Crowded Field Vies for Marin Supervisor Seat in Novato

Five candidates compete for the open District 5 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:57pm

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A highly textured, fragmented painting of a voting booth or ballot box in warm earth tones, deep blues, and vibrant reds, conveying the energy and competition of a local political race.A crowded field of candidates vies for an open seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, reflecting the diversity of issues and priorities in the northern Marin region.Novato Today

The race for the open Marin County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat representing Novato and surrounding areas features a crowded field of five candidates. The candidates offer diverse backgrounds and policy platforms, including a chef and literacy advocate, a school board member focused on affordable housing, a winemaker and former Republican, a community policy researcher, and a Christian conservative homebuilder.

Why it matters

This non-partisan county supervisor race is critical for Novato and northern Marin, as the winner will help shape policies around issues like economic development, housing, public safety, and environmental protection. The large field of candidates suggests strong local interest and competition for the open seat.

The details

The District 5 seat opened up when incumbent Eric Lucan opted not to run again, instead competing for a state Assembly seat. The unexpected death of presumed frontrunner Mark Milberg, a Novato city councilmember, further shook up the race. The five candidates who emerged are Curtis Aikens, Chris Carpiniello, Mark Hunter Lewis, Magali Limeta, and Andy Podshadley. They offer a range of professional backgrounds and policy priorities, from Aikens' focus on economic vitality and literacy to Limeta's emphasis on affordable housing and Podshadley's stance on public safety and infrastructure.

  • The June 2 primary election will determine if any candidate secures over 50% of the vote and wins outright, or if the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff.
  • Incumbent Eric Lucan decided not to run for reelection in order to compete for a state Assembly seat.
  • Presumed frontrunner Mark Milberg, a Novato city councilmember, unexpectedly passed away in October 2025.

The players

Curtis Aikens

A chef, educator and author who has a remarkable life story, overcoming illiteracy to become a TV chef, author, and public speaker on children's literacy. He is running on a platform of economic vitality, housing, and protecting Marin's natural beauty.

Magali Limeta

A Novato Unified School District trustee and senior revenue cycle analyst at UCSF Health, she is the Marin Democratic Party's endorsed candidate and is focused on affordable housing, wildfire prevention, healthcare access, and government transparency.

Andy Podshadley

A winemaker who owns Novato's Trek Winery and event center, he is a past president of the Novato Business Association and a former Republican who is now running as an independent, with priorities of public safety, removing bike lanes from the Richmond Bridge, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure updates.

Mark Hunter Lewis

A 'community policy advocate' who manages his family's investments and has a law degree, he has produced extensive policy research, with a focus on mitigating sea-level rise in Bel Marin Keys.

Chris Carpiniello

A homebuilder, business owner, and past Novato City Council candidate, he is the endorsed candidate of Marin's Republican Central Committee and describes himself as a 'lifelong Christian' and 'defender of Liberty.'

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What they’re saying

“I'm running for supervisor and I'm no longer a Republican, I'm an independent. I was never a Trumper.”

— Andy Podshadley, Winemaker and Candidate

What’s next

The June 2 primary election will determine if any candidate secures over 50% of the vote and wins outright, or if the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff.

The takeaway

This crowded and competitive race for the Marin County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat reflects the diversity of Novato and northern Marin, with candidates offering a range of professional backgrounds, political affiliations, and policy priorities to address key issues facing the region.