Incumbents in Districts 1, 3 and 5 face challengers in upcoming Nov. 3 election
Folsom voters in three City Council districts will have choices on their ballots this November, with each of the three incumbents whose seats are up for election facing at least one challenger.
Seven candidates have officially qualified for the Nov. 3, 2026, election. District 1 has a three-way contest between incumbent Mike Kozlowski and challengers Paul Kerfeld and Chad Vander Veen. District 3 features incumbent Sarah Aquino and challenger Jagadish “Jag” Nagendra, while District 5 has incumbent Anna Rohrbough facing Justin Hurst.
The races will determine three of the five seats on the Folsom City Council. Council members serve staggered four-year terms and are elected by voters residing within their respective districts.
With the candidate field now set, a review of official candidate statements filed for the election as well as campaign websites and materials published by each candidate provide a first-round look at those who have officially entered their respective races. Here’s a glimpse of who is running:
District 1
Mike Kozlowski
Incumbent Mike Kozlowski is seeking another term representing District 1 and lists his occupation on his official candidate filing as Folsom City Councilmember.
Kozlowski has served on the City Council since 2018. His campaign website emphasizes his experience on the council and his approach to representing District 1 while also considering citywide issues. Koslowski describes his philosophy in straightforward terms: limiting spending, maintaining public safety as a priority and taking steps to reduce traffic congestion.
His candidate statement similarly places public safety at the forefront of his campaign. Kozlowski shares in the filing that he wants Folsom to remain a safe community in which to raise a family, operate a business and work, and emphasizes maintaining police and fire services while supporting economic growth and job creation. His statement also focuses on balanced budgets, taxpayer accountability and sustaining parks, streets and other public services.
District 1 itself receives considerable attention in Kozlowski’s campaign material. His website highlights Lake Natoma, Hinkle Creek Nature Preserve, the Historic District and the established neighborhoods north of the American River as defining parts of the district. Kozlowski’s campaign calls protection and enhancement of Hinkle Creek important and identifies environmentally sensitive improvements to access and services around Lake Natoma as an area of interest.
The Historic District is another focus. Kozlowski’s campaign describes both the Sutter Street commercial area and surrounding historic residential neighborhoods as important parts of Folsom’s identity and character. His official candidate filing also identifies preservation of the Historic District, along with parks, neighborhoods, roads and dependable city services, among his priorities.
Traffic has been a longstanding component of Kozlowski’s platform. His website retains material from previous campaigns, including a section specifically labeled “The Platform 2022” and another discussing transportation priorities dating to his 2018 campaign. Among the projects and areas identified there are East Bidwell Street, Iron Point Road and Highway 50; signal coordination on Folsom Boulevard; pedestrian conditions around Sutter Middle School; Oak Avenue Parkway and East Bidwell Street; and transportation connections between Folsom and El Dorado Hills.
The site also points to Kozlowski’s work as Folsom’s representative on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and says he has worked through that regional role to secure funding for Folsom transportation projects. His campaign identifies additional freeway access and other longer-term improvements around Highway 50 as projects requiring continued regional funding and planning.
Kozlowski’s current official filing also includes endorsements from Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 and Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez.
Readers can learn more about Kozlowski and his campaign at mike4folsom.com.
Paul Kerfeld
Paul Kerfeld is challenging Kozlowski for the District 1 seat and lists his occupation on his official candidate filing as retired.
Kerfeld’s official candidate statement provides the most detailed public account of his background and priorities currently available through his campaign materials. His campaign website, carrying the message “For Folsom, By Folsom,” currently contains a contact and email signup function but does not provide a detailed biography or policy platform.
In his official election filing, Kerfeld shares that he has lived in Folsom’s Historic District for 34 years and spent 20 years working for the City of Folsom in its solid waste department. Before his city career, he states that he worked in the trades for 23 years.
Kerfeld presents those two careers as central to the experience he would bring to the council. His candidate statement says his years working for Folsom gave him an expansive view of the city and its challenges and opportunities, while his experience in the trades contributed to a practical approach to problem-solving.
Among the priorities Kerfeld identifies in his filing are public safety, traffic calming, smart growth and efficient public transportation. He also emphasizes transparency and what he describes as common-sense decision-making.
Kerfeld’s statement frames his candidacy around practical solutions and responsiveness to residents. He states that decisions affecting the community should reflect the needs and desires of Folsom residents and describes his goal as helping build what he calls a better Folsom through thoughtful decision-making.
