Elka Worner, a journalist and longtime Hermosa Beach resident, is running for one of three open seats on the Hermosa Beach City Council in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Six candidates are certified for the nonpartisan race. Voters will choose up to three. The other candidates are Dean Francois, Eric Horne, Margaret Bove-LaMonica, Raymond A. Jackson and Rob Saemann.
Candidate information
- Residence: Hermosa Beach. Worner said she moved there from Germany at age seven and grew up in the city.
- Education: Worner said she attended Valley Vista Elementary, Pier Avenue Junior High and Mira Costa High School in Hermosa Beach. She said she was honored as a Distinguished Alumni of Mira Costa High School.
- Career: Worner said she has more than 25 years of experience as a journalist, covering national and international news as well as in-depth reporting on Hermosa Beach.
- Prior political office: None, according to Worner.
- Campaign website: elkaforhermosa.com
Experience and public service
Worner listed the following roles on her campaign website:
- Press secretary, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
- Field producer, Fox Business Network
- Graduate journalism instructor, USC Annenberg School
- Commissioner, Hermosa Beach Parks and Recreation Commission
- Board member, Woman's Club of Hermosa Beach
- Girl Scout leader, Troop 3645
- Founder, HB SAFE (Safe Alternatives for Everyone)
BallotReady's candidate profile also lists Worner as a reporter at Easy Reader.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Worner's responses to a 2024 Daily Breeze candidate questionnaire. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.
Fiscal accountability: Worner said she prioritizes restoring transparency and accountability in city government and reining in unnecessary spending. She cited concerns about the city manager's salary, a 15% increase in city staff headcount since 2018 and a 31% rise in costs despite no population growth.
Affordable housing: Worner said she supports meeting state affordable housing mandates while preserving Hermosa Beach's community character. She said she favors identifying underutilized or commercially zoned properties along Pacific Coast Highway for redevelopment rather than altering residential neighborhoods.
Homelessness: Worner said she supports proactive city action on homelessness in partnership with Los Angeles County, including increased access to social services, mental health support and transitional housing. She also said she advocates exploring recent federal and state law changes to allow the city to address safety concerns when unhoused individuals become aggressive or violent.
Economic development: Worner said she plans to foster economic growth by supporting small businesses, streamlining the permitting process and advocating for a dedicated staff member to connect business owners with local property owners and city resources.
This profile is based on publicly available candidate information, BallotReady election data and the candidate's own questionnaire responses. It does not constitute an endorsement.
