# Rancho Cucamonga (local, San Bernardino County)

URL: https://www.californiapeople.org/local/rancho-cucamonga

- title: Rancho Cucamonga
- type: city
- jurisdiction: City of Rancho Cucamonga
- region: West Valley

## Key findings
- **Open mayor's seat.** Mayor Dennis Michael announced in April 2026 that he won't run again. The best-known candidate is Councilmember **Lynne Kennedy**. [^1][^2]
- **The issue under the race is Etiwanda Heights.** In January 2026 the council approved a plan change letting developer the Previti Group build about **6,300 homes where the 2019 plan allowed 3,000**. Residents sued under CEQA in February. A new group, Rancho Neighbors United, is backing a mayor and council slate and calling for Kennedy's recall. [^3][^4]
- The Previti Group paid **$93M for 1,252 acres** of county flood-control land in 2024 (about $74K an acre). At the Planning Commission hearing, **26 of 27 speakers opposed** the change. [^3]
- **Council District 2:** Kristine Scott is the only candidate with a council record. Her day job is at SoCalGas, a regulated utility. DeJonae Shaw leads the Inland Empire Labor Council. **District 3** has one candidate, Stacy Henry.

## Mayor
Open seat, elected at large. Five candidates. [^2]

### Lynne B. Kennedy (Mayor Pro Tem)
- **Key findings:** Appointed to the council in December 2014 and re-elected since, now representing District 4. Former educator. [^5]
- Voted with the full council for the Etiwanda Heights density increase, according to the opposition petition. That vote is the basis of the recall call against her. [^1][^4]
- Platform: public safety, "fiscal responsibility without new taxes," "responsible planning." [^6]

### Oliver King (business owner, attorney)
- Running on a slate with District 2 candidate David VanGorden, backed by Rancho Neighbors United, a group formed in 2026 around the density fight. [^4] I found no independent reporting on his record.

### Michael R. Perez (retired)
- I found no independent reporting on this candidate.

### Marjorie Hamada (business owner, attorney)
- Didn't file a candidate statement. [^2]

### Jaskirat Sondh (businessman)
- Didn't file a candidate statement. [^2]

## Council District 2
Job: one of five votes (four district members plus the mayor) on the city budget, land use, police and fire contracts, and parks.

### Kristine Scott (incumbent)
- **Key findings:** On the council since 2018, re-elected 2022. Regional public affairs manager at **SoCalGas**; formerly a VP at TMG Communications; Building Industry Association volunteer of the year. [^7][^8]
- Voted for the Etiwanda Heights density increase. [^1]
- Read: the only candidate with a voting record. Her utility job and building-industry ties are worth weighing on land-use and utility votes.

### DeJonae Marie Shaw (licensed vocational nurse)
- **Key findings:** LVN for 10+ years. Elected president of the **Inland Empire Labor Council** in April 2026. Ran for county supervisor in 2022 and for AD-50 in 2024 (28.1% in the primary). [^9]
- Platform: District 2 should get its "fair share" of roads, drainage, sidewalks and parks; growth matched with infrastructure. Endorsed by Asm. Robert Garcia, the county Democratic Party, and nurses', building trades, Teamsters and IBEW locals (self-reported).

### David VanGorden (retired police officer)
- Filed a candidate statement. [^2]
- On the Rancho Neighbors United slate with mayoral candidate Oliver King. [^4] I found no independent reporting on his record.

### Connie Velazquez (commercial realtor)
- Didn't file a candidate statement. [^2]

## Council District 3
### Stacy Henry (school board president)
- Only candidate. [^2]

## Sources
[^1]: Change.org, Protect Etiwanda Heights petition update (advocacy). https://www.change.org/p/protect-etiwanda-heights-neighborhoods-stop-the-high-density-housing-amendment/u/34580747
[^2]: City of Rancho Cucamonga, 2026 election. https://www.cityofrc.us/elections
[^3]: SB County Sentinel, Etiwanda Heights hearing (Dec 2025). https://sbcsentinel.com/2025/12/pink/
[^4]: ABNewswire advertorial via Local3News (Oct 2026). https://www.local3news.com/online_features/press_releases/political-campaign-takes-to-the-skies-over-rancho-cucamonga-ahead-of-november-election/article_2573a0fd-b8e3-580e-9d31-2e6a4c5f10ed.html
[^5]: SB County Sentinel, Kennedy appointed (Dec 2014). https://sbcsentinel.com/2014/12/rancho-cucamonga-city-council-chooses-former-educator-kennedy-to-succeed-steinorth/
[^6]: Democracy Test Kitchen, Lynne Kennedy. https://www.democracytestkitchen.com/california/2026-general/candidates/lynne-b-kennedy-6587829373a2
[^7]: City of Rancho Cucamonga, Kristine Scott. https://www.cityofrc.us/directory/kristine-d-scott
[^8]: Sempra, Scott Woman of the Year (Mar 11, 2019). https://www.sempra.com/socalgas-kristine-scott-recognized-woman-year-assemblymember-james-c-ramos
[^9]: Inland Valley News, Shaw (Oct 16, 2026). https://inlandvalleynews.com/shaw-says-district-2-deserves-its-fair-share-puts-infrastructure-investment-and-resident-voice-at-center-of-campaign/
[^10]: SB County Sentinel, Preservation Society lawsuit (Mar 2026). https://sbcsentinel.com/2026/03/preservation-society-sues-rc-for-3000-to-6300-residential-unit-entitlement-shift/