His longtime residence in the Historic District also places his campaign within one of the most established portions of District 1, where issues involving traffic, transportation, historic preservation, city services and infrastructure are among the subjects being raised by candidates in the race.
Because Kerfeld’s campaign website currently offers considerably less policy and biographical information than the other candidate sites reviewed for this report, Folsom Times has relied primarily on his official candidate statement rather than attempting to infer positions not specifically outlined by his campaign.
Readers can visit Kerfeld’s campaign website for updates and additional information at: paulkerfeldfolsomcitycouncil2026district1.com.
Chad Vander Veen
Chad Vander Veen is also seeking the District 1 seat and lists his occupation as government proposal manager.
Vander Veen’s campaign materials emphasize both his professional work with government and his community involvement during 23 years living in Folsom.
According to his campaign website, Vander Veen and his family first lived on Ruth Court near St. John’s Church, moved to American River Canyon South in 2013 and relocated to the Sutter Woods area near Carl Sundahl Elementary School in 2016.
Professionally, Vander Veen shares that he spent the first half of his career writing about technology in government, including how state and local agencies could use technology to improve services and reduce costs. For the past seven years, he says he has worked for Folsom-based Kiefer Consulting, helping state and local government clients implement technology projects.
His campaign also details community service that includes coaching with Folsom National Little League and local soccer programs, serving on youth sports boards, serving as Carl Sundahl PTA president from 2019 through 2021, participating in Community Service Day and volunteering with the Folsom Winter Shelter. Vander Veen also lists previous service on the Folsom Architecture Review Commission and current service as chair of the Folsom Arts and Culture Commission.
Vander Veen organizes his campaign around three themes — trust, transparency and follow-through. His website calls for major city decisions to be explained in plain language, including their cost, who pays and the tradeoffs involved. His campaign also advocates clearer budget communication and greater emphasis on core services before new programs or discretionary spending.
On growth, Vander Veen’s campaign states that new development should pay its share of infrastructure, public safety, roads, parks, water, sewer, traffic improvements and long-term maintenance. He also calls for major development decisions to include understandable infrastructure plans and fiscal analysis.
Housing is another component of his platform. Vander Veen supports a range of housing options, including accessory dwelling units, townhomes, condominiums, senior housing, workforce housing and smaller homes, while calling for reductions in permitting delays that add costs without improving safety or quality.
His transportation and infrastructure proposals include safer school crossings, improved signal timing, pedestrian and bicycle safety, clearer parking strategies and greater transparency about which infrastructure projects are funded or delayed. His campaign also proposes working with Folsom police on increased enforcement against red-light running and describes his maintenance approach as “repair before ribbon-cuttings,” prioritizing existing streets, sidewalks, trails, drainage systems, parks and public facilities.
Specific District 1 ideas outlined by Vander Veen include reviewing pedestrian safety around Sutter Middle School, improving crosswalk visibility, exploring a district dog park and public pickleball courts, seeking a grocery or fresh-food option for neighborhoods north of the river and directing investment toward infrastructure and maintenance in older neighborhoods. His campaign also proposes a stronger City Hall assistance function for small businesses navigating permits, zoning and inspections.
His official candidate statement similarly identifies budgeting, public safety, local business, traffic, housing and growth among his priorities.
Readers can learn more about Vander Veen’s campaign at chadforfolsom.com.
District 3
Sarah Aquino
Incumbent Sarah Aquino is seeking another term representing District 3 and lists her occupation as councilwoman/small businesswoman.
Aquino was first elected to the Folsom City Council in November 2018. Her campaign biography states that fellow council members selected her to serve as vice mayor in 2019, mayor in 2020 and vice mayor again in 2021.
Before joining the council, Aquino served four years on the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education. Her campaign points to her votes and actions involving district spending and financial oversight, including efforts involving post-retirement health benefit liabilities and school bond oversight committees.
Aquino’s campaign biography also lists previous service as chair of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a Folsom Library commissioner, three-time PTA president at Russell Ranch Elementary and a board member of the Folsom Cordova Education Foundation. Her campaign says she currently represents Folsom on several outside organizations and chairs the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Folsom State Prison and California State Prison, Sacramento.
Aquino grew up in Fair Oaks, attended public schools in the San Juan Unified School District area and graduated from California State University, Sacramento, according to her campaign. She is a licensed life and health insurance agent and also works part time at a local restaurant.
