Laura Bettencourt
CA · Palmdale City Council Member, District 3
Laura Bettencourt has served on the Palmdale City Council since 2009 and works as a crime and intelligence analyst for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She also teaches criminal justice at Antelope Valley College and holds a master's degree in criminal justice.
Where Laura Bettencourt stands, based on their records
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Government Spending Reduction (1 record), Housing Affordability (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 oppose
Voted for a city law barring COVID-19 vaccine mandates and vaccine passports in Palmdale. It passed 5-0.
March 2, 2022Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
Voted for Palmdale's 2025-26 city budget. It passed 5-0.
June 17, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 oppose
Cast the only no vote on letting the city manager start talks with Santa Monica about a housing partnership. It passed 4-1.
February 15, 2023Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on a density bonus deal for an apartment project near 9th Street East and Avenue Q. It passed 4-1.
May 18, 2022Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Voted to hire Salvador Mendez as Palmdale city manager. It passed 3-2.
March 3, 2026
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Voted to investigate Richard Loa, strip his title of mayor, and remove him from city assignments. It passed 3-1.
July 15, 2025
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Seconded a city law letting the full council pick the mayor and mayor pro tem each year by majority vote. It passed 4-1.
April 1, 2025
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on a zone change for a Beyond Food Mart project with fuel pumps, saying she puts kids first. It passed 4-1.
March 4, 2025
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Voted to end Palmdale's Human Rights Advisory Committee and merge it into a regional body with Lancaster. It passed 4-1.
October 2, 2024
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Became mayor of Palmdale after being picked by drawing, as new council members were sworn in.
December 23, 2022
Source: avpress.com
Voted no on a ban on flavored tobacco products as written. It failed 2-3.
August 3, 2022
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Voted no on setting electricity rates for Palmdale's city-run power program. It passed 3-1.
July 13, 2022
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Voted to adopt the 'pink' map setting Palmdale's new council district lines after redistricting. It passed 4-1.
February 16, 2022
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Received the Larry Chimbole Public Service Award from the League of California Cities Desert-Mountain Division.
November 24, 2021
Source: avpress.com
Moved to change Palmdale's rules for removing the city manager. It passed 3-2.
March 2, 2021
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Moved to have the city poll residents on a possible add-on sales tax. It passed 3-2.
November 5, 2019
Source: palmdale.granicus.com
Past race Laura Bettencourt ran in:
- Member of the City Council, District 3 · November 3, 2026 · Palmdale city, California · incumbent