Meet Bryan
Mission Viejo is home for Bryan Zahn in every sense of the word.
Bryan moved to Mission Viejo as a child and grew up in the neighborhoods, schools, parks, and youth programs that helped shape this community. He attended Linda Vista Elementary School, La Paz Intermediate School, Mission Viejo High School, and Saddleback College.
This is also where Bryan raised his three children. He understands Mission Viejo not from a distance, but from a lifetime of living, working, volunteering, and raising a family here.
Bryan’s connection to local service began early. His family helped support youth sports and scouting in Mission Viejo, including Little League baseball and one of the community’s early Cub Scout troops. Bryan later served on the Board of Directors for Viejo Little League for 10 years, volunteered at Mission Viejo High School, and remains involved in community life.
In November 2005, Bryan went to work for the City of Mission Viejo in the Public Services department. Over the next two decades, he helped maintain and protect the City’s parks, open spaces, landscapes, public facilities, streets, and community assets.
His work included supporting major city events such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July celebrations, Pacific Symphony events, Arbor Day, and sports tourism events. Bryan also helped remodel and maintain parks, worked with school districts on sports fields, helped lead more than 300 Eagle Scout projects, and coordinated with fire officials on weed abatement, brush removal, and fire-safe landscaping.
As a Senior Public Services Supervisor, Bryan helped manage multi-million-dollar landscape budgets and understood the importance of delivering results while respecting taxpayer dollars. He also supported after-hours emergency response, coordinating with police, fire, water districts, and City personnel to respond to issues involving parks, trees, streets, traffic signals, and public facilities.
Bryan was named Mission Viejo’s 2022 Employee of the Year, a recognition that reflected his commitment to the City, his work ethic, and his love for the community.
Now, Bryan is running for City Council because he wants to bring that same steady, hands-on, accountable approach to the decisions that shape Mission Viejo’s future.
Bryan's Priorities
Public Safety
Economic Growth
Infrastructure
Local Governance
Public safety is the first responsibility of local government. Protecting residents, schools, businesses, neighborhoods, and property must remain Mission Viejo’s top priority.
Bryan will work to:
- Keep Mission Viejo among the safest cities in America.
- Support strong and responsible funding for police and fire services.
- Continue supporting school resource officers to help protect campuses.
- Continue funding school crossing guards.
- Strengthen wildfire preparedness and fire fuel reduction efforts.
- Focus on emergency prevention, readiness, and efficient response.
- Support strong joint-use partnerships with local school districts.
“Public safety is the foundation of a strong city.”
A strong local economy allows Mission Viejo to sustain quality services without placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers.
Bryan will work to:
- Streamline permitting and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for small businesses.
- Partner with the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce to support local commerce.
- Maintain a business-friendly environment that attracts responsible investment.
- Encourage economic growth that strengthens the tax base.
- Support local businesses that help fund public safety, infrastructure, parks, and city services.
“When local businesses succeed, our entire community benefits.”
Bryan believes the City has a responsibility to maintain Mission Viejo’s roads, parks, open spaces, recreational facilities, sports fields, and library wisely, fund them responsibly, and protect them for the future.
Bryan will work to:
- Prioritize maintenance of streets and public infrastructure.
- Preserve parks, trails, and open spaces through responsible planning and public input.
- Maintain City assets without unnecessary expansion of long-term liabilities.
- Protect recreational facilities and sports fields that serve families, athletes, and local organizations.
- Preserve Mission Viejo’s tradition as a sports tourism destination that supports local businesses and develops young athletes.
“A well-run city takes care of its infrastructure.”
Mission Viejo must have a strong, professional voice beyond City Hall while protecting local decision-making here at home.
Bryan will work to:
- Build productive relationships with county, state, federal, and school district partners.
- Pursue grants and outside funding to reduce pressure on local taxpayers.
- Attract responsible new businesses to Mission Viejo.
Ensure Mission Viejo’s interests are clearly represented.
- Safeguard local control through responsible budgeting and practical decision-making.
“Mission Viejo decisions should be made by Mission Viejo residents, not Sacramento politicians.”
Community Engagement
A look at Bryan Zahn's active involvement in Mission Viejo, from local events to community forums.