Her current 2026 campaign message centers on accessibility, public safety, the local economy, quality of life and city spending. Aquino shares on her campaign homepage that she has worked to remain accessible and responsive to residents and intends to advocate for what she describes as common-sense solutions while carefully managing taxpayer dollars.
Aquino’s official candidate filing expands on those themes. She identifies maintaining a clean, safe and vibrant community as a priority and states that first responders should have the resources needed to keep the community safe. She also identifies working with local businesses, creating opportunities for job growth and supporting economic development as priorities.
Fiscal policy is another component of Aquino’s campaign. In her official statement, she points to her vote against increasing compensation for elected officials as an example of her approach to taxpayer spending.
Her campaign biography also highlights her service as mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that she held weekly office hours at City Hall and monthly mobile office hours and conducted outreach to seniors and businesses. The campaign says she also convened weekly calls with representatives from other agencies and organizations to improve communication and share resources during that period.
Readers can learn more about Aquino’s background and campaign at sarahaquino.com.
Jagadish Nagendra
Jagadish “Jag” Nagendra is challenging Aquino in District 3 and lists his occupation as engineer/project manager.
Nagendra’s campaign materials present a background spanning engineering, project management, business ownership, state government and nonprofit and community leadership.
According to his campaign biography, Nagendra was born and raised in Bangalore, India, and moved to the United States in 2000. His campaign says his professional career spans more than 35 years across engineering, project management, organizational leadership and entrepreneurship.
Nagendra’s website states that he earned a diploma in electronics and telecommunication engineering in Bangalore in 1989 and began his career working on automation and control systems. In 1994, he founded Cimtech Automation Private Limited, an engineering systems integration company that worked on projects involving power plants, water treatment facilities, steel plants and hydroelectric facilities.
After moving to the United States, Nagendra worked for CH2M Hill on wastewater treatment control systems and later held engineering and program management positions with several companies. His campaign states that he joined California state government in 2012 and has served in engineering leadership positions involving teams responsible for systems supporting water and power operations across California.
His campaign also highlights certifications in project management and change management and describes his professional experience as combining technical work with strategic planning, leadership and communication.
Nagendra’s community involvement includes service as a commissioner on the City of Davis Business and Economic Development Commission and leadership roles with nonprofit and community organizations. His campaign lists involvement with organizations including the India Association of Davis, Project Management Institute Sacramento Valley Chapter, Kannada Sangha of Sacramento, Cal Expo State Fair and Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy.
His campaign presents long-term financial sustainability as a principal reason for seeking office and identifies infrastructure, fiscal sustainability, public safety and emergency services, business and economic development, and parks, trails and open spaces among his priorities.
On fiscal policy, Nagendra’s campaign calls for city government to live within its means while investing in services and infrastructure. His campaign connects financial sustainability with the city’s ability to maintain its quality of life over the long term.
His campaign also emphasizes public safety and emergency preparedness, support for local businesses and employment, and preservation of parks, trails and open spaces while maintaining recreational access for residents of different ages and abilities.
Nagendra describes strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and collaboration as components of his approach to local government. His campaign says his goal is a community in which residents feel safe, included and valued, and presents his professional management and engineering background as experience he would apply to city finances, infrastructure and long-range planning.
Readers can learn more about Nagendra and his campaign at jag4folsom.com.
District 5
Anna Rohrbough
Incumbent Anna Rohrbough, who currently serves as Folsom’s vice mayor, is seeking another term representing District 5.
Rohrbough’s campaign centers its re-election message on three broad areas: public safety, fiscal stewardship, and quality of life and infrastructure. Her campaign describes her approach as focusing on city services, financial accountability and preservation of the parks, trails, neighborhoods and public spaces residents use.
In her official candidate statement, Rohrbough similarly emphasizes fiscal accountability, public safety and infrastructure. She identifies strengthening budget oversight, addressing traffic congestion, maintaining parks and trails and ensuring police and fire services have adequate resources among her priorities for another term.
Rohrbough’s campaign identifies the creation of Folsom’s Homeless Outreach Team as an initiative she championed while on the council. Her website also states that she supported additional police staffing, increased attention to traffic safety and enforcement, and additional fire department leadership resources.
Fiscal policy occupies a substantial portion of her campaign materials. Rohrbough states that after joining the council in 2022 she raised concerns about differences between adopted budgets and actual spending and pushed for stronger oversight, clearer financial reporting and greater accountability. Her campaign points to subsequent changes in budget reporting and oversight and says she intends to continue focusing on long-term fiscal stability, infrastructure needs and deferred maintenance.
