Six candidates reportedly qualified for Oakdale’s two open City Council seats: Sal Hernandez, Christopher Chavez, Benjamin Amaral, Mary Buchanan, Fred Smith, and incumbent Kayleigh Gilbert.
Oakdale elects council members citywide rather than by district. Voters choose among the full field, and the top two finishers receive the available four-year terms.
Two at-large positions, each carrying a four-year term.
Incumbent Cherilyn Bairos reportedly filed without an opponent for another four-year term.
The reported general election date is November 3, 2026.
The two council candidates receiving the most votes win the seats.
A name list is only the beginning.
Campaign slogans cannot tell voters whether somebody can evaluate budgets, question contracts, understand infrastructure, manage growth, or make public information easier to use.
Questions for all six candidates.
What have you personally managed, built, repaired, or improved?
What is Oakdale’s largest preventable expense, and how would you measure improvement?
What specific obstacle facing local businesses can the city remove?
Will you support searchable meetings, votes, records, calendars, and financial disclosures?