Scott Tonnesen

Background

Scott Tonnesen is a Fairfield native and fifth-generation Solano County resident who owns a business downtown, according to his ballot statement and the Daily Republic. Before joining the City Council he served eight years on the Fairfield Planning Commission, three of them as chair, and eight years as president of the Fairfield Main Street Association. The Daily Republic reports he has spent 14 years serving the city. He was first elected to the council for District 2 in 2020 and was re-elected without opposition on November 5, 2024.

In office

Tonnesen has made downtown a focus. His ballot statement says downtown was struggling when he took office, with closing businesses and many vacancies, and that he made its revitalization a priority. He also credits himself with helping turn rundown tennis courts at Allan Witt Park into one of the region's largest pickleball facilities. The Daily Republic lists added parking, reduced truck traffic and a cleaner West Texas Street among the work he cites.

In November 2025 the council took up Vista Ridge, a plan by the developer Danco to turn the SureStay hotel on North Texas Street into 50 units of permanent supportive housing. Tonnesen said he had looked at other Danco properties: "These projects seem to be working from what I can find." The council approved it 4-3; the three no votes were Mayor Catherine Moy, Vice Mayor Pam Bertani and Councilmember Manveer Sandhu. After Moy resigned in June 2026, the council voted 5-1 to appoint former Councilmember Rick Vaccaro mayor until the election, with Bertani the lone no vote. On July 7, 2026, Tonnesen joined a unanimous council in placing Measure P on the November ballot. It would raise the city's sales tax by one cent and extend the existing one-cent tax until voters end it; the city estimates about $24 million a year in new revenue.

On the ballot

Tonnesen is one of four candidates for mayor of Fairfield on November 3, 2026, an open seat because appointed Mayor Rick Vaccaro did not file. His ballot designation is Small Businessman / Councilmember. The other candidates are Vice Mayor Pam Bertani, Nikila Walker Gibson and George Kennedy. He calls public safety, including homelessness, the city's most important issue, and lists 911 response, police and firefighter staffing, jobs and completing Manuel Campos Parkway to Peabody Road among his priorities. No endorsements are named in his statement or in reporting we read. His District 2 seat would be vacated if he wins.