By admin 
Three of the five seats on the Folsom City Council are up for grabs this November, with all three incumbents running for reelection and all facing impressive challengers. This is a testament to an active and engaged political culture in a community founded 170 years ago. This is one of those moments where voters can choose change or stick with experience.
Read more California Legislature staffer detained by ICE released Friday, awaits hearings
Folsom appears to be heading in the right direction, and credit is due to the current council, City manager Bryan Whitemyer and local citizens who watch this council closely. This is not a moment requiring voters to throw some rascals out. This council should be allowed some time to complete its unfinished business.
The Bee endorses incumbents Mike Kozlowski of District 1, Sarah Aquino of District 3 and Anna Rohrbough of District 5.
Folsom’s population is nearing 100,000, and the demands of growth are testing the community. Today’s council is managing major decisions made by its predecessors, especially the development south of Highway 50, rather than charting an entirely new course. Traffic congestion and the growing presence of e-bikes are among the issues now facing Folsom.
Running Folsom is never easy. Residents expect reliable police, fire, parks and other city services, but the city’s funds are limited because Folsom has no local sales tax. Voters soundly rejected Measure G, a proposed 1-cent sales tax increase, in 2024.
Kozlowski has represented Folsom in regional government for years, including through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. His steady demeanor and regional experience give him valuable perspective on the issues facing Folsom.
Chad Vander Veen, whom Kozlowski appointed to the Folsom Arts and Culture Commission, has led a Parent Teacher Association and volunteered with Folsom’s winter shelter. His record of community involvement makes him a credible candidate, and we can envision him serving on the council in the future.
For now, we believe Kozlowski deserves a third term while we hope that Vander Veen continues to serve his community.
Aquino is the council’s consummate communicator. If the city’s blood pressure is rising on Folsom’s official Facebook page, Aquino is there to quickly respond. She posts council agendas. She tracks down answers to questions, regardless of whether the resident is in her district.
Her opponent, Jagadish “Jag” Nagendra, is a state engineer and brings extensive management experience. His previous service on the Davis Business and Economic Development Commission gives him a solid grounding in local economic-development issues. Nagendra would bring a thoughtful perspective to the council.
Aquino’s breadth of civic knowledge and communication skills make her a valued contributor to this council and city government. Like Kozlowski, she is ready for a third term.
Read more Sacramento’s Aftershock music festival draws record crowd during sweltering weekend
Anna Rohrbough shook up Folsom politics in 2022 by ousting longtime incumbent Kerri Howell. Her first term included some rocky moments, but she has grown in this job and settled into an effective niche on this council.
Her opponent is Justin Hurst, a government relations manager, city planning commissioner and former student body president at UC Davis. Hurst is 28, with a life of public service potentially ahead of him.
In this case, Rohrbough has earned a second term. Voters have seen her grow into the job, and continuity would give her the opportunity to build on that progress. Hurst is an accomplished and promising public servant, and his work on the Planning Commission positions him well to continue contributing to Folsom’s future.
In this case, Rohrbough has earned a second term to allow her district to better assess her full potential.
Folsom’s parks, schools, railroad history, foothill beauty and connection to the American River are remarkable attributes that have drawn so many to call this city home. It’s what makes serving on this city council so important and so hard. The city’s financial structure is changing, as online shopping has eroded the city’s once-dominant sales tax base. But this leadership team is well positioned to manage the next four years.
BEHIND THE STORY
MORE
What are editorials, and who writes them?
Editorials represent the collective views of the editorial boards of McClatchy Media’s California opinion teams.
They do not reflect the individual opinions of board members or the views of reporters in the news sections of The Sacramento Bee and its sister publication, the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Reporters do not participate in editorial board deliberations or weigh in on board decisions.
In Sacramento, the board includes Executive Editor Chris Fusco, California Opinion Editor Marcos Breton, opinion writers Robin Epley, Tom Philp, LeBron Antonio Hill, Cathie Anderson and op-ed editor Hannah Holzer.
In San Luis Obispo, it includes Opinion Editor Stephanie Finucane.
We base our opinions on reporting by our colleagues in the news section, and our own reporting and interviews. Our members attend public meetings, call people and follow-up on story ideas from readers just as news reporters do.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
Tell us what you think
You may or may not agree with our perspective. We believe disagreement is healthy and necessary for a functioning democracy. If you would like to share your own views on events important to California, you may write a letter to the editor (150 words or less) using this form, or email an op-ed (650-750 words) to [email protected]. Due to a high volume of submissions, we are not able to publish everything we receive.
Read more Sheriff: Gun recovered from man fatally shot by deputies near Marconi Avenue
This story was originally published October 5, 2026 at 3:14 PM.