The Fullerton Civic Guide
Fullerton City Council Districts — Map 114, adopted 2022
Whether you have lived in Raymond Hills, Sunny Hills, or Golden Hills for decades or you are considering a move to North Fullerton, understanding how your city government works is the foundation of informed community citizenship. Fullerton operates under a council-manager form of government with five elected council districts, two separate school districts, and a range of public agencies that shape everything from park maintenance to property taxes. This guide pulls together the civic resources that matter most to Fullerton Hills residents.
As someone who has called Orange County home for over 40 years and has served Fullerton clients for more than 26 years, I have seen how civic awareness directly benefits homeowners — from staying ahead of zoning changes that affect property values to knowing which council member represents your specific hillside block. Knowing your district is not just civic duty; it is smart homeownership.
How Fullerton's City Government Works
Fullerton is a general-law municipality operating under a council-manager form of government. This means the City Council sets policy direction, and a professionally appointed City Manager handles day-to-day operations. The five council members are elected to four-year terms, and the Mayor is selected annually by the council from among its own members.
Key Facts at a Glance
- City Hall: 303 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
- Main Phone: (714) 738-6300
- Form of Government: Council-Manager (General Law)
- Council Seats: 5 districts, four-year terms, non-partisan
- Council Meetings: First and third Tuesday of each month, 5:30 PM
- Official Website: cityoffullerton.com
Your City Council District
Fullerton uses a five-district map (Map 114, adopted in 2022 following redistricting) to elect council members. The Fullerton Hills neighborhoods — Sunny Hills, Raymond Hills, and Golden Hills — fall primarily within District 2, which stretches across the northwest portion of the city. Knowing your district ensures you know who to contact about potholes on your hillside street, open-space preservation, or trail maintenance at Hillsher Park.
Not sure which district you are in? The City of Fullerton provides an interactive "Find My District" map tool on its website.
Find Your District
Not sure which district you're in? Enter your address to find your council representative and district number.
Open District Lookup ToolCity Council Representatives
Fullerton's five council districts each elect one representative. Click through to learn more about each council member and their priorities.
Fred Jung
Mayor — District 1
Serves as Mayor for the 2025–2026 term. District 1 covers portions of central and northeast Fullerton. Contact the Mayor's office for citywide policy matters and ceremonial duties.
Visit WebsiteNicholas Dunlap
Mayor Pro Tem — District 2
Represents North Fullerton — including Sunny Hills, Raymond Hills, and Golden Hills. Your direct representative for Fullerton Hills neighborhood issues.
Visit WebsiteDr. Shana Charles
Council Member — District 3
Represents District 3, covering portions of central and south Fullerton. Brings academic and public-health expertise to council deliberations on community wellness and policy.
Visit WebsiteJamie Valencia
Council Member — District 4
Represents District 4, covering portions of west and southwest Fullerton. Focuses on neighborhood livability, public safety, and equitable development across the district.
Visit WebsiteAhmad Zahra
Council Member — District 5
Represents District 5, covering portions of central and east Fullerton. Active on issues of community diversity, economic development, and inclusive city planning.
Visit WebsiteSource: City of Fullerton — City Council. District assignments verified via the city's Find My District tool. The mayor position rotates annually among council members.
School Boards Serving Fullerton Hills
Fullerton is served by two separate school districts — a common source of confusion for new residents. The Fullerton School District handles elementary and middle schools (K–8), while the Fullerton Joint Union High School District operates the high schools (9–12). Each has its own elected board, its own budget, and its own bond measures. For a detailed look at which schools feed into which high schools, see our School Feeder Patterns guide.
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Serves grades 9–12 for Fullerton and portions of surrounding cities. Operates Sunny Hills High, Fullerton Union High, Troy High, and Sunnyside High.
Note: The district passed Measure L in November 2024 to fund school facility improvements.
Fullerton School District
Serves grades K–8 within Fullerton. Operates neighborhood elementary schools including Acacia, Laguna Road, Golden Hill, Ladera Vista Junior High, and Beechwood (a National Blue Ribbon School).
Beverly Berryman
Board Member, Fullerton School District Board of Education.
Visit WebsiteRuthi Hanchett
Vice President, Fullerton School District Board of Education.
Visit WebsiteVanesa Estrella
Board Member, Fullerton School District Board of Education.
Visit WebsiteMiguel Alverez
Appointed 2025, serves through November 2026. Fullerton School District Board of Education.
Visit WebsiteNote: The district passed Measure N in November 2024 to fund school improvements. Miguel Alverez was appointed in late 2025 to fill the Area 1 seat and will serve through November 2026.
Notable Schools in the Fullerton Hills Area
- Sunny Hills High School — Known for strong academics and athletics; serves the Sunny Hills attendance area in north Fullerton.
- Troy High School — Home to the Troy Tech magnet program, one of the most competitive STEM programs in Orange County.
- Beechwood School — A National Blue Ribbon School serving grades K–8, highly regarded among Fullerton families.
- Laguna Road Elementary — Well-regarded neighborhood school serving the Raymond Hills and Sunny Hills feeder area.
County & State Representation
Fullerton residents are represented at multiple levels of government beyond the city council. The city straddles county, state senate, and state assembly boundaries, which means your exact address determines your representatives at each level. Here is the current breakdown:
Doug Chaffee
OC Board of Supervisors — 4th District
Fullerton falls within the 4th Supervisorial District. The Board governs countywide services including public health, social services, and county courts. Supervisor Chaffee is term-limited; the seat is contested in November 2026.
Visit WebsiteTom Umberg
California State Senate — 34th District
Covers parts of north and central Fullerton, along with Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Placentia. Serves four-year terms on statewide policy including education, housing, and infrastructure.
Visit WebsiteSteven Choi
California State Senate — 37th District
Covers parts of east and northeast Fullerton, along with Irvine, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. Verify your senate district at senate.ca.gov.
Visit WebsitePhillip Chen
California State Assembly — 59th District
Covers portions of eastern Fullerton and surrounding communities. Assembly members serve two-year terms as the most local level of state legislative representation.
Visit WebsiteSharon Quirk-Silva
California State Assembly — 67th District
Covers portions of central and western Fullerton, including parts of the Fullerton Hills area. Assembly members serve two-year terms.
Visit WebsiteVerify your exact senate and assembly districts: senate.ca.gov/senators and assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers.
Fullerton is also split between two congressional districts — California's 45th and 46th. For a complete breakdown of both races, candidates, and what they mean for Fullerton Hills residents, see our Congressional Races guide.
How to Attend a City Council Meeting
Fullerton City Council meetings are open to the public and held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM. A closed session often convenes at 4:00 PM beforehand. Agendas are posted online at least 72 hours in advance. Here is how you can participate:
In Person
Attend at City Hall (303 W. Commonwealth Ave.). Register for each agenda item in the City Manager's Office and staff will call you to speak during public comment.
Watch Online
Stream live at fullerton.legistar.com, on Spectrum Cable Channel 3, or AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.
Via Zoom
Comment live during the meeting via Zoom. Connection details are posted on the city's meeting calendar page.
Email Comment
Send correspondence to CouncilMembers@cityoffullerton.com with the subject line indicating the agenda item number.
Key City Departments for Homeowners
As a Fullerton Hills homeowner, these are the city departments you are most likely to interact with — whether you are planning a hillside renovation, reporting a trail hazard, or inquiring about a zoning variance.
Community & Economic Development
Planning, zoning, building permits, and development review. Essential for any hillside property modifications or additions.
Parks & Recreation
Manages local parks, community centers, recreation programs, and trail maintenance — including Hillsher Park and neighborhood trail connections. Phone: (714) 738-6575
Public Works
Streets, storm drains, utilities, and infrastructure. Report potholes, flooding, or streetlight outages through their online system. Phone: (714) 738-6845
Police Department
For hillside safety, traffic enforcement, and neighborhood watch coordination. Non-emergency: (714) 738-6700
Fire Department
Critical for hillside and wildland-urban interface properties. Provides fire prevention inspections and brush clearance guidance. Non-emergency: (714) 738-6500
Library Services
The Fullerton Public Library offers community programs, youth reading initiatives, and civic information resources at the main branch and neighborhood branches.
Civic Engagement: How to Get Involved
Involvement in local government is one of the highest-leverage things a Fullerton Hills resident can do. City Council decisions on open-space preservation, hillside development standards, and traffic calming directly affect daily life and property values in Raymond Hills, Sunny Hills, and Golden Hills. Here are the most effective ways to participate:
Attend Council Meetings
Council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month are where zoning variances, open-space policies, and infrastructure projects are debated. Public comment periods let you speak directly to your representative. Arrive early to register; each speaker typically gets 3 minutes per agenda item.
Speak During Public Comment
Every regular council meeting includes a public comment period for items not on the agenda. You may address the council on any topic within their jurisdiction. Fill out a "Request to Speak" card at the City Manager's Office before the meeting begins.
Join a Commission or Committee
Fullerton has advisory commissions for Planning, Parks & Recreation, and other areas. These volunteer bodies shape policy recommendations before they reach the council — a powerful way to influence outcomes. Apply through the City Clerk's office.
Engage with School Boards
Both the Fullerton School District and FJUHSD hold regular board meetings open to the public. Attend to stay informed about bond spending, boundary changes, and school programs affecting your children or your home's value.
Vote in Every Election
City council, school board, and county measure elections have low turnout — meaning your single vote carries outsized weight. Register to vote at ocvote.gov or voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. All California voters receive a vote-by-mail ballot automatically.
Use the eComment System
Can't attend in person? The city's eComment system at fullerton.legistar.com lets you submit written comments on specific agenda items that become part of the public record.
Essential Civic Links
Bookmark these resources to stay plugged into Fullerton civic life:
Stay Informed
Helpful links to Fullerton city resources, council meetings, and ways to report issues in your neighborhood.
A Note from Rob
"In my 26+ years of real estate and mortgage experience in Orange County, I have seen how informed, civically engaged homeowners consistently achieve better outcomes — whether they are navigating a zoning variance, advocating for trail maintenance, or simply understanding why their property tax assessment changed. If you ever have questions about how a city council decision or school board action might affect your home's value or your family's daily life, I am always here to help you make sense of it. That is what a neighborhood advisor does."
— Rob Cole, Senior Broker Associate, CA License: 1265803Stay Connected to Your Community
This civic guide is a living resource — as council members change, districts shift, or new policies affect the Fullerton Hills neighborhoods, we will update it. Have a civic question about your specific address, school assignment, or council district? Reach out anytime.
