Thousand Oaks Candidates Debated Housing Policies

Six city council candidates shared their housing priorities during a forum at California Lutheran University.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Thousand Oaks Candidates Debated Housing Policies

Live Poll

Do you believe your local city council candidates are adequately prioritizing affordable housing?

Six candidates running for three open seats on the Thousand Oaks City Council gathered at the Lundring Events Center to discuss housing policy. The forum marked the first housing-specific event of the current election cycle.

Why it matters

The forum aimed to help voters understand the competing visions of city council hopefuls regarding affordable housing. It provided clarity on how each candidate plans to address local development and residential needs.

The forum featured six candidates answering six specific policy questions ahead of the election for three council seats. These candidates are vying for spots on a council governing a city divided into five total districts.

The players

California Lutheran University

This private university located in Thousand Oaks served as the host venue for the city council candidate forum.

Conejo Housing Coalition

This local organization worked with university students to curate the specific questions asked during the candidate debate.

Mikey Taylor

He is a current Thousand Oaks councilmember and is running as a candidate for the District One seat.

The details

Co-hosted by the Conejo Housing Coalition and university political science students, the event scrutinized candidate strategies for housing development. Candidates Mikey Taylor and Karen Arreola represent District One, Kyle Rohrbach and Gus Gougas run for District Two, and David Newman and Victor Hayek seek the District Three seat.

The Thrive Grove interim housing solution opened in June 2025.
The university hosted the candidate forum on October 6, 2026.
The Thousand Oaks City Council election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Elections for Districts Four and Five will be held in 2028.

Political Context

Opponents of current housing development strategies have often raised concerns regarding the density and infrastructure impacts of new projects. These critics argue that rapid housing expansion could strain local resources and alter the established character of Thousand Oaks neighborhoods.

Residents of Districts One, Two, and Three will be directly affected by the outcome of the November 3 election, as these seats will determine local policy for the next four-year term. Voters can use the priorities shared at the forum to evaluate which candidate best aligns with their neighborhood concerns regarding housing affordability.

The takeaway

Voters should review the specific stances shared by the six candidates to determine how their proposed housing policies might influence future development in their district. Engaging with these platforms before the November election helps ensure the council reflects the community's long-term housing needs.

What happens next

The Thousand Oaks City Council election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, while the elections for Districts Four and Five are set for 2028.