Election 2026: Q&A with Auburn City Council candidates

The Auburn Journal is conducting a question-and-answer opportunity for Auburn City Council candidates to share with voters leading up to the 2026 election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We've asked the candidates to list their qualifications for serving on the City Council and share why they desire to serve Auburn residents, from what they believe is the city's biggest need, changes they would like to make and addressing commercial vacancies. Here are their answers: KELLEY DAVIS Occupation: Nonprofit director, registered dietitian Website address: www.kelleyforcouncil.net Contact info: kelley@kelleyforcouncil.net Q: Please list your qualifications for serving on the Auburn City Council and share why you desire to serve Auburn residents. Davis: I currently serve as the mayor of Auburn and am coming to the end of a two-year term on the City Council. I'm running for a full four-year term because Auburn's decisions over the next few years will shape what this town looks like for the next 50, and I want to see the projects I've started through to completion. I am very proud of the council's work in the past two years. Key accomplishments include adopting Auburn's first Active Transportation Plan, a Comprehensive Safety Plan, three Entertainment Zones, three successful Economic Development Town Hall events, and installing additional solar infrastructure to offset energy use. The updated General Plan and a Retail Cannabis Ordinance will also come before the council in the coming weeks. I have worked hard to establish relationships within the community and beyond our city limits to collaborate on issues, identify funding, attract entrepreneurs, bring together stakeholders, and identify key roles Auburn plays in its own success as well as the success of communities around us. Q: What do you see – and what do you hear from residents – as being Auburn's biggest need? And what is your plan for addressing it and completing the needed work? Davis: Budget and growth get the headlines, but what I hear most is a need for better transparency and communication. I hear, "I wish I'd known about that," followed by, "Where do our taxes go?" and finally, "Why did every event happen today?" At the end of the day, most of the answers come back to the fact that our resources are limited but there is room for improvement. We oversee a very tight budget and have a small but dedicated staff that wear many hats to get the city's work done. Staff have built good tools, including transparency portals and an improved website, but too few residents know they exist, and social media doesn't reach everyone. Now that we have some tools in place, we need to work on informing the community about what is available. One way I would like to address this is with a kiosk in town featuring events, alerts, surveys, links to city services and upcoming meetings, a business directory, and more. My plan for completion includes engaging local stakeholders and continuing forward with concepts, funding needs and sources, and a plan to ensure the kiosk is a comprehensive tool for the community. Q: What, if anything, would you change about Auburn that would be of benefit to the town? Davis: Auburn's foundation is strong and I don't think the answer is change. But holding onto what makes Auburn special takes work. Our infrastructure must keep up, housing must accommodate a wide range of people; and getting around town by walking, rolling, driving or public transportation must be safe and accessible. Those are the things that keep Auburn affordable, connected and welcoming. I'd like to focus on making steady improvements consistent with the current, well developed plans that the community and staff have worked hard on developing and that reflect the needs of our community going forward. Q: In order to bring vibrancy back into Downtown and Old Town Auburn, how do you think the council should address commercial vacancies? Davis: The council considered a vacant commercial building ordinance last year and chose not to move forward with it at that time. I agree with that decision, but I don't think the issue is settled. Since then, staff and council have a clearer picture of why spaces sit empty and have listened to property owners' suggestions for ways to help. With improved communication and coordination, I'd like to see productive problem solving and more discussions moving forward that focus on short- and long-term solutions. In the past year, some building owners have taken measures to improve their buildings and work towards filling vacancies. I'd like to recognize those owners taking responsible steps with their properties. I think there is great potential in considering vacant spaces for pop-ups or artists if long-term tenancy cannot be agreed upon. I'd rather earn cooperation first, but our commercial cores can't wait indefinitely. If we aren't making progress, I'll support revisiting policies regarding chronic vacancies. STEPHANIE McKENZIE Occupation: Retired teacher, grant manager Website: mckenzieforauburn.com Contact info: Stephanie@mckenzieforauburn.com, Facebook - mckenzieforauburn, Instagram - mckenzieforauburn2026 Q: Please list your qualifications for serving on the Auburn City Council and share why you desire to serve Auburn residents. McKenzie: Serving on the City Council in Marysville, followed by the Marysville Planning and Historic Preservation Committee, allows me to leverage my past experience in local government with my passion for Auburn. I am a retired teacher and grant manager, and have extensive experience working to better communities through various boards and service organizations. Before returning to my hometown, I founded the Yuba Sutter Community Taskforce, a nonprofit whose function is to bring diverse stakeholders together to build relationships and share resources and ideas to address community needs. A former small business owner and farmer with experience in the healthcare field, I also understand the challenges facing our local business community and working families. I'm excited to be part of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Leadership Auburn Class of 2027 to learn even more about our area. All of these experiences, along with having raised four children who are successful in their own right, have prepared me to serve well in local government, value working families, support thoughtful economic development and promote collaborations between stakeholders. I love my hometown of Auburn. I was raised here, attended local schools, including Placer High, and many of my closest family and friends are members of this community. Now that I'm retired and back in Auburn, I can think of no better way to use my experience and connections than to serve on the Auburn City Council. Q: What do you see – and what do you hear from residents – as being Auburn's biggest need? And what is your plan for addressing it and completing the needed work? McKenzie: The majority of the residents I have spoken with are happy overall about conditions in Auburn, but also express the desire to preserve our small-town character and natural spaces in the face of modern development trends. I believe we can continue to grow and develop in a sensible, thoughtful way that respects the unique topography and character of each neighborhood, and is consistent with Auburn's designation as an historic landmark. Development should complement the community, not change what makes it special. We need to be mindful of preserving natural features like streams, mature trees and open spaces while making room for appropriate growth. Reinvestment and adaptive reuse of existing properties is one way to accomplish these goals since new development opportunities in the city limits are limited. My goal is to help ensure we preserve and enhance our way of life, balancing responsible development with the qualities that make Auburn unique. The second item concerning residents is the threat of catastrophic wildfires. My father and brother are retired firefighters so I know how critical it is to manage our forests and mitigate threats as much as possible. As such, I plan to work with our local fire departments and help promote the Fire Safe Councils in encouraging residents to form Fire Wise communities with their neighbors to reduce fire risk for their homes and properties. This effort will not only address local wildfire risk but also could be an advantage in securing better rates on homeowners insurance, as well as benefit the real estate market in Auburn. Q: What, if anything, would you change about Auburn that would be of benefit to the town? McKenzie: Increasing overnight-stay accommodations is one area I believe would benefit Auburn. Our central location along I-80, access to a myriad of entertainment and recreation options, and incredible scenic beauty make Auburn a desirable destination. Strategically adding short-term rental sites and hotels in the city limits would provide visitors the opportunity to enjoy extra time for events, dining, shopping and recreation. These overnight stays produce a healthy Transient Occupancy Tax paid by visitors to benefit the city while also increasing business at local restaurants, shops, events and gas stations. Q: To bring vibrancy back into Downtown and Old Town Auburn, how do you think the council should address commercial vacancies? McKenzie: Vacancies represent opportunities, so I believe the City Council has made a good choice in employing a community development director whose work is focused on connecting existing and potential businesses to these opportunities. Under the City Council through the city manager, the community development director works with property owners to determine how to best support their goals for the properties in question and to help overcome barriers that may hinder occupancy. Based on my previous experience in city government, a respectful working relationship between the city and property owners is essential. Open communication and collaboration can help property owners and prospective tenants address challenges, fill vacant commercial spaces and create thriving business districts. We should also continue to support our business organizations in their collaborations on events, improvements, ideas and ordinance updates that help drive robust activity in their districts. New businesses are interested in locating in areas that have active business centers. As our Downtown and Old Town areas continue to attract people through unique businesses, great food, offices and creative events, I believe the vacancies will decrease over time. As a City Council member, I will look for opportunities to streamline red tape and permitting that may hamper small business development, champion "shop local" efforts and work to directly engage business owners to understand how we can work together to make Auburn a vibrant place to live, work and visit. BRIDGET POWERS Occupation: Retired businesswoman Contact info: electbridgetpowers.com Q: Please list your qualifications for serving on the Auburn City Council and share why you desire to serve Auburn residents. Powers: 30+ years calling Auburn home. I have lived in our wonderful community for over three decades as a neighbor, a small-business advocate, and an active civic volunteer. Proven municipal leadership: I am a 3-time former mayor of Auburn and a longtime community leader who knows what it takes to get things done in our city. Strong local support: My campaign is backed by over 100 local endorsements, including District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, former Auburn Police Chief Nick Willick and former Mayor Cheryl Maki. Why I want to serve: I am running as a neighbor, not a politician. After decades of showing up for this community as a leader who listens first, I am ready to bring my extensive experience back to the city council to work hard for the people of Auburn. Q: What do you see – and what do you hear from residents – as being Auburn's biggest need? And what is your plan for addressing it and completing the needed work? Powers: Through my conversations with residents, I hear loud and clear that we must focus on the real issues facing our town. My plan addresses our community's four biggest needs: Forest health and fire safety: We face a critical danger from catastrophic wildfires. My plan focuses on actively promoting forest health, building fire-safe communities, and ensuring robust emergency preparedness for neighborhood evacuations. Keeping business local: Our small businesses give Auburn its unique character. I will champion our "Buy Local" initiatives and make it simpler – not harder – for entrepreneurs to open and grow a business here. Public safety: I am deeply committed to the safety and wellbeing of every resident, and I will continuously support our local police and fire departments. Fiscal accountability: I will bring disciplined financial management to the council to achieve and maintain long-term budget stability for Auburn. Q: What, if anything, would you change about Auburn that would be of benefit to the town? Powers: I don't want to change the rich history, vibrant arts, or outdoor recreational culture that makes Auburn special. Instead, I want to change how local government operates by making it easier, more efficient and less bureaucratic for our residents and business owners to interact with the city. Q: In order to bring vibrancy back into Downtown and Old Town Auburn, how do you think the council should address commercial vacancies? Powers: Economic development and culture: It's not the desire for businesses that are keeping our commercial buildings vacant; it is the property owners that are not leasing the properties to potential businesses. This has been a longstanding issue for Auburn. If the property owners can be convinced that a vacant property effects our entire community and find a way to make it desirable for them to lease out their property would be the first steps. ERIK ROBB Occupation: Game designer Website address: ErikForAuburn.com Contact info: contact@ErikForAuburn.com Q: Please list your qualifications for serving on the Auburn City Council and share why you desire to serve Auburn residents. Robb: From a young age, I decided if my life were to have a purpose and be one lived well then I need to make as many people's lives materially better as I can, to make the world a better place. I wanted to become an astrophysicist. I was very into Star Trek, and I wanted to advance the frontiers of science and help bring about the utopian future envisioned in the show. I realized though, as I grew older, that the real barrier to progress is in the political realm, the way our society is structured, so I decided the course of my life would be to learn everything I can about policy and politics. I chose my major to be Political Science and went to UC Davis to earn my bachelors. My qualifications and desire to serve Auburn are one in the same. I have devoted my life to best serve humanity as a leader and have lived my entire life in Auburn. I aspire only to inspire a faith in people that the world can be made a better place, that despite us all being told things are the way they are and we must accept it, the world is what we make it to be, and we can make it better. Q: What do you see – and what do you hear from residents – as being Auburn's biggest need? And what is your plan for addressing it and completing the needed work? Robb: Auburn desperately needs to diversify its revenue stream. We cannot be content to rest on our current revenues, as a big economic shock would be devastating to the city's ability to service the people. This relates to the most common concern I have heard from other residents, that local businesses are clearly struggling and the frequent churn of local businesses in various locations and empty storefronts are a clear indicator of that. We need to improve the local economy to support the businesses here, and I have an actionable plan to do that without any risk to the identity and character of Auburn changing. I worked in the games industry since college; I know it quite well. It's the world's largest entertainment industry by far, dwarfing even Hollywood and the global film industry in revenue. Despite this, the industry has collapsed recently, not through a decline in revenue but rather by big companies making bad bets and the workers paying the price. This has left a huge number of people in the industry out of work. Even seasoned professionals struggle finding entry-level jobs. This presents a fantastic opportunity for Auburn. I propose a plan for Auburn to bring the industry here to Auburn, bringing a host of well-paid professionals that skew young. They buy locally, their lucrative products pay Auburn taxes, they bring a huge new revenue stream to our city and our businesses. All without changing the character of Auburn because the industry has basically no footprint and all needed infrastructure is already here. Q: What, if anything, would you change about Auburn that would be of benefit to the town? Robb: The current most direct and poignant problem in Auburn that can be the most immediately addressed for the benefit of all is Flock cameras. Flock is not merely a brand of surveillance camera, or ALPR, it is a dragnet search infrastructure that spies on your every move through a vast network of surveillance devices that grows every day. Flock already breaks a host of laws, including in California, where it violated the law in the Auburn area alone 4.8 million times by sharing law enforcement information across state lines. It is also a clear violation of the 4th Amendment when used to make arrests, as there is already plenty of case-law about warrantless mass surveillance. Flock has already been banned for these reasons and many more in our neighboring communities as well as entire states like Florida. They fail to make our communities safer either, as the recent murder and shootout in Iowa Hill proved Flock cameras were unable to catch a known dangerous criminal with an actively stolen car after having rammed a sheriff in said stolen car despite driving passed god knows how many Flock cameras. He certainly passed through our town and there are about 50 Flock cameras in the greater Auburn area. Flock is useless for law enforcement and it robs us of both our constitutionally protected privacy and our dignity. I promise to use my authority as a member of the Auburn City Council to remove Flock cameras from Auburn permanently and ensure nothing like Flock can ever plague our peaceful town again. Q: In order to bring vibrancy back into Downtown and Old Town Auburn, how do you think the council should address commercial vacancies? Robb: While I am confident in my plan for economic development, this is a problem that needs to be handled directly. For example, there is, infamously, allegedly, a billionaire that owns some amount of these properties and keeps them vacant for some kind of tax benefit that profits him more than renting the place out. This is a very typical kind of scummy incentive that exists in the American real estate market, it's nothing special. A typical way of solving it would be through subsidies that benefit said billionaire, but the government shouldn't be subsidizing the rich and powerful, it should be using that money to uplift the people. There should be a price incurred for the damage a purposefully empty storefront does to our town, and thus I will make it so by levying either a fine, fee, tax or any combination of those methods available to the city council; affecting the landlords of storefronts that deny businesses from renting and ignoring the market forces that should naturally be filling those storefronts. If the landlords don't like it, they are welcome to sell the property to someone that will choose to do something with it rather than allow it to sit and rot on the doorstep of our town for all travelers to see.