Rohrbough’s campaign also discusses changes in city executive leadership, including the selection of a new city manager who began serving in 2025. Her campaign credits changes in leadership and oversight with strengthening financial controls, communication and accountability within city government. Those descriptions represent Rohrbough’s characterization of her council record and the changes that followed.
Quality-of-life issues are another central part of her campaign. Rohrbough points to her involvement in advancing the rebuilding of Castle Park, improving accessibility and supporting investment in parks and trails. Her campaign also highlights work involving concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters, including discussions with city staff, police and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District over education, policy and enforcement.
Looking ahead, Rohrbough’s campaign calls for continued staffing and support for police and fire services, maintaining alignment between city spending and adopted budgets and directing resources toward existing infrastructure and community amenities. Her campaign also identifies transportation improvements intended to reduce congestion and protect neighborhoods from impacts associated with surrounding growth.
Her campaign biography describes Folsom as the community where she and her husband chose to build their life and says that connection informs her emphasis on safe neighborhoods, affordability and preservation of the city’s natural and community character.
Readers can learn more about Rohrbough and her campaign at annarohrbough.com.
Justin Hurst
Justin Hurst is challenging Rohrbough in District 5 and lists his occupation as government advocacy manager.
Hurst’s campaign materials emphasize his background in public policy, government finance, planning and community engagement. His campaign states that he was born and raised in Folsom and has spent his life in the Sacramento region.
Hurst currently works as government relations and advocacy manager for the California State Association of Counties, according to his campaign biography. In that position, his campaign says he manages intergovernmental relations and advocates on county issues at the state and federal levels. He also currently serves on the Folsom Planning Commission, where his campaign notes that he participates in decisions involving land use, housing and development.
His campaign additionally identifies him as president and CEO of Citizen Advocates Network and as a representative on Folsom’s Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee.
Hurst holds a Master of Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Sacramento and undergraduate degrees in evolution, ecology and biodiversity and international relations from UC Davis, according to his campaign.
His previous experience includes work as a budget analyst with the California Department of Finance. Hurst’s campaign states that his responsibilities included higher education funding. It also highlights his previous service as president and CEO of Associated Students of UC Davis, where his campaign says he managed an organization with more than 1,000 employees and a multimillion-dollar budget.
Hurst’s 2026 platform includes housing, city finances, parks and infrastructure, community engagement, economic development, public safety and regional cooperation.
On housing, his campaign calls for working with developers to expand what it describes as “missing middle” housing intended to provide additional options for middle-income residents. On city finances, Hurst proposes favoring one-time funds over new ongoing financial commitments, rebuilding city reserves and identifying efficiencies intended to strengthen the city’s fiscal position.
Hurst also proposes establishing a Budget Commission to increase public involvement, transparency and accountability in the city budget process. His campaign calls for regular town halls, expanded outreach and a dedicated city community-engagement staff position.
Parks and infrastructure are another focus. His campaign proposes dedicating funding to deferred maintenance and describes its approach to development as “infrastructure-first,” with infrastructure investment accompanying growth while protecting Folsom’s natural environment.
On economic development, Hurst proposes creating an Economic Vision Plan addressing job growth and the city’s long-term economy. His campaign also calls for stronger connections among local K-12 schools, community colleges and employers to establish career pathways for local students.
Hurst’s public safety platform includes exploring partnerships with regional agencies, including Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, where his campaign believes cooperation could improve services or reduce costs. He also calls for regional approaches to homelessness and greater engagement with state and regional government on issues affecting Folsom.
His official candidate statement also identifies protecting parks and trails, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, fire services, infrastructure and greater public participation in city budgeting among his priorities.
Readers can learn more about Hurst and his campaign at justinhurst.org.
With candidate qualification complete, voters in Districts 1, 3 and 5 will decide the three council races on Nov. 3. District 1 voters will choose among three candidates, while Districts 3 and 5 each have two-candidate contests.
This initial Folsom Times candidate overview is based on official election filings and information the candidates have chosen to publish through their campaigns. Folsom Times will continue its 2026 election coverage with additional reporting on the candidates and issues in each council district ahead of Election Day. Information regarding a candidate’s record, accomplishments, policy positions or proposals is attributed to that candidate’s official filing or campaign materials and should not be interpreted as an independent assessment or endorsement by Folsom Times.
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