Wednesday’s vote tallies from the Ventura County Elections Division indicate a close contest for Thousand Oaks City Council District 1. Incumbent Councilmember Mikey Taylor holds a narrow lead over former Amgen employee Karen Arreola, with 4,149 votes (51%) to Arreola’s 3,960 (48%) at 9 a.m. The race, decided by roughly two percentage points, underscores the high level of civic participation in Newbury Park and surrounding neighborhoods.
District 1 results and candidate comments
Taylor, who has represented the district since 2022, praised the turnout, saying, “Close elections are always uncomfortable. Newbury Park really showed up from a percentage of voters, I mean everybody came and voted, and so I think that’s a great sign of the health of the city.” Arreola, who led early returns on Tuesday evening, thanked supporters and urged voters to finish the count.
District 2 race
In District 2, which includes the Rancho Conejo area, the Wildwood Regional Park neighborhoods, and California Lutheran University, Kyle Rohrback maintains a solid lead over challenger Gus Gougas. Rohrback, vice chair of the TOArts board and chair of the city’s community‑funding review committee, has 3,611 votes (58%) compared with Gougas’s 2,542 (41%). The seat is open after two‑term Councilmember Bob Engler chose not to run again. Rohrback cautioned against premature celebration, noting that “there are still a lot of ballots left to count, and every one of them matters.”
District 3 race
District 3, covering central and eastern Thousand Oaks—including Oakbrook and Sunset Hills—shows incumbent David Newman ahead of challenger Victor Hayek. Newman has 3,441 votes (53%) to Hayek’s 2,977 (46%). Newman expressed gratitude, saying, “I am very pleased with the results so far, I am not counting chickens yet. I am grateful for the voters’ confidence in me, and for the amazing work of the campaign team.”
What’s next?
All three races remain subject to change as additional mail‑in and provisional ballots are processed. Voters can follow the latest numbers at vote.venturacounty.gov. The 2026 election marks the first time Thousand Oaks voters are selecting council members by district rather than at‑large, a shift intended to give each community a stronger voice in city governance.
Community impact
Local observers note that the district‑based system encourages candidates to focus on the specific concerns of their neighborhoods—ranging from park maintenance in Newbury Park to traffic safety near California Lutheran University. The close margins also reflect a vibrant civic culture, with residents turning out in larger numbers than in recent at‑large elections.
Looking ahead
With the council composition set to change, residents can expect discussions on budget priorities, public‑safety funding, and community‑development projects to intensify in the coming months. The newly elected councilmembers will join the mayor and city manager in shaping policies that affect families, faith communities, and local businesses throughout Thousand Oaks.
Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.
