Police Union Pours Funds Into City Council Race
The Huntington Beach Police Officers Association has spent over $100,000 on ads targeting incumbents and supporting new candidates.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Elections
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The Huntington Beach Police Officers Association has injected more than $100,000 into the city council election as of October 13. The union is targeting council members who opposed a proposed 18% pay raise for police officers.
Why it matters
The spending reflects a major effort by the police union to influence the composition of the city council regarding labor negotiations. Candidates who supported the officer pay increase are receiving financial backing, while those who voted against it face opposition spending.
The police union has spent $16,000 each opposing Mayor Casey McKeon and Councilman Pat Burns, while investing $17,000 to support Councilman Andrew Gruel. Additionally, candidate Brian Thienes has personally invested $250,000 into his campaign.
The players
Andrew Gruel
He is a current city council member who was appointed in 2025 and is receiving support from the police union.
Casey McKeon
He is the Mayor of Huntington Beach and is being opposed by the police union in the current election cycle.
Pat Burns
He is a city councilman who is being targeted by union-funded opposition advertising.
Brian Thienes
He is one of 11 candidates running for city council and has invested $250,000 of his personal funds into his candidacy.
Huntington Beach Police Officers Association
This is a local labor organization that represents police officers and manages a political action committee to influence city elections.
The details
The union's political action committee is funding independent advertising to influence voters ahead of the November 3 election. Candidates like Taryn Palumbo and Erin Spivey have received $31,000 in combined support, while Erin Spivey has also raised over $92,000 in individual campaign funds.
Timeline
2025: Andrew Gruel was appointed to the city council.
September 19, 2026: Candidates submitted general fundraising disclosures.
October 13, 2026: Police union campaign spending total recorded.
November 3, 2026: City council election occurs.
Political Context
Opponents of the union's intervention argue that heavy outside spending drowns out local voices and shifts the council's focus toward special interest priorities. These critics maintain that legislative decisions regarding municipal payroll should remain insulated from such aggressive campaign financing.
Residents will decide the future of the city council's fiscal policies during the upcoming election. The outcome will determine if the 18% police pay raise proposal moves forward or is blocked by a newly elected council majority.
The takeaway
Voters should review independent campaign spending disclosures to understand which outside groups are attempting to influence local leadership. Understanding these financial ties can help residents identify the primary policy priorities of each council candidate.
What happens next
The city council election is scheduled to occur on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more background on the upcoming ballot, visit the Huntington Beach elections portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Voice of OC.
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