Michael Kemps
CA · Palos Verdes Estates City Council Member (Mayor)
Michael Kemps is the mayor of Palos Verdes Estates, in his second council term. He founded the technology firm Innovative Computing Systems in 1989 and is its chief executive.
Where Michael Kemps stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Efficiency (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (3 records), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 1 oppose), Housing Affordability (2 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 2 support
Made a motion to have city staff and the treasurer switch to full accrual accounting. The goal was reports showing the city's true net financial position. It failed 2-3.
March 22, 2022Supports Government Efficiency
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
As mayor, made the motion setting a goal to keep police pension costs from growing unpaid. The council agreed to put spare city funds toward that goal first. It passed 5-0.
January 30, 2021Supports Government Efficiency
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 1 oppose
As mayor, seconded placing a six-year police parcel tax on the November 2026 ballot. It extends and raises the tax to pay for police and city pension debt. It passed 3-2.
July 28, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on the mid-year budget transfers over $10,000 for fiscal year 2021-22. They passed 4-1.
March 22, 2022Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support
As mayor, seconded placing a six-year police parcel tax on the November 2026 ballot. It extends and raises the tax to pay for police and city pension debt. It passed 3-2.
July 28, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Voted to let the police department hire two Police Service Officers above its approved staffing. The first-year cost was about $81,000. It passed 4-1.
January 27, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Made the motion to introduce a city ordinance against unlawfully possessing a catalytic converter, aimed at converter theft. It passed 5-0.
October 11, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 support · 2 oppose
Made the motion backing a joint Peninsula cities letter asking Governor Newsom to pause new state laws that add housing density. It passed 5-0.
March 25, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Made the motion approving the city's updated Housing Element for 2021-2029 as a General Plan amendment. It passed 5-0.
May 28, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Voted for the city's 2021-2029 Housing Element, its state-required plan for new homes, and sent it to the state for review. It passed 5-0.
January 25, 2022Supports Housing Affordability
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Made the motion for a city resolution opposing state planning and zoning laws that override local control. It passed 5-0.
September 8, 2020Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Made the motion approving a design for public improvements on the Lunada Bay bluff top. The settlement of a beach-access lawsuit against the city and the Lunada Bay Boys required them. It passed 5-0.
March 11, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Made the motion approving clubhouse renovations at the city-owned Palos Verdes Golf Club, capped at $17.5 million. It passed 3-1.
May 28, 2024
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Seconded and voted for an ordinance requiring City Council approval when the city manager appoints a police chief. It passed 3-2.
April 9, 2024
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Was appointed with Councilmember Murdock to a council committee helping the Finance Advisory Committee write a pension funding policy.
April 4, 2022
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Voted no on a Parklands Committee plan to landscape part of the bluffs next to Lunada Bay Elementary School. It passed 3-2.
June 9, 2020
Source: pvestates.granicus.com
Won a seat on the Palos Verdes Estates City Council, finishing first of seven candidates with 1,617 votes (21%). Two incumbents lost.
March 5, 2019
Source: easyreadernews.com
Past race Michael Kemps ran in:
- Member of the City Council · November 3, 2026 · Palos Verdes Estates city, California · incumbent