PAC spending review Oct. 13, 2020 view here

PAC spending review pt. 2 view here

PAC spending review pt. 3 view here

Citywide PAC Campaign Contributions Spending 2026 Election:

NimbleGov (PAC):
Measure Number – 
NimbleGov (f. Laguna Residents First) – Disclosure Form 460 Oct 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here

Advocates for Laguna Residents (PAC):
Advocates for Laguna Residents – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here

The Laguna Alliance (PAC)
The Laguna Alliance – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here
The Laguna Alliance – Disclosure Form 460 Jan. 1 – June 30, 2025 – Click here

Village Laguna (PAC):
Village Laguna – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here

Citizens for Laguna’s Future (CFLF) (PAC):
CFLF – Disclosure Recipient Committee Form 410 March 25, 2026 here
CFLF – Disclosure Form 460 Jan 1 – June 30, 2026 – Click here
CFLF – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here
CFLF – 2026 July 460 (highlight in red the $4,000 FINE to the state) – Click here

Laguna Beach Police Employee Association (PAC):
Laguna Beach Police Employee – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here

Families Unified for Education in Laguna (FUEL) (PAC):
Official Candidate Campaign 2026 – Flip The Board 

Laguna Beach Fire Fighters Association (LBFFA) (PAC):
LBFFA – Disclosure Form 460 July 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 – Click here

Laguna Public Recreational Facilities Conservancy (LPRFC) (PAC):
LPRFC – City Candidate Endorsement – Click here

Village Laguna held its City Council Candidate Forum in City Council Chambers on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. View Video on their website Here.

Laguna Beach voters will choose candidates for district supervisors, president, senator and more in the March 5 election.

By Miranda Ceja,
Patch Staff

With the presidential preference primary happening March 5th, most Golden State residents already have their mail-in ballots in hand.

With the presidential preference primary happening March 5th, most Golden State residents already have their mail-in ballots in hand.

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The 2024 presidential primary election season in California is officially underway, but the real excitement in California comes in the form of down-ballot races, including the race for congressional districts across Orange County.

The election is March 5; most residents already have their mail-in ballots in hand.

With presidential frontrunners former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden expected to win their nominations handily, all eyes in California are on the hotly contested primary race for the seat vacated by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as well as a slew of local races.

Locally, Orange County voters will decide who they want to represent them in the state assembly and their respective congressional districts.

Here’s a run-down on the races for the 2024 primary election season in Orange County.

Read the full article on The Patch website – Here

City Council Candidates:

1) Judie Mancuso – Campaign Website.
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Judie Mancuso

2) Hallie Jones – Campaign Website coming soon.
Check out Candidate Community Related Articles and Opinions: Hallie Jones

City Clerk Candidates:

City Clerk Ann-Marie McKay Campaign Candidate Intension 501 statements

Treasurer Laura Parisi Campaign Candidate Intension 501 statements

Media and General Public Candidate Related Articles and Opinions for the November 5, 2024 Election Below: As Available…

 

Political Action Committee (PAC’s)

Advocates for Laguna Residents PACS:

Advocates for Laguna Residents PAC (ID # 1455392)

Laguna Residents First PACS:

Laguna Residents First PAC (ID#1421491)

Laguna Residents First (LRF) PACS:

Laguna Residents First (LRF) PAC LB Survey 2024

Laguna Beach Firefighters Association PACS:

Laguna Beach Firefighters Association PAC (ID#1422691)

Laguna Beach Police Employee Association PACS:

Laguna Beach Police Employee Association PAC (ID #1346972)

Village Laguna Inc. PACS:

Village Laguna Inc. PAC Amendment filed April 2, 2024

Village Laguna Inc. PAC Amendment filed April 5, 2024

Village Laguna Inc. PAC (ID#990381)

Village Laguna (Jul 1 – Sept 24 2022) amendment

Village Laguna (Oct 18 – Dec 31, 2020) amendment

Village Laguna (Oct 23 – Dec 31 2022) amendment

Village Laguna (Sept 20 – Oct 17, 2020) amendment

Village Laguna (Sept 25 – Oct 22 2022) amendment

Citizens for Laguna’s Future PACS:

Citizens for Laguna’s Future PAC (ID#1450234)

Laguna Matters PACS:

Laguna Matters PAC (ID#1420991)

LB Taxpayers Association PACS:

LB Taxpayers Association PAC (ID#0352402)

Ballot Measure Committees

The Laguna Alliance / Laguna Beach Company Ballot Measure Committee (ID#145537)
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showpublisheddocument/16022/638264929573270000
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showpublisheddocument/14187/638108556478300000

Citizens for Laguna’s Future / Ballot Measure Committee (ID#1450234)
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showpublisheddocument/17638/638415411478070000

Citizens for Sustainable Laguna Beach / Ballot Measure Committee (ID#1441800)
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showpublisheddocument/17638/638415411478070000

Hallie Jones’ Campaign Website

 

 

 

 

See Hallie Jones’ November 2024 Official Ballot Statement here

2024 Council Candidate Form 410
2024 Candidate 501 Intention Statement for Hallie Jones
2024 Council Candidate Form 410 (Qualified)
2024 Form 410 July 31, 2024

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:
Form 460 – Jan – June 2024
Form 460 – July 1 – Sept. 21 2024

Media and other Candidate information:

Hallie Jones, Judie Mancuso enter race for Laguna Beach City Council – Daily Pilot Interview
Crystal Cove Conservancy Announces Hallie Jones as Executive VP and Chief Program Officer – Article courtasy of the LB Indy from August 2023. – View here

Other affiliated organizations: All Kids Bike

YOU hold the power to having the community and quality of life you want. Voting for representatives that align with your vision and values is critical. So is holding officials accountable for the issues and priorities considered important to you and your family.

Too often residents are finding that candidates say what Voters want to hear when vying for an elected position. And organized candidate panel discussions are often politically biased and don’t begin to help voters uncover a candidates depth of knowledge, professionalism or actual qualifications necessary to lead a city effectively and in the public’s best interest. It’s up to you to carefully vett those asking for your vote.

Don’t fall into the automatic incumbent voting trap!  It’s no secret that LB stakeholders concerns about officials financial decision-making and special-interest bias and favoritism has grown over the last decade. The community division, discourse and mistrust between city officials and the public is at an all-time high. We simply must ask ourselves WHY.

LBCHAT traced the public division and mistrust back to the 2018 City Council Election. In 2018, the town of Laguna Beach became a political battleground between a new developer/investor Political Action Committee (PAC) called Liberate Laguna and Village Laguna and resident-centric PAC that had existed since the 1970’s.  The Liberate Laguna PAC was open about their intent to challenge VL’s existence and focus on installing candidates sympathetic to their development intentions. They were successful in getting two pro-development Council members elected.  Council Member Sue Kempf served in 2018 and was re-elected to serve in 2022. Council Member Peter Blake served one term and was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in 2022. Two new Council Members, Mark Orgill and Alex Rounaghi were elected.  Five-Term Council Member Toni Iseman did not run.

Over the last several years our small coastal city has been inundated with over a dozen special-interest Political Action Committees (PAC’s). The 2022 campaign funding for candidates and a ballot measure was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Much of the campaign funding came from out-of-towner’s. This is an impactful change on our city leadership and government environment.  It’s extremely important to do your due-diligence by following the money to see who is behind political candidates and who may expect a payback by those they help get elected.

In 2024, voters will elect two Council representatives. We currently have no confirmation as to whether Three-Term Council Member Bob Whalen (2012-2024) and One-Term Council Member George Weiss (2018-2024) are running for re-election.  As Council Candidates are confirmed, they will be featured under “Meet The Candidates” (below) which will include mandatory candidate disclosure information and other professional and personal public information to assist voters in assessing their character, qualifications, expertise, accomplishments and public service track records.

Exercise your right to vote!  “Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

Voter Resources:  

State of California: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place

City of Laguna Beach Candidates

Candidates’ information and statements Here
PACs and Local Organizations Campaign Support Here

The election is November 5th, 2024. LBCHAT intends to compile and publish all local and state public documents related to the personal and professional backgrounds on every candidate running for a Laguna Beach Public Office position every campaign year.

Sources will include campaign disclosure statements, financial campaign contribution reports, websites/podcasts, news and social media coverage and personal, professional and criminal background information as supported by the California Public Records Act Code# 6253 (CPRA). We also welcome public information and legal document submittals from the public for publishing consideration. The more we know about our candidates, the better decisions we make when casting our votes.

Thank you for being an educated and informed voter. Our city’s health and future depends on it! LBCHAT

City Council Candidates

Judie Mancuso
Hallie Jones
Bob Whalen
George Weiss

Treasurer Candidates

Laura Parisi

City Clerk Candidates

Ann-Marie McKay

LAGUNABEACHCHAT.COM : CHAT stands for City Hall Accountability and Transparency. Our Mission: Laguna Beach CHAT desires to advance accountability and transparency. We serve residents by providing them with an open and honest platform to gain knowledge about City officials, functions and decisions that impact our quality of life and our local community.

PAC spending review Oct. 13, 2020 view here

PAC spending review pt. 2 view here

PAC spending review pt. 3 view here

Meet Sam Goldstein, Co-founder of Liberate Laguna, Laguna Beach owner of Mozambique Restaurant and concert venue, owner of the Heisler Building housing his other restaurant and concert venue, Skyloft, and co-founder of Laguna Beach Live!.

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Aug 11 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Aug 31 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 17 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 18 2020 – redacted – Click here

Goldstein Samuel – 497 Sept 23 2020 – Click here

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for MariAnn Tracy here

Candidate Website here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Tracy Mariann – 460 April 29 – July 23, 2020 redacted

Tracy Mariann – 460 July 24 – Sept 15 2020 redacted

Tracy Mariann – 497 Sept 8 2020 – redacted

Candidate Website here

Intention Statement (Form 501) filed on 6/4/2024

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Media and other Candidate information:

---

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for Ann Marie McKay here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

McKay Ann Marie – 460 Jan 1 – June 30 2020 redacted

McKay Ann Marie – 460 July 1 – Sept 19 2020 redacted

Candidate Website Coming Soon

 

 

 

 

 

See Bob Whalen November 2024 Official Ballot Statement here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:
Form 460 – Jan 1 – June 30, 2024
Form 460 – July 1 – Sept. 21, 2024

Media and other Candidate information:

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Past Campaign Information

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Whalen Bob – 460 Jan 1 – June, 30 2020

Whalen Bob – 460 July 1 – Sept 19 2020 – redacted

Whalen-Bob-460-July-1-Sept-19-2020-redacted

George Weiss Candidate Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

See George Weiss’ November 2024 Official Ballot Statement here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:
Form 460 – July 1 – Sept. 21, 2024
Form 510 Campaign Intension Statement

Media and other Candidate information:

---

Past Campaign Information:

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for George Weiss here

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for Larry Nokes here

Candidate Website here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Larry Nokes – 410 statement – April 27, 2020

Nokes Larry – 460 June 25 – Sept 15 2020 redacted

Media and other Candidate information:

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for Ruben Flores here

Candidate Website here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Flores Ruben – 460 Jan 1 – Sept 1 2020 redacted

Media and other Candidate information:

View the Laguna Beach Police Report for Steve Dicterow here

Form 460 Campaign Funding Disclosure Statements:

Dicterow Steve – 460 July 1 – Sept 19 2020 redacted

Media and other Candidate information:

Letters To The Editor – Steve Dicterow – Click here

Dicterow Taps His Home For Cash – read here

Mayor Dicterow’s Bankruptcy – read here

Resident Files Two Sworn Complaints With Fppc* See April 24, 2017 Update! – read here

Favoritism At City Hall For Hedge and View Claims – read here