10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 15-21, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Six years ago, Luke Coletti came in first place in a sixway race to become a Pacific Grove councilmember. Nick Smith, then a P.G. City Council incumbent, came in second. By 2024 things had flipped: Smith won the mayoral seat against two candidates. Coletti, running to keep his council seat, lost, finishing fourth. This November the two men are facing off, with Smith running to defend the mayoral seat and Coletti challenging him. Coletti’s drop in the polls in 2024 could be rooted in a few reasons: His questioning of city staff, praised by some residents, came with formal complaints filed against him, resulting in large legal bills; during the 2024 election Coletti championed a measure to shrink the council size from seven to five, which failed at the polls; he aligned himself with a controversial mayoral candidate, Dan Miller, who lost to Smith. (Miller is running for the Pacific Grove Unified School District.) Over the past year-and-a-half, Coletti has gained traction in opposing a May 2025 vote by Smith and four other members of the P.G. City Council to increase councilmembers’ compensation for the first time in 26 years. Smith argued that a raise was needed to support a more diverse field of future candidates. The decision proved unpopular among voters. Coletti and his group Transparent Pacific Grove prevailed in a referendum to have the vote overturned, insisting the pay raise should be up to voters. When the Council put Measure C on the June 2, 2026 ballot, the raises failed with just 44 percent of the vote. That wave of anti-raise sentiment may be why Coletti appears to be gaining support. He also has fans who oppose a proposed roundabout at the five-way intersection at Sunset Drive/Congress Avenue, which Coletti opposed while on council and Smith supported, among other issues where the two candidates diverge. Smith says over his two-year term he has worked on building consensus among councilmembers and points to work completed, like sidewalk repair and Safe Routes to School projects, a climate action plan, an amended housing element and the implementation of two-year general fund budgeting and capital improvement plans. Both Coletti and Smith say they will manage the budget, protect the natural environment and preserve P.G.’s character. Both are in favor of pursuing opportunities for affordable housing and youth recreation. Smith favors efforts to make downtown P.G. more of a lively destination. Coletti says he is generally in favor but criticizes Smith for “knee-jerk” support. “That’s not really the oversight function we’re meant to do,” Coletti says. As to interacting with city staff, Smith says the council’s role is to set policy with questions directed through the city manager. Coletti points to an ordinance he brought to council in 2023 that lays out lines of authority, giving councilmembers an “inquiry right” with staff, which means the city manager does not act as a gatekeeper of information. The ordinance was opposed by an employee union. Split Vote P.G. mayoral incumbent Nick Smith faces off against challenger Luke Coletti. By Pam Marino Luke Coletti is running slightly ahead of incumbent Mayor Nick Smith in fundraising. Coletti reported raising $7,133 in the last period, from July 1-Sept. 19. Smith raised $6,298 during that time. NEWS “That’s not really the oversight function we’re meant to do.” DANIEL DREIFUSS RENEW MEASURE S Not a New Tax! FIX MONTEREY STREETS YES ON MEASURE S APPROVED BY OVER 82% OF VOTERS Paid for by the Committee for Yes on Measure S FPPC# 1495795 PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY OVER 82% OF VOTERS TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS • Residential Sidewalks will now be included • Over 62% of all sales taxes are paid by other than Monterey residents, (visitors or tourist) • Sunsets after 8-years in 2035 • 12 million dollars (per year) towards a designated specific Measure S fund for Streets, Sidewalks, (residential & commercial), Storm Drains and Accessibility-ADA • Measure S is Fair and Reasonable for continuing to Fix Monterey’s Streets • Previous Measure S in 2019 approved by over 82% of Monterey Voters • Citizen’s oversight Committee and Audits available to the public ENDORSED BY: All current City Councilmembers and the Mayor Former Mayors Clyde Roberson and Chuck Della Salla Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Monterey County Hospitality Association Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association Monterey Firefighters Local #3707 Paid for by the Committee for Yes on Measure S FPPC# 1495795 Endorsed by Monterey County Weekly Paid for by Vicki Nohrden for Monterey City Council 2026 - FPPC #1492098 “I am committed to thoughtful leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a city government that is transparent, accountable, and focused on what matters most-our community.” Vicki Nohrden Clyde Roberson, Former Monterey Mayor Ed Smith, 12-year Monterey City Council-District 2 Michael Kanalakis, Sheriff Former Mtry. Co. Sheriff Rick Heuer, Mtry. Peninsula Tax Payers Assoc. Carl Miller, Mtry. Airport Board Mike and Laurel Marotta, neighbors Lou Panetta, Past Pres., Civil Grand Jurors' Assoc. Gary Cursio, Gov. Affairs Director, MCHA Rick Aldinger, former Chair of the MCHA Mike and Carole Dawson, neighbors Tom Rowley, NCIP Rep. Carole Charbajian, Measure S oversight Joe and Richard Storeli Lee Whitney Dr. Joe Fogel Dr. Michael Hogan Endorsements “I believe residents deserve leadership that will look at every line, protect core services, and demand real accountability.” Monterey First • Monterey Forward • Monterey Together Monterey faces a serious structural budget deficit • I Will Bring Fiscal Responsibility for Monterey and District 2. • I Will Bring Practical Problem-Solving and Fiscal Discipline to City Hall. • Neighborhood Priorities, City Services and Public Safety.
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