We're Going to Build Coyote Park and Complete Streets
Coyote Park, like the complete streets program, is a promise of connection, health, and heritage for our community.
It’s designed to be a sanctuary for residents — a photographer’s dream, a place where memories echo through native plantings, elders stroll along quiet paths, and neighbors meet to share stories or a game of chess. It brings together Buena Park’s natural beauty with thoughtful design, creating a space where healing, play, and reflection intertwine.
Buena Park’s future will be greener, kinder, and more connected. Let this be the blueprint for how we care — for nature, for one another, and for the place we call home.
What the Community is Saying
Carlos Franco carries Buena Park in his voice and his footsteps. From planting roses with veterans and students in honor of local heroes, to rolling up his sleeves at a neighborhood cleanup, he reminds us that community is built in the small, shared acts of care.
“The people of Buena Park, especially those in Council District 2, would be fortunate to have homegrown representation at City Hall. The proven examples from your involvement, integrity, and caring heart will surely create a real and lasting impact in our community.”
Connor Traut
Mayor,
Buena Park
“Apoyo a Carlos Franco por que el es residente de Buena Park, y tiene el deseo de que nuestra pequeña ciudad progrese. El también apoya a nuestros estudiantes y participa en organizaciones con el deseo de superación para todos los residentes de esta ciudad.”
Lizbeth Flores
Community Leader,
Buena Park
Trusted by Democrat Leaders
Tom Umberg
Colonel - Senator, CA District 34
Sharon Quirk-Silva
Assemblymember, CA District 67
Doug Chaffee
Supervisor, Orange County, District 4
Tony Strickland
Senator, CA District 36
Mark Pulido
Assemblymember Candidate, CA District 67
Natalie Rubalcava
Councilmember, Anaheim
Phil Bacerra
Councilmember, Santa Ana
Melinda Liu
Councilmember, Irvine
Frank Yokoyama
Councilmember, Cerritos
Ali Taj
Councilmember, Artesia
Ariana Arestegui
Councilmember, Garden Grove
Victor Barrios
Councilmember, Stanton
Melissa Ramoso
Councilmember, Artesia
John Warren
Councilmember, Stanton
Vanesa Estrella
Trustee, Fullerton School Board
Endorsements
Rooted in Community. Ready to Serve.
Why Buena Park Needs Strong Leadership
My journey is written in the small, tender acts that shape Buena Park. As a teenager, I spent weekends helping organize toy and food drives with local nonprofits, making sure families in need had warmth during the holidays. Years later, I stood at the Rotary’s Teacher Recognition night, applauding the very educators who once pushed me to chase my own dreams.
On council, I have pushed for simple yet powerful changes—like funding safe routes for students walking to school, so parents breathe easier at every crosswalk, and a new park on the last undesignated open space in the City. I have also championed local businesses, making sure mom-and-pop restaurants have the visibility and support to thrive in the shadow of bigger chains.
Whether speaking with seniors at the Community Center, trading ideas with high school seniors at youth forums, or showing up at early morning neighborhood cleanups, I work hard to lead with presence. My belief is simple: if you listen long enough, a community tells you exactly how to help it grow.
The Future We Can Create
Our Shared Priorities
Clean and Safe
Streets
Every street tells the story of its people. Carlos believes that safe, well-lit, and welcoming streets are where trust begins—where parents can walk with their children and neighbors greet one another without fear.
Interagency
Collaboration
Buena Park thrives when its leaders work as one. Carlos champions collaboration across city, county, and regional partners, weaving together resources so that no challenge is faced in isolation.
Strengthening
Our Local Economy
Carlos knows local businesses are the heartbeat of Buena Park. By championing small business owners, protecting local jobs, and encouraging growth rooted in fairness, he helps ensure prosperity reaches every corner of our city.
First Year In Office
1
New Park Created for Our Culture:
Coyote Park
2
Town Halls hosted at
American Legion Post 354
3
Million Tax ($) Saved from
Wasteful Spending
Son of Buena Park
Rooted In Buena Park
I grew up in Buena Park, the child of immigrant parents who taught me the dignity of work and the strength of community. From Beatty Elementary to Buena Park High, this city shaped my values of perseverance and belonging. When my family bought a 1920s home, I stood beside my father—learning plumbing, carpentry, and care for the old bones of our city. Those lessons stitched into me a love for preserving our heritage while building toward the future.
A Life of Service
Service has always been my compass. Through Rotary, Cal State Fullerton, and local mentorship programs, I guided students toward education and hope. As Vice Chair of the Human Relations Committee and Chair of the Sister City Foundation, I worked to bridge cultures and generations, ensuring every voice in Buena Park is heard.
On Council, that same principle of fairness guides me. When regulations against unpermitted street vendors were proposed, I stood as the lone dissenting vote—calling instead for legal pathways that honor both dignity and demand. When a global taekwondo organization sought free use of city facilities, I asked the question no one else raised: would our local businesses be offered the same opportunity? And when new rules for e-bikes were debated, I advocated protections for youth riders on sidewalks, balancing safety with the reality of how students get to school. In each case, I’ve worked to put people at the center of policy.
Ready to Serve
Today, I seek to continue serving on City Council with the same hands-on dedication that shaped my life. I know our challenges and I believe in our opportunities. With your support, together we can build a Buena Park that is safer, stronger, and united by the values we share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlos Franco is a lifelong Buena Park resident, community leader, and founder of Culture-Fluent, an advertising agency built on the idea that strong relationships create strong results. As your council member, Carlos brings that same belief to City Hall—focusing on transparency, accountability, and putting community first.
Carlos has spent years building bridges between local businesses, schools, and nonprofits. His goal is simple: a safer, stronger, more united Buena Park where every neighbor feels they belong.
Carlos has a proven track record of service, not just promises—through community service (Buena Park Rotary, Buena Park Sister City Foundation, Former City Commissioner). His leadership comes from years of real involvement, not politics-as-usual.
Every dollar raised supports outreach in District 2 through direct engagement: neighborhood events, voter education, media that reaches local residents, staff/volunteers, materials, and ensuring we’re able to maintain transparent operations.
Carlos believes in safe, well-lit streets, effective police-community relationships, and investing in prevention as much as enforcement. That means working with law enforcement, but also focusing on street lighting, sidewalks, youth programs, and making sure city services are reliable and responsive.
Small businesses are vital. Carlos has voted to streamline permitting ( EdgeSoft), reduce unnecessary red tape, support local business marketing/ shop-local incentives, and ensure business zones are protected and enhanced.
Carlos believes in open government. He hosts town halls, collects community input in decisions, and ensuring constituents know how their tax dollars are used. He’ll push for better communication channels between city hall and residents.
He supports balanced growth that preserves neighborhood character, protects affordability, and makes sure infrastructure (streets, utilities, transit) keeps up. Development should benefit existing residents, not overburden them. Carlos will advocate for responsible zoning, inclusion of affordable options, community input on new projects.
There are many ways: sharing posts / campaign messages on social media, attending or inviting others to local events, talking with neighbors, putting up a yard sign, signing up to receive updates so you can stay informed and encouraged. Even spreading the word goes a long way!
To vote in this race, you must be registered as a voter in District 2, Buena Park. The city or county elections office can help you check. If you’re unsure which district you live in, we can help look up that info. Also, make sure you register before the deadline. REGISTER TO VOTE HERE
Many issues like housing, transportation, safety, public health—cross jurisdictional lines. He plans to strengthen partnerships with Orange County, nearby cities, school districts, and state agencies to bring more resources, avoid duplication, and tackle issues comprehensively. You’re a part of this solution too!
Carlos supports making Buena Park more sustainable: better waste management, encouragement of green infrastructure, expanding parks, emphasizing clean air, energy efficiency in city buildings, and ensuring new development meets strong environmental standards, but it has to make sense, and when City Council considered banning all gas-powered lawn equipment, he helped bring some reality to the picture.