Moraga Candidate Forum Brings Town Council and Fire District Hopefuls to Saint Mary's College

The Moraga Citizens Network will host its premier biennial candidate night on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, offering Lamorinda voters an opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking local public office. The nonpartisan public forum will convene inside the Moraga Room at the Soda Center on the Saint Mary's College campus, located at 1928 Saint Marys Road in Moraga. The evening will spotlight contenders running for the Moraga Town Council, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District Board of Directors, and local school board seats ahead of the November general election.

For Lamorinda families, homeowners, and local taxpayers, the candidate forum addresses immediate local governance issues ranging from municipal budget solvency to wildfire preparedness. Candidates will articulate their visions for managing town revenue, repairing storm-damaged roads, and preserving open hillsides while meeting regional housing development mandates. Given the acute wildfire risk throughout the East Bay hills, community members will closely evaluate fire district contenders regarding emergency evacuation routes and vegetation mitigation funding.

Organized by the Moraga Citizens Network, an independent grassroots civic association, the candidates night has served as an essential democratic tradition in Moraga for over two decades. Saint Mary's College has historically partnered with civic groups to provide an accessible neutral setting for regional civic discourse. While several school district board positions remain uncontested on the ballot this fall, participating trustees will utilize the forum to outline educational priorities, campus safety measures, and facility bond investments.

Doors at the Soda Center will open to the public at 6:30 p.m., with formal proceedings beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m. and concluding at 9:15 p.m. The schedule features Town Council contenders taking the podium at 7:00 p.m., Moraga-Orinda Fire District 3 candidates speaking at 8:15 p.m., and local school board trustees presenting at 8:45 p.m. Admission is free, complimentary light refreshments will be provided for attendees, and accessible campus parking is available directly adjacent to the venue.

Volunteers from the Moraga Citizens Network will record the entire proceeding, providing full video coverage online for voters unable to attend the in-person event. Local civic groups encourage residents to prepare questions concerning municipal infrastructure, pedestrian trails, and fire safety protocols for candidate consideration. Community members can learn more about forum details and access voter resources through the Moraga Citizens Network portal or by contacting Saint Mary's College community relations.