Pacific Grove residents for office are able to provide a candidate statement of up to 200 words. Here's mine. Below it, you can find my current issues paper. I’m Tara Leweling – a wife, aunt, woman veteran, small business owner, and proud Pacific Grove resident. My connection to PG began in 1999, when I was stationed at the Naval Postgraduate School and lived on the 100 block of Central Avenue in District 3. I returned to NPS in 2004 for my PhD and met my husband. We dreamed

Ensuring residents and future generations are able to enjoy the natural beauty of Monterey Bay and our coastline is a high priority, and I appreciate that our city takes coastal stewardship seriously. Protecting Monterey Bay and Our Local Voice Along with our neighboring cities and local institutions, Pacific Grove should be a strong voice for ensuring Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary protections remain in place. Our local knowledge about the Bay and views about its fut

My current issues paper is available for download below.

Listen, Lead, & Lift. Listen You can expect me to start by listening. I want to understand what you are experiencing in Pacific Grove. This includes what is working well and where we can do better. Lead You can also expect me to get things done! I have led through incredibly difficult situations in the public and private sector, at all levels. I know how to bring people together to find practical solutions. Lift Most of all, you can expect me to be approachable, thoughtful, a

I was grateful to attend the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding between The Center for Ocean Art, Science and Technology (COAST) and the Bureau of Land Management. This effort is helping to establish the Monterey Peninsula Gateway Community for the California Coastal National Monument -- an incredible milestone. The gateway program is built around community-led efforts to help residents and visitors care for the extraordinary coastal landscape we call home.

BlueTech nexus is an exciting idea, and I look forward to hearing more. BlueTech Nexus brings researchers together with industry, investors, and technologists to help move maritime and autonomy technologies developed at Naval Postgraduate School, Hopkins Marine Station, and other regional institutions from the lab toward licensing and commercialization. The economic impact of marine science in the region is already substantial. In 2006, a Center for the Blue Economy study fou

I was grateful for the chance to join neighbors to help clean up Lovers Point Park. A big thank you to Save Our Shores for organizing the effort and giving so many of us a way to pitch in. Much of what we picked up was ordinary, everyday trash. Between what I found and what I heard from other volunteers, there were cigarette butts, food wrappers and takeout packaging, food like peanut shells, pistachio shells, and banana peels, plastic fragments, bottle caps and lids, straws

The oldest marine laboratory on the West Coast is right here in Pacific Grove. On September 12, we have the chance to see some of that work up close. Hopkins Marine Station will host an Open House on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 120 Ocean View Boulevard. I've long admired the work happening at Hopkins, and the more I learn about its history, the more remarkable its connection to Pacific Grove becomes. More Than a Century of Discovery Founded in 1892, Hopk

I have really enjoyed meeting with so many PG residents to talk about the opportunities facing our city. Here are some ideas shared in recent conversations. Housing and ADUs There’s considerable is interest in finding practical ways to create more housing choices while preserving the character of Pacific Grove. ADUs come up frequently. One particularly notable idea someone shared was whether the city could help facilitate a partnership with an outside organization that would

Our city has a strong record of securing competitive grant funding for infrastructure and environmental projects. As we plan for future capital investments, should competitive grants play a larger role in PG's long-term financial strategy? Pacific Grove Has a Strong Grant Record One example is the Lovers Point stormwater diversion system, which redirects dry-weather runoff from protected coastal waters into the sanitary sewer system. The project helped Pacific Grove comply wi

Since filing to represent District 3 on the City Council, I’ve enjoyed spending time with so many people who know and love our city. It’s been a real pleasure to hear from residents, business owners, civic leaders, volunteers, and young people who feel strongly connected to Pacific Grove and have great ideas about what comes next. One highlight was meeting members of the BreakerBots, our youth robotics club. Their curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious! I'm so inspired a

November 2026 marks the first time that PG voters will elect councilmembers by district. The map & election schedule On March 5, 2025, the City Council adopted a six-district map, known during the process as Map 101. The Council favored this map because it: Closely follows PG Unified School District boundaries Keeps neighborhoods intact Creates three coastal districts The transition is happening in two phases: 2026: Districts 1, 3 and 5 elect councilmembers, and voters citywi