There’s about a week left in the candidate filing period for Encinitas city races, and already the three spots on the Nov. 3 ballot could have two candidates each, data from the City Clerk’s Office indicates.
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In the mayor’s race, incumbent Bruce Ehlers and previously announced challenger Rimga Viskanta have picked up papers indicating their intent to run.
Ehlers is a former City Council member and a former planning commissioner, while Viskanta currently is a San Dieguito Union High School District board member and a former Encinitas Union School District board member.
The mayor is elected by voters citywide and serves a two-year term. Council members are elected by voters in a given district and serve four-year terms.
Two City Council district races are on the Nov. 3 ballot: one for District 3 and one for District 4. District 3 primarily covers the Cardiff region. District 4 covers the city’s eastern regions, including Olivenhain and the area around Park Dale Lane Elementary.
The incumbent in the District 4 race — Marco San Antonio, a sign business owner and former Olivenhain Municipal Water District Board member — has collected his candidacy paperwork. Previously announced challenger Brad Lefkowits, one of the founders of the Parents of Encinitas Union School District community group and chair of the city’s Urban Forest Advisory Committee, also has pulled paperwork.
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Candidates for the mayor and District 4 spots will have until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to return their completed paperwork to the City Clerk’s Office.
The deadline to file for the District 3 City Council seat is expected to be extