leadership and nonprofit work. Her children attend Laguna Beach public schools.
Website: Kimberly for Laguna School Board
ELIZABETH BATES
Elizabeth Bates has lived in Laguna Beach since 1979 and graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1992. She is a fiduciary, businesswoman and mother of four. All four of her children have attended Laguna Beach schools, with her oldest starting at Top of the World in 2000 and her youngest set to graduate from LBHS in 2027.
Website: Elizabeth for Laguna School Board