About the Candidate

Peter Molinari

Planning Commission Chair

Led Mission Viejo's Planning & Transportation Commission

MBA, Pepperdine University

Graziadio School of Business

Small Business Owner

Real-world business and fiscal experience

18+ Year Resident

Raising his family in Mission Viejo

Peter Molinari was born and raised in Orange County, where he started at an early age as a servant leader in school and in his community. Peter cares deeply about Mission Viejo and is committed to Honoring our Heritage while Building our Future.

Peter is dedicated to serving Mission Viejo. He has been serving on the City Planning Commission since 2021, where he also served as Vice Chair and Chairman. Peter's service on the Commission has contributed to the development of Mission Viejo's neighborhoods, commercial districts, restaurants and parks. He also served as Booster Vice President and President for the Capistrano Valley High School Pep Squad, where he helped support and foster a safe, spirited community for students and parents.

Peter has put his advocacy skills to work as a business leader and a small business owner. His experience in the boardroom, council chamber and at the negotiating table has equipped him with the tools needed in representing his community. Peter will continue to bring this tenacity with him to City Hall and will always fight for your best interests.

Peter Molinari holds a bachelor's degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton, and an MBA degree from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business. He has been living in Mission Viejo for 18+ years, where he raised his daughter Maggie. Whether it is socializing at the local Elk's lodge, competing at the local Rotary Chili Cookoff, enjoying a concert at the Lake or having dinner at a local restaurant with neighbors and friends, you are bound to see Peter in the community enjoying all that Mission Viejo has to offer.

Meet Peter

Early Years in Orange County

Peter Molinari was born and raised in Orange County, California. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, community service, and leadership. Growing up in Orange County gave Peter a deep appreciation for the quality of life that makes this region special — the safe neighborhoods, the excellent schools, the beautiful parks, and the strong sense of community.

Those values stayed with Peter as he built his career and eventually chose Mission Viejo as the place to raise his family. He wanted his daughter Maggie to grow up in a community that shared those same values — a place where neighbors know each other, where schools are strong, and where the community comes together to support one another.

For 18+ years, Mission Viejo has been home. Peter has been an active member of the community, from volunteering at his daughter's schools to serving in local civic organizations. He understands what makes Mission Viejo special because he has lived it — as a parent, a volunteer, a business owner, and a public servant.

Education

Peter Molinari's educational background has given him both the communication skills and the business acumen needed to serve effectively in local government.

California State University, Fullerton

Bachelor's Degree in Communications

Peter's communications degree gave him the skills to listen to constituents, articulate clear positions, and build consensus — essential qualities for effective city leadership.

Pepperdine University

MBA, Graziadio School of Business

Peter's MBA from Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business gave him the financial expertise, strategic thinking, and management skills needed to make sound fiscal decisions for Mission Viejo. This business training is invaluable when reviewing city budgets, evaluating development proposals, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Business Experience

Peter Molinari has put his education to work as a business leader and a small business owner. His experience in the boardroom, the council chamber, and at the negotiating table has equipped him with the tools needed to represent his community effectively.

As a small business owner, Peter understands the challenges that Mission Viejo businesses face every day — from regulatory burdens to tax pressures to the day-to-day realities of meeting payroll and serving customers. This firsthand experience gives him a perspective that many career politicians lack. He knows what it takes to create jobs, manage a budget, and navigate government bureaucracy.

Peter's business experience has taught him the value of fiscal responsibility, strategic planning, and common-sense decision-making. As a fiscal conservative, he believes in balanced budgets, thoughtful investment, and government that helps rather than hurts local businesses and residents. These are the principles he will bring to the Mission Viejo City Council.

Peter will continue to bring this tenacity with him to City Hall and will always fight for the best interests of Mission Viejo residents and businesses.

Community Leadership in Mission Viejo

Peter Molinari's commitment to Mission Viejo goes beyond his professional life. For 18+ years, he has been an active volunteer and community leader, dedicating his time to the schools, organizations, and events that make Mission Viejo a great place to live.

Peter served as Booster Vice President and President for the Capistrano Valley High School Pep Squad, where he helped support and foster a safe, spirited community for students and parents. He has been an active volunteer at Reilly Elementary, Newhart Middle School, and Capistrano Valley High School — the schools his daughter Maggie attended.

Whether it is socializing at the local Elk's Lodge, competing at the Rotary Chili Cookoff, enjoying a concert at the Lake, or having dinner at a local restaurant with neighbors and friends, you are bound to see Peter in the community enjoying all that Mission Viejo has to offer. He is not just a resident of Mission Viejo — he is an active participant in the life of our city.

Peter believes that community leadership means showing up — not just at council meetings, but at school events, community gatherings, and local celebrations. That commitment to being present and engaged is what drives his service to Mission Viejo.

Planning Commission Service

Peter Molinari has served on the Mission Viejo Planning and Transportation Commission since 2021. He served as Vice Chairman in 2023 and as Chairman in 2024, providing leadership during a critical period of planning and development decisions for our city.

During his tenure on the Commission, Peter has reviewed hundreds of development proposals, always with a focus on whether projects add value to Mission Viejo and protect the character of our neighborhoods. He played a crucial role in adopting amendments to the City's housing element, helping Mission Viejo meet state requirements while protecting existing neighborhoods.

One of Peter's most significant accomplishments on the Commission was voting to rebuild OCFA Fire Station 24 into the best fire facility in Orange County — a critical investment in Mission Viejo's public safety infrastructure. He has also supported park improvements, commercial district enhancements, and transportation infrastructure projects throughout the city.

Peter's five years of experience on the Planning Commission have given him a deep understanding of how Mission Viejo's government works, what our city's challenges and opportunities are, and how to make decisions that serve the long-term interests of our residents. That experience is exactly what District 2 needs on the City Council.

Why Peter Is Running for City Council

Peter Molinari is running for Mission Viejo City Council because he believes our city deserves leadership that combines real experience with genuine commitment to the community. As Planning Commission Chairman, MBA, small business owner, and 18+ year resident, Peter brings a unique combination of credentials that no other candidate can match.

He is committed to public safety, smart development, parks and open space, local business support, and transportation improvements. He believes in fiscal responsibility, common-sense government, and putting the interests of Mission Viejo residents first. He wants to ensure that Mission Viejo remains one of the best places to live in Orange County — not just for today, but for the next generation.

Peter is not a career politician. He is a community leader who stepped up to serve because he cares deeply about the city that has given his family so much. He is asking for your vote because he believes that his experience, his values, and his vision can help build a better future for Mission Viejo.

Planning Commission Chair. MBA. Small Business Owner. Community Leader. That is the combination Peter Molinari brings to the Mission Viejo City Council — and it is the combination our city needs.

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