SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Tahoe Now emailed all 13 South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates the same questions so voters could get to know them before deciding on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Responses will be published in the order received, along with photos they provided. South Tahoe Now also emailed the two candidates for City Clerk with their own set of questions. Not all candidates replied, so the public will be unable to read their responses.
Name: Heather Horgan
How long have you lived full-time in South Lake Tahoe? 8.5 years
What is your occupation? Administrative Nursing Supervisor (Registered Nurse)
What is your education? Bachelor of Science, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, UMASS Amherst, 1996. Associate Degree in Nursing, Registered Nurse, Greenfield Community College, 1999. Master’s Degree in Nursing, Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Minors in Nursing, Administration, Nursing Education, and Health Policy, UCSF, 2002
What makes you qualified to be on City Council? I believe all residents are qualified to serve on the City Council. What matters is a willingness to listen, stay engaged in the community, prepare for the work, and approach each decision with an open mind.
I believe effective council service means reaching out to residents to understand different perspectives, making time to thoroughly review agenda materials, asking questions of staff, and coming prepared for meaningful discussion. It also means being willing to listen to public comment and to fellow Councilmembers rather than coming in with a predetermined agenda. My goal is to help the Council arrive at thoughtful decisions that best serve our community.
I bring the perspective of a mother, a longtime nurse and community member, and someone who uses many of the public services our community provides: public transportation, bike paths, parks, and the Recreation Center. These public resources are important to our quality of life and deserve thoughtful management and maintenance.
I also bring an environmental perspective. My first degree is in Environmental Science, and I know I represent many of our local residents who care deeply about protecting the natural environment that makes this place home. Finally, I am fortunate to work part-time, which allows me to devote the time and attention that serving on City Council requires. I take that responsibility seriously and am committed to making it a priority.
What is your level of understanding of the Brown Act and other council procedures? Do you feel agenda item deliberations could be streamlined? Based on the Brown Act and the right for all City Council deliberations to be made in the public, it is essential to come to City Council meetings ready to really listen, contribute to the conversation, and be open to hear perspectives that potentially do not align with your own. The goal should always be to try to find consensus and move forward from where there is alignment. For me, moving things forward more quickly is not about bypassing the process; it is about being prepared, communicating clearly, and making good use of the public meetings we already have. We have opportunities to streamline the process by very simply responding that we are in agreement with previous statements made by other councilmembers and promptly making a motion when broad agreement is established. It may also help for the Mayor, or whoever is presiding over the meeting, to gently remind Councilmembers to wrap up comments or hold additional discussion until after public comment.
Have you ever served on a commission or committee for the City of South Lake Tahoe? If so, what was it? Or, have you served other communities in this capacity in the past? I am currently serving as the Appointed Incumbent on the City Council. That appointment was made December 9th, 2025. I am also serving on the El Dorado County Community Action Council. Currently, in my capacity as a City Councilmember, I am on the Board for the Cal Tahoe JPA, the Community Play Consortium, and the Abandoned Vehicle JPA.
If you served in previous leadership roles, please name them. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently, and how would you use those lessons on council?I have 12 years of experience as an Administrative Nursing Supervisor, focused on hospital operations and leadership. It is of primary importance in healthcare that we lead with safety. In this role, I am responsible for overseeing hospital operations, supporting staff and clinical teams, coordinating resources, and making careful decisions to maintain patient and staff safety. It has taught me the importance of staying calm, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility when things do not go as planned. It is important to recognize when the plan in place is not optimal and make adjustments quickly.
One of the most important lessons I learned is that when you recognize an opportunity to do better, you should acknowledge it quickly, take responsibility, and communicate a clear plan for moving forward. I would bring that same approach to the City Council. I believe residents deserve transparency when something does not go as expected, as well as a clear understanding of what is being done to address it and improve the outcome in the future.
If elected, how do you plan on representing the community? If they don’t attend meetings in person, how will you know what they want? How would you get more citizens engaged? I will continue to reach out to the community by talking to neighbors, talking to community members while shopping and doing errands, and encouraging everyone I speak with to encourage others to reach out and share their perspectives. It is challenging, but I do try to keep with all City email correspondence and return every call. I think one way to get more citizens engaged is a more transparent government and finding the best ways to communicate that information. I know City staff are always looking for the best ways to communicate information, and I would encourage those efforts while also asking residents directly through my own interactions and sharing that feedback with staff.
How important is an ethics policy and decorum policy for City Council, and why? What should these policies include? I think the City should have both an updated Ethics policy and a separate stand-alone Decorum and Code of Conduct policy. I would like to see these policies include statements addressing how Councilmembers engage with and address City staff, as well as how they conduct themselves in the community. I think elected officials have an obligation to be professional in their communications and interactions with the City Staff and all members of our community.
I also believe that City Councilmembers and staff should review the Ethics and Decorum policies annually and recommit to their understanding and commitment to follow them.
Is there anything in your past that could come to the surface if elected? If so, what is it? No.
Do you think a councilmember represents the City at all times, and why or why not? Absolutely. This is no different from my current role in nursing leadership. As a leader, I represent the healthcare system and need to be mindful that my words and actions, both public and private, reflect on the organization and the people I serve. I see my role as a Councilmember in much the same way.
Being elected to represent our community comes with a responsibility to conduct myself respectfully and thoughtfully, whether I am at a Council meeting, speaking with a resident, attending a community event, or simply out in the community. I may have personal opinions, but when I am acting as a Councilmember, I have a responsibility to listen, represent the community fairly, and maintain the trust that comes with the position.
When council divides up the list of assignments for councilmembers, what boards would you want to sit on and why? I would like to serve on the California Tahoe Conservancy because I care deeply about the long-term health and preservation of the Tahoe Basin. Living here, I see every day how important it is to balance environmental stewardship with the needs of the community that calls Tahoe home. They have a lot of important projects in our community that I would like to provide user input and see moving forward.
I would value the opportunity to contribute to that balance at a regional level and work collaboratively on protecting Tahoe’s natural resources while supporting a healthy, sustainable community. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help preserve this place for future generations.
I would also very much like to stay on the Cal Tahoe JPA and the Community Play Consortium.
What are the top concerns the council should be focusing on? First, we have a long Agenda Planning Calendar, and I believe we need to move more quickly during meetings to pare that list down and make it more manageable for City staff. I also think the Strategic Planning session will give us an opportunity to thoroughly review the list, prioritize essential items, and remove those that are no longer relevant or have largely been completed.
Based on our most recent Regional Housing Needs Allocation and Housing Element updates, we also need to find actionable solutions for moderate-income housing, or “missing middle” housing, while continuing to support the ADU program. Finally, I am looking forward to hearing more about our Storm Drainage Master Plan, as I believe the City Council must also take actions that protect Lake Tahoe’s water clarity.
What is the role of a city council on economic development? Do you think we should be attracting new types of businesses, and if so, what are they? The City Council can play an important role in strengthening our existing businesses while encouraging a more diverse year-round economy. One opportunity is to expand the reasons people visit South Lake Tahoe throughout the year, rather than concentrating economic activity around the winter ski and summer lake seasons. Cultural events, festivals, outdoor recreation such as fall hiking, and other experiences could attract visitors during traditionally slower periods while also providing more opportunities for local businesses. I also believe diversification means supporting businesses that serve both residents and visitors, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for higher-wage jobs. We should pursue economic development that strengthens our local economy while protecting our natural environment and quality of life that make South Lake Tahoe special.
What are your favorite things to do in Tahoe? Hiking with my husband, trail running when my knee allows, walking my dog with my kids, working out at the Rec Center, shopping and cooking for my family, meeting up for coffee at all our amazing coffee shops, skiing, picking up trash in my neighborhood, and picnics on the beach.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? I am a volunteer for El Dorado County Search and Rescue, as well as a Hospice Volunteer for Barton and a volunteer with El Dorado County Animal Services. I have completed the Tahoe Community Emergency Response Team training and have participated in other local volunteer opportunities like Keep Tahoe Blue and Sugar Pine Foundation. Finally, I have completed more than 100 hours of training with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness, and I have attended Residential Training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness with the US Department of Homeland Security in Anniston, Alabama three times.