The San Juan Capistrano City Council has named John Campbell as the city’s new mayor. The former mayor pro tem was selected for the position by his fellow council members, as established by city law, during the Dec. 2 meeting. Councilmember John Taylor was selected as mayor pro tem.
Representing District 3, Campbell was first named to the council in December 2022. He succeeds former mayor Troy Bourne.
“What a refreshing term we have experienced with you as our mayor,” Campbell said. “You’ve led with intelligence, clarity, warmth and a wit that always seems to arrive just at the right moment. You speak with a certain eloquence. Most importantly, you’ve led with compassion. Through your actions and steady hand, you’ve shown your genuine love for this community and the people that call San Juan home.”
Campbell’s proudest moment with Bourne as his mayor came when he represented San Juan Capistrano’s interest at the California Energy Commission meeting regarding the battery storage facility proposed for the city — a development that has faced strong opposition from residents and elected officials alike.
“Our community is stronger, more united and better off because of your service of the past year,” Campbell said. “It’s been truly a privilege watching you lead.”
Bourne thanked the city council for allowing him to serve for a year in the position. As part of his outgoing remarks, Bourne encouraged the community to consider running for elected positions or serving the city on a commission. With the support of city staff, he said, an elected official does not need to be experts at everything — instead, in a call to action, he said that people need to just have the passion to make their home a better place.
“For those of you who have wondered, ‘Could I maybe serve on a commission? Could I run for city council?’ Yeah, you can,” Bourne said. “It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s a little bit scary… but we need good people to run. We need people to make some sacrifices. Busy people do good things. We can’t rely on people who aren’t busy, that don’t have something else going on in their lives, to run for public office.”
Campbell will serve as mayor through the end of 2026, at which time a new mayor will be selected by city council.
The city of San Juan Capistrano ushered in the holiday season Saturday, Dec. 6, as Historic Town Center Park sparkled with music, lights and community spirit during the annual Tree Lighting Celebration. Hundreds of visitors came together for local performances, festive vendors and a joyful countdown to the moment the tree lit up the night.
Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with pre-show entertainment, followed by festive music. While waiting for the tree lighting, families were able to reconnect and browse among the unique vendors at the event.
Newly named mayor John Campbell welcomed the guests, introduced the performers and thanked the San Juan Capistrano recreation staff for organizing the event.
“A heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked behind-the-scenes to transform Historic Town Center Park into this winter wonderland,” Campbell said on the stage. “It didn’t happen by magic, though it certainly looks like it has.”
Alongside the celebrations, there was also a spirit of giving back present at the event.
The Orange County Fire Authority had a toy drive collecting unwrapped toys, as it is holding its annual Spark of Love Toy Drive for 2025, collecting new, unwrapped toys at all 78 of its fire stations and various community events through Dec. 24.
“The holiday season is a perfect moment to reflect on the year we shared,” Campbell said. “Our city has accomplished so much together and I couldn’t be prouder of the progress that we’ve made. Looking ahead, I’m filled with optimism, excitement and maybe just a little hope. In just a moment we’ll light our Christmas Tree, a tradition that brings us together, year after year. On behalf of the San Juan Capistrano City Council, I wish you a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.”
San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Director Benjamin Medina said the tree lighting celebration is a great opportunity for the community to come together whether it’s businesses and nonprofits or schools showcasing their talent.
“It’s just a celebratory moment for the city,” Medina said. “Our community service department for the city does a really good job organizing this amongst all the other events throughout the year but this was kind of the crown jewel of events, it’s a nice opportunity for the community to come out.”
With a few local businesses at the event such as the Capistrano Souvenir Shop and The Naked Buzz, Medina said the event was also a great economic boost.
“When we do events like this, there’s a noticeable economic impact in businesses,” Medina said.
The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 14th Annual SJC Elf Crawl on Friday, Dec. 26. Expect line dancing, DJ entertainment, food and drink specials, prizes and the Mr. and Mrs. Elf Contest.
After performances, guests surrounded the tree with phones ready to record the countdown to see the tree sparkle. When the event in Historic Town Center Park wrapped up, many made their way to Los Rios Park to participate in free holiday activities.
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