Possible El Cerrito City Council candidates emerge ahead of nomination period

While the period for filing nomination papers for two seats on the El Cerrito City Council doesn’t open until Monday, July 13, five people have already taken some steps toward running for the seats in the Nov. 3 election. They include incumbents Gabe Quinto and Carolyn Wysinger, Courtney Helion who ran unsuccessfully in 2022, and two of the leaders of the campaign against Measure C, Wally Nowinski and Kimberly White.

Nowinski and White this week filed FPPC documents with the city indicating they plan to run, set up a joint campaign website, and each posted on Nextdoor announcing their campaign.

Helion has filed several FPPC documents for Committee to Elect Courtney Helion in 2026.

While many candidates terminate their campaign committees after an election, Gabe Quinto for El Cerrito City Council 2022 has remained active. The most recent document posted on the City of El Cerrito's website as of 4:30 pm July 10 is the semi-annual statement for the second half of 2025. It shows an ending balance of $4,323.48.

Contributions received include $3,000 from Buffy Wicks for Assembly, $3,400 from Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor for the entire year of 2025, and $1,000 from Gladhill Partners Inc.

Expenditures include $100 each to Juan Camacho for State Senate, Mark DeSaulnier for Congress, Rick Zbur for State Assembly, Jaron Brandon for Tuolumne Supervisor, Neysa Fligor for Santa Clara County Assessor, Patrick Aherns for State Assembly, and Malia Cohen for State Controller. There’s also a contribution of $150 to Betty Yee for Governor 2026 for the entire year and an expenditure of $325 for training through CivilWell of Sacramento.

Carolyn Wysinger terminated her 2022 committee July 29, 2025. On Feb. 25, 2026, she established a new committee, Carolyn Wysinger for El Cerrito City Council 2026.

Filing will close Aug. 7, with an extension to Aug. 12 if either incumbent does not run.

The two El Cerrito City Council members elected on Nov. 3 will serve four-year terms. This will be the last election in which El Cerrito selects its council members citywide rather than having the city divided into five districts for elections. Under that system, which begins in 2028, residents can only run for office in their particular district and will only be voted on by people living in that district.

For more information about elections in El Cerrito and the West Contra Costa Unified School District, including links to where financial disclosure forms are posted and where nomination papers will be posted, see the El Cerrito Wire election page