Laguna Beach City Council candidates fundraise as campaigns enter final stretch

Nine Laguna Beach City Council candidates entered the race, and nine have continued to make their cases in trying to fill one of three seats up for grabs on the dais this November.

As election season enters the final stretch, and with ballots already in the hands of residents, candidates are busy raising funds to keep their campaigns going, providing insights into their support and shaping strategies as they hope to keep their names on the minds of voters.

Campaign finance disclosure deadlines called on candidates to share that information via Form 460 filings — available on the city’s election portal — on Sept. 24, covering the period from July 1 to Sept. 19. Another Form 460 filing will be required on Oct. 22, for the period from Sept. 20 to Oct. 17, the last release before election day falls on Nov. 3.

Laguna Beach limits the maximum campaign contribution to $500.

In a city considering term limits this election cycle (Measure E would limit a council member to serving two consecutive four-year terms, before a two-year hiatus would be imposed), incumbents Sue Kempf, Mark Orgill and Alex Rounaghi, have substantially outraised their six challengers, the trio amassing approximately $133,000.

Nick Aronoff, Joy Berry, Ashley Cintas and Karen Martin have brought in roughly $35,000 combined, when accounting for funds the candidates loaned their campaigns. Neither Edward Bayuk or Laura Parisi has filed a Form 460 with the city.

Aronoff, a small business owner, has taken in $9,575 in monetary contributions so far this year (including a $1,000 self loan to his campaign), maintaining $6,908.03 in his campaign coffers as of the filing deadline.

Following a candidates forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening, Bayuk, a former executive in the communications, energy and technology industries, said he has turned down potential donors.

Berry, a hospitality and real estate executive, has taken in $11,689 in contributions in 2026, showing a balance of $10,646 in her report. Her donors include former council members Ann Christoph and George Weiss, as well as multiple board members of Village Laguna, a group that advocates for preservation efforts in town.

Cintas, who owns local business Oto Sushi, totaled $12,763 in monetary contributions so far this year, with a $14,000 self loan to her campaign. She had $20,998 available at the time of filing. Cintas’ donors include local businessman Mohammad Honarkar. Fiona Ma, the California state treasurer running for lieutenant governor, also contributed to her campaign.

Kempf, a two-time mayor running for a third term after first being elected in 2018, has received $38,752 in campaign contributions, keeping $33,701.99 in cash on hand. She counts the Democratic Women of South Orange County, the Laguna Beach Democratic Club and the Laguna Beach Firefighters Political Action Committee among her contributors.

Martin, an urban planner, has raised $1,599 this year, with the maximum donation being made by Mike Beanan and Jinger Wallace, co-founders of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, and Christoph. She had $429.63 remaining in her campaign fund.

Orgill, currently serving as mayor to close out his first term, has raised $28,670. He had $22,059.19 in cash on hand. Contributors to his campaign include Joanna Bear, president of Visit Laguna Beach, and Kristine Thalman, president of the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust.

Parisi, the city’s elected treasurer, did not file a Form 460 in the last reporting period.

Rounaghi, who became the city’s youngest-elected council member at the age of 25 in 2022, has raised the most money this year, totaling $65,742. He still has $36,404.35 in cash on hand. The Democratic Women of South Orange County, the Laguna Beach Democratic Club, and the Laguna Beach Firefighters PAC have also supported Rounaghi, as has Councilman Bob Whalen, who donated to the campaigns of all the incumbents.