June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election
City of Avalon Candidate Position Statements
Hi friends. With so much going on in the battle to save Catalina Island deer—from the successful protest staged in Avalon during this year's Conservancy Ball to the ongoing efforts on the legal front—we want to keep you informed about an important election in the City of Avalon coming up on June 2, 2026.
The election has shaped up to be quite competitive. Four candidates are vying for the position of Mayor and four candidates are running for the two available seats on the Avalon City Council. The Mayor will serve for two years and city council terms will run for four years.
The eradication of all mule deer on Catalina Island is one of the most consequential and closely watched issues facing Avalon voters in this election. The Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer asked candidates running for Avalon City Council and Mayor to submit position statements to help inform voters as they head to the polls.
Please see prompt and responses here and pasted below. Responses are published as submitted, with salutations and closings removed. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Candidates who did not respond are listed as "No Response."
PROMPT
Dear Candidate,
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently granted the Catalina Island Conservancy’s (Conservancy) application for a Restoration Management Permit (RMP) and exempted the Conservancy’s planned “Operation Protect Catalina” project from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). At the core of this project is the eradication of all mule deer on the Island, a plan that has drawn sharp criticism from many Avalon residents, visitors, and business owners.
The City of Avalon has formally opposed the project, raising concerns about its impacts on the community, the local economy, and the lack of full environmental review. Many voters view this as a defining test of local leadership; particularly with respect to transparency, accountability, and the City’s role in decisions affecting the Island.
Please respond to the following:
- Do you support or oppose the eradication of all mule deer on Catalina Island?
- If elected, will you commit to opposing this project unless and until it undergoes full CEQA review and a transparent public process?
- Will you commit to ensuring that no permit, exemption, or authorization is granted to the Conservancy, its agents, or contractors for activities related to this project within Avalon, including any activity that would otherwise violate municipal code, without advance public notice and a publicly agendized City Council vote, with sufficient time for meaningful community input?
- We recognize that the City must often partner with major landowners and institutions on Catalina Island. At the same time, when those interests conflict with the well-being of Avalon residents or the integrity of the public process, City leadership must be willing to push back—as the current City Council did in unanimously voting to formally object to CDFW’s permit and exemption. Given that the Conservancy manages approximately 88% of Catalina Island and the Santa Catalina Island Company controls significant property and economic assets in Avalon, with documented overlap in leadership, will you commit to using the City’s lawful authority to hold powerful interests accountable to the people of Avalon in decisions of this magnitude and, if so, what specific actions would you take?
To ensure fair and consistent publication, please limit your response to 350 words total.
Responses will be shared with the voting public. Candidates who do not respond will be listed as “No Response.”
We respectfully request your response by April 30, 2026.
Thank you for your time and for engaging on an issue of critical importance to Avalon.
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE RESPONSES
BRE BUSSARD
I fully oppose the eradication of all mule deer on Catalina Island. I do not support eradication as a wildlife management approach, particularly when it is pursued without full transparency, public trust, and meaningful community involvement; especially when the underlying science is produced by scientists paid by the same organization advancing the proposal. I support responsible, regulated hunting as a management tool when it is fairly implemented and accessible to the public. These are fundamentally different approaches, and I do not believe eradication is justified.
Yes, I support full environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and a transparent public process that includes meaningful community input before any decision of this magnitude is finalized. While the City cannot control the CEQA process when another agency is the lead under CEQA, it can and should actively ensure the process is complete, rigorous, and fully informed by public concerns. I also support requiring that no local permits or approvals connected to this project be issued without advance public notice, a publicly agendized City Council vote, and sufficient time for residents to provide input before any action is taken.
Yes, I will use the City’s lawful authority to hold all outside interests accountable to the people of Avalon, regardless of their size, influence, or economic power. While the City must work with major landowners, that partnership cannot come at the expense of residents or the integrity of the public process. I will also make clear that no outside entity is above Avalon’s municipal code and will push back against any effort to operate outside or around our local authority.
When powerful interests conflict with community well-being or transparency, I will support firm Council action, including formal objections, strong written comments to strengthen the administrative record, and opposition to exemptions or incomplete environmental review. I will ensure residents are informed early in the process and meaningfully engaged before decisions are effectively made, not after the fact.
DONNA LOPEZ
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes
4. yes. If elected I will do whatever is legally possible to stop this cruel and inhumane treatment of Catalina mule deer.
MICHAEL PONCE
1. I oppose the Conservancy's plan to eradicate the deer population on the Island.
2. I do commit fully with this item.
3. Yes, I am in agreement with this.
4. As a current council member, I felt strongly that we needed to take a stand for our community and voted to enhance the municipal code. I would take actions that are allowed to us the City Council, under State and Federal statutes.
JESSICA ROMERO
I oppose the eradication of all mule deer on Catalina Island as it is currently proposed. This is a major decision that affects our environment, our community, and our local economy, and I do not believe it should move forward without full transparency, proper environmental review, and meaningful public input.
If elected, I will oppose this project unless and until it goes through full CEQA review and a transparent public process where Avalon residents have a real opportunity to be heard. Decisions of this scale should not be made without careful review and community involvement.
I support ensuring that no permit, exemption, or authorization related to this project is granted within Avalon without advance public notice, a publicly agendized City Council vote, and time for meaningful public comment. Our community deserves transparency and a voice in decisions that affect the Island.
I believe the City must work with major institutions, but those partnerships should never come before the interests of Avalon residents. If elected, I will support using the City’s lawful authority to hold all parties accountable and make sure the public interest comes first.
Specific actions I would support include pushing for full environmental review, supporting open public discussion, working with state and local agencies to protect Avalon’s interests, and carefully reviewing any actions that may conflict with City protections or community well-being.
As a Planning Commissioner, I understand how important it is to balance environmental stewardship, community concerns, and responsible leadership. I will continue to support thoughtful, transparent decisions that protect Avalon residents and ensure the public has a seat at the table.
OFFICE OF MAYOR CANDIDATE RESPONSES
CINDE CASSIDY
I am opposed to the eradication of the deer on Catalina Island The current plan is based on population data that is deeply flawed and incorrect. Having spent several years working in the island’s interior for the hunting outfitter, Wildlife West, I’ve seen firsthand how these populations are observed and managed. That experience gives me confidence in saying the current population assumptions are fundamentally flawed. Beyond that, removing the deer entirely conflicts with fire management efforts and raises serious concerns about humane treatment.
I support continuing and strengthening non-lethal management strategies, including programs like Wildlife West, which have effectively managed the deer population for decades. I will also continue to advocate for formal objections, public input, and regulatory accountability to ensure decisions of this magnitude are handled responsibly and transparently.
I will continue to support the Coalitions efforts as I have since their inception. Until there is a legitimate count that corroborates science, this plan to eradicate must be prevented.
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Estoy en contra de la erradicación de los venados en la Isla Catalina. El plan actual se basa en datos de población que son profundamente defectuosos e incorrectos. Habiendo trabajado durante varios años en el interior de la isla con el operador de caza, Wildlife West, he visto de primera mano cómo se observan y se manejan estas poblaciones. Esa experiencia me da la certeza de que las estimaciones actuales de población están fundamentalmente equivocadas. Además, eliminar completamente a los venados entra en conflicto con los esfuerzos de manejo de incendios y genera serias preocupaciones sobre el trato humanitario.
Apoyo continuar y fortalecer estrategias de manejo no letales, incluyendo programas como Wildlife West, que han manejado eficazmente la población de venados durante décadas. También seguiré abogando por objeciones formales, participación pública y responsabilidad regulatoria para asegurar que decisiones de esta magnitud se tomen de manera responsable y transparente.
Continuaré apoyando los esfuerzos de la coalición, como lo he hecho desde sus inicios. Hasta que exista un conteo legítimo que respalde la ciencia, este plan de erradicación debe ser detenido.
DANIEL FELTS
1. Yes, I oppose the mule deer eradication. Based on the information provided to date, I do not believe the Conservancy has demonstrated sufficient peer-reviewed evidence, transparency, or justification for an irreversible action of this scale, particularly given concerns around oversight and their lack of public commitment to comply with Avalon’s municipal ordinance within city limits.
2. Yes, I will oppose this project until it undergoes full CEQA review with a transparent and inclusive public process.
3. Yes, this issue is about more than deer—it’s about governance, accountability, and whether the people of Avalon have a real voice in decisions that permanently affect our community.
4. Yes, my position is backed by consistent action. Since 2023, I have attended and spoken at multiple CDFW and Fish and Game Commissioner meetings. I have been in regular communication with the Mayor and City Council, providing information on the City’s authority to strengthen and enforce its wildlife ordinance. I have directly engaged the City Manager and City Attorney numerous times regarding the City’s responsibility to defend its municipal code and formally challenge state-level actions including submitting an objection to the permit. While the City’s objection letter was an important step, effective leadership requires follow-through. When formal legal challenges are necessary, the City should be prepared to carry that responsibility rather than relying on the Coalition and our community to fund these legal efforts. I will take concrete steps to ensure accountability and protect our community from private interests. This includes directing the City to fully exercise its legal authority, strengthening and enforcing municipal protections within Avalon, and ensuring no local approvals are granted without full transparency and public process. I will work to formally recognize the Catalina Island mule deer as part of our community’s cultural heritage, including strengthening local protections within city limits and exploring a designated sanctuary framework. In addition, I will support initiatives that reflect our community identity, including an annual event celebrating the role deer and wildlife play in Avalon’s history and culture. Leadership means asking hard questions, insisting on transparency, and ensuring that our community has a meaningful seat at the table.
GRAYSON KLINE
I am against the current mule deer eradication plan being pursued by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Their plan calls for a complete eradication of our long time residents. The mule deer have roamed our island for 100 years and have become a part of our identity. I feel the Conservancy should conduct a true environmental review. This review should include an environmental impact report identifying the true number of deer on our island. The report would also study the effects on other species and examine alternate options.
I feel the Conservancy should explore other options for controlling our deer population rather than a total elimination. There are more humane practices for wildlife management such as fertility control and relocation. Our residents and visiting hunters could also assist in controlling deer population if more deer tags were issued.
In closing, I feel the Conservancy should pause their eradication plan and pursue a balanced and scientific approach. This approach would include the environmental impact peport, public input and an independent review. They could then share their findings and present alternate options for controlling the mule deer population.
ANNI MARSHALL
I oppose the eradication of the mule deer on Catalina Island. I will commit to opposing the project and until a full CEQA review and a transparent public process is in place. We have already taken a stand via ordinance, which will stand as long as I am on the Council. I feel confident there will always be support of our ordinance even if new council members change because a 3/5 vote is needed to change an ordinance. I believe the city of Avalon is the most transparent of any agency within the city. This responsibility will not falter on my watch.