Andrew Gruel
CA · Huntington Beach City Council Member
Andrew Gruel is an appointed Huntington Beach City Council member and a chef who founded the Slapfish restaurant chain and now leads American Gravy Restaurant Group. His priorities are public safety and support for local businesses.
Where Andrew Gruel stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Public Infrastructure (2 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
Voted for a police union contract giving officers 17% raises through June 2029. It passed 4-3.
September 1, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: police1.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Voted for a police union contract giving officers 17% raises through June 2029. It passed 4-3.
September 1, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: police1.com
Co-sponsored a study on building a police DNA lab and expanding the police computer forensics lab. It passed 7-0.
June 3, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Co-sponsored a push for pedestrian and bike safety projects and funding with Caltrans and state lawmakers. It passed 7-0.
November 4, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Co-sponsored a request for a staff presentation on beach sand replenishment and how to seek steady permits and funding. It passed 7-0.
August 19, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Track record — General
General · 13 records
Voted against letting the Distractions Lounge bikini bar sell hard liquor near Westmont Elementary. The council approved it 4-2.
June 2, 2026
Source: voiceofoc.org
Co-sponsored and voted to end the city's bid process for a City Asset and Revenue Audit. The motion failed 3-4.
April 21, 2026
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Moved to take permit powers from the city's zoning administrator so the Planning Commission decides all conditional use permits and variances. It passed 7-0.
March 17, 2026
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Voted against accepting a $1.3 million completion bond for building work at 21 and 22 Main Street on the pier. It passed 4-3.
January 20, 2026
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Co-sponsored a plan to explore a city mural honoring free speech in memory of Charlie Kirk. It passed 6-0.
September 23, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Moved to have staff explore ending the city's Symphony of Flowers event. It passed 7-0.
September 16, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Voted against permits at the city Sports Complex that included beer and wine sales at a new outdoor dining area. They passed 5-2.
September 2, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Voted to certify the Pacific Airshow's environmental review and approve a new agreement with the show's operator. It passed 6-1.
September 2, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Co-sponsored a study of a community garden on city land that raises fish and plants together (multi-trophic aquaculture). It passed 7-0.
July 15, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Was appointed to a vacant Huntington Beach City Council seat, left by Tony Strickland, on a 5-0 council vote.
March 18, 2025
Source: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com
Turned his Huntington Beach restaurant, Calico Fish House, into a donation hub for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires and cooked meals for first responders.
January 10, 2025
Source: houstonpublicmedia.org
Sold his majority stake in Slapfish, the seafood chain he started as a food truck in 2011 and grew to more than 20 locations, to Mac Haik Enterprises.
July 5, 2022
Source: restaurantbusinessonline.com
Co-launched the 86 Restaurant Struggle fund on GoFundMe in December 2020 to give cash to out-of-work restaurant workers. It raised over $228,000 in its first weeks.
January 5, 2021
Source: krghospitality.com
Past race Andrew Gruel ran in:
- Member, City Council · November 3, 2026 · Huntington Beach city, California · incumbent