About
Sharon Kalani, candidate for Mayor of Torrance, has served on the City Council since 2020. She spent 25 years in banking and has been a Torrance resident since 1981. 1
Finance snapshot
Through June 2, 20262 · Full breakdown →
Background
- Career
- Kalani worked more than 25 years in banking, retiring at the senior vice president level, and has been an advisor at Green Hills Memorial Park for over 18 years. 2
- Elected service
- She was elected to the Torrance City Council in District 4 in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, and has served two terms as Mayor Pro Tem, in 2020 and 2023. 1
- Civic affiliation
- She is a past chairperson and current board member of the Torrance South Bay YMCA. 2
- Torrance roots
- A Torrance resident since 1981, Kalani is married with two adult children. 1
On the issues.
Backs Torrance's overseas-partner program
At the April 23, 2026 League of Women Voters mayoral forum, argued the Sister Cities program has produced no measurable business returns despite consuming city staff time and budget. 7
Wants to annex El Camino Village
Has publicly opposed annexing El Camino Village, citing city staff cost figures and framing her campaign motto "Back to the Business of Torrance" against the project at the April 23, 2026 LWV mayoral forum. 7
Voted against the homeless-housing site
Voted YES on the May 23, 2025 council resolution opposing the LA County and Weingart project to convert the Extended Stay America hotel on Torrance Blvd. into homeless housing. 4
Voted for the airport practice-landing ban
Voted YES on the January 23, 2024 ordinance restricting touch-and-go landings, back-taxis, and low approaches at Zamperini Field. 6
Voted to allow arrests for refusing shelter
Voted NO on the September 9, 2025 concurrence directing staff to draft an ordinance allowing arrest of people who refuse offered shelter. 5
Voted for a Pride Month proclamation
Voted YES on the May 7, 2024 council resolution to issue a Pride Month proclamation; the proclamation passed 4-3. 8
Backed Measure SST in 2022
As District 4 councilmember (elected 2020, re-elected 2024), backed Measure SST, the ½-cent sales tax Torrance voters approved on June 7, 2022. In the 2024 Measure TC debate, per Daily Breeze coverage, argued the proposed council pay raise should not be folded into TC because it came too soon after Measure SST's passage. 11
Endorsements
Torrance officials (27)
- Bridgett Lewis — Councilmember; Former Civil Service Commissioner
- Asam Sheikh — Councilmember; Former Planning Commissioner
- Jeremy Gerson — Councilmember; Former TUSD School Board Member
- Heidi Aschcraft — Councilmember
- Milton Herring — Councilmember
- Betty Lieu — TUSD Board President
- Teresa Furey — Social Services Commissioner
- Mario Obejas — Planning Commissioner
- Cindy Scotto — Commissioner
- Laurie Love — Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commissioner
- Randy Klinenberg — Torrance Cultural Arts Commissioner
- David Kartsonis — Chair, Torrance Planning Commission
- Melissa Wright — Social Services Commissioner; SST Citizen's Oversight Committee
- Keith Montoya — Commission on Aging Commissioner; Torrance Citizen of the Year
- Robert 'Bob' Habel — Parks and Recreation Commissioner; Former Traffic Commissioner; Torrance Citizen of the Year
- Bill Reynolds (Former Social Services Commission Chair)
- Frank Scotto — Former Torrance Mayor
- Patrick J. Furey — Former Torrance Mayor
- Mike Griffiths — Former Torrance Councilman; Historic Preservation Commissioner
- Paul Nowatka — Former Torrance City Councilmember; Retired TPD
- Tom Brewer — Former Torrance City Councilmember
- Bill Sutherland — Former Torrance City Councilmember
- Jack Walser — Former Torrance City Councilmember; Former Water Commission Chair; WALSER's Business Owner in Torrance
- Cliff Numark — Former Torrance Councilman; Former El Camino College Trustee
- Geoff Rizzo — Former Torrance Councilman; Former Torrance Police Lieutenant
- Linda Barnett — Former Torrance City Treasurer
- Sue Herbers — Former Torrance City Clerk
State & county officials (2)
- Janice Hahn — Los Angeles County Supervisor, 4th District; Former US Member of Congress
- George Nakano — Former California State Assemblyman; Former Torrance City Councilman; Former teacher; Former President of the El Camino College Foundation; El Camino College Distinguished Alumnus
Public safety (3)
- Torrance Firefighters Association
- Torrance Police Officers' Association
- Torrance Police Commanders Association
Labor (4)
- CSEA Chapter 845
- UA Local 250
- Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
- LiUNA! Laborers Local 1309
Advocacy (2)
- Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
- LA Forward
City officials (1)
- Tim McOsker — LA Councilmember
Individuals (61)
- Peter Lefevre (University Administrator)
- Gene Barnett
- Lisa Batchelor
- Samuel Batchelor
- James Berger — Retired History Teacher
- Robert Calderon
- Michelle Calhoun
- Mitzi Calhoun
- Lauren Capon
- Jon Castro
- Kathleen Chaney
- Kathleen Chaney
- Irma & Bob Chiota
- Joy Coffey
- Monica Collins-Blackey
- Michael Cowan
- Martha Deutsch — Former TEF President; TEF Board of Director
- Julie Dojiri — Torrance City Commissioner
- Michele Drake-Richardson
- Robyn Eagles
- Nathan Esser
- Paco Flores
- Merrietta Fong
- Judith Gerber
- David Gibson
- Keri Gilbert
- Cathy Gonzales
- Jimmy Gow — Former Social Service Commissioner
- Claire & Joel Greenwald
- Lowell Hardison — Husband of Former Torrance Mayor Dee Hardison
- Suzan Hubert
- Geno Imbriale
- Richard Johnson
- Tom Lane
- Theresa Mack
- Jill Maroney
- Norma Martínez
- Alissa and Dan Materman — Torrance Residents
- Arthur Molina
- Jim Montgomery
- Paul Moon
- Michele Nadeau
- Helen Nowatka
- Nanette Pastor-Hanna
- Janet Payne — Community Volunteer
- Lauren Pfeifer
- Pamela Popovich — Former Co-President, Riviera Homeowner Association
- Ryan Rauzon
- Raphi Rebucas — Member, Torrance Police Chief's Advisory Board (Ret.)
- Betty Robertson
- Kirk Rossberg — Owner, Torrance Bakery
- Amber Rosson
- Thomas Saulenas
- Adam Schwartz — Torrance Historic Preservation Commissioner
- Katherine Serna
- Nina Shaw
- Marla Shwarts — Former Chair of Civil Service Commission
- Laura Stratton
- Gayle Taylor
- Jimmy Titiriga
- Isabella Torres
What the public record shows about this candidate's party.
Five sourced signals, side by side. We don't compute a verdict.
- Voter registration
-
Registered Republican with the Los Angeles County Registrar (queried January 2026). LA County Registrar →
- What they’ve said
-
Hasn’t said publicly which party they identify with.
- How press describes them
-
Local press hasn’t described their party.
- Past partisan runs
-
Hasn’t run as a partisan candidate before.
- Coalition
- Endorsers
82 of 100 party-tagged
Donors168 of 198 matched
58% Dem · 25% Rep · 15% NPP · 2% Other
Don't take our word for it.
Sources cited on this page
- Sharon Kalani for Mayor — campaign website, accessed May 2026
- Sharon Kalani, Councilmember | City of Torrance, accessed May 2026
- Friends of Madrona Marsh, Mayoral candidate Q&A, May 1, 2026
- City of Torrance press release on Project HomeKey+, May 23, 2025
- Davis Vanguard, "Torrance Plans Military-Style Camps and Arrest Policy to Tackle Homelessness," September 15, 2025
- General Aviation News, "Touch and goes banned at KTOA," February 5, 2024
- League of Women Voters Torrance Area, mayoral and treasurer candidate forum, April 23, 2026
- Torrance City Council, Granicus video clip 14215, May 7, 2024 (Pride Month proclamation)
- Sharon Kalani for Mayor — Issues, accessed May 2026
- Torrance City Council, Granicus video clip 14530, September 23, 2025 (Ord. 3955 Target Density)
- Daily Breeze, "Torrance Measure TC Would Reform City Charter, Increase Council Pay," October 26, 2024