ENCINITAS — The field of Encinitas City Council hopefuls is slowly taking shape, though no one has officially filed for a Nov. 4 run.
Voters will decide two council seats in November, including the city’s first elected mayor. Kristin Gaspar and Teresa Barth, who announced in April that she would not seek re-election, currently hold the two seats.
So far, four people have requested nomination paperwork for the mayoral election since the filing period opened July 14 — current councilman Tony Kranz; Alex Fidel, a 23-year-old self-described peace activist and journalist; Al Rodbell, a local activist who has been critical of the city’s $10 million purchase of the Pacific View Elementary School Site; and Munawer “Mike” Bawany, a local engineer.
Gaspar, who has been considering running for mayor, has not pulled papers, Encinitas City Clerk Kathy Hollywood said. Hollywood said Gaspar said she would make a decision as early as next week.
Two people have pulled papers for the council vacancy. Catherine Blakespear, a local attorney, and Julie Graboi, a regular council meeting attendee, both have actively campaigned for several months, and have expressed similar points of view on hot-button topics, including density-bonus developments.
Both Graboi and Blakespear have spoken on various topics at council meetings in advance the filing period.
The filing period closes at 6 p.m. Aug. 8.
2 comments
Sorry guys about the Prop A confusion. I misread some archived stuff, and have eliminated that line. Thank you for pointing it out. I’m new to town and still haven’t fully immersed myself in the issues, but am reaching out to anyone and everyone possible to really get a good understanding of the town and the current political landscape. AB
Julie Graboi has a public record of opposing density bonus and was a leader in suing over the Desert Rose fiasco which the current council approved without an EIR and which must now do a full EIR. Catherine Blakespear has no record on standing for anything publicly except backyard gardens and invasive plants. She did not support Prop A and is supported by those council members who opposed it. She refuses to give a straight answer. Vote Julie Graboi for a strong citizens advocate!
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