Newport Beach Election: 6 Candidates Run For 3 City Council Seats

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Some Newport Beach voters will decide who they want to represent them on the Newport Beach City Council in the Nov. 5 election.

The field includes one incumbent seeking re-election in his district and five candidates vying for districts 2, 5 and 7. Council members are elected per district; the highest vote getters by the district are expected to be sworn in to four-year terms on the council late 2024.

To find out what Newport Beach district you live in, visit the city's website.

Here's a run-down on the six candidates vying for a spot on the Newport Beach City Council in the order that they appear on the ballot:

District 2

• Michelle Barto
  • Businesswoman Michelle Barto is a 16-year resident of Newport Beach, according to her candidate bio. Her platform prioritizes keeping Newport Beach safe, fighting against "unsafe and unfair" policies from Sacramento, reducing homelessness and protecting taxpayer funds. She has experience as a business owner and a school board member, according to her bio. She is endorsed by Mayor Will O'Neill, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Stapleton and Newport Beach councilmembers Grant, Blom, Avery and Weigand. For more information, visit her website.
• Nancy Scarbrough
  • Small business owner Nancy Scarbrough is a 19-year resident of Newport Beach who has served on the Newport Beach Finance Committee, according to her candidate bio. If elected, she promised to preserve residents' right to vote on rezoning and development issues. She would also prioritize "intelligent" community planning while opposing high-density developments. She is endorsed by the Newport Beach Police Department. For more information, visit her website.

District 5

• Noah Blom
  • Current city councilmember, business owner and chef Noah Blom is a 30-year resident of Newport Beach who has served on the Newport Beach City Council dais for the last four years. Spanning that time, Blom said he worked to prioritize public safety and maintain a balanced budget. He is endorsed by the Newport Beach Fire Department, the Newport Beach Police Department, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, Mayor Will O'Neill and the sitting city council members. For more information, visit his website.
• Jeff Herdman
  • Community volunteer Jeff Herdman is a 26-year resident of Newport Beach who served on the dais from 2016 through 2020. If elected, he promised to preserve the public's right to vote on all General Plan Updates, reduce homelessness in a humane manner and promote public safety. He served on the Newport Beach Arts Foundation board, the Still Protecting Our Newport Board and more. For more information, visit his candidate bio.

District 7

• Miles Patricola
  • Candidate Miles Patricola is a 26-yeah resident of Newport Beach with experience managing voter registration teamers, ballot measure campaign offices and more. His campaign promises to fight back on airport expansion, remove pesticides from playgrounds, helping the homeless, supporting police and more. For more information, visit his website.
• Sara J. Weber
  • Sara Weber is a lifelong resident of Newport Beach with 15 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant. She promised to bring a "collaborative approach" to the dais if elected. She promised to ensure funding for public safety, maintain a balanced budget and protecting the quality of life for Newport Beach residents. For more information, visit her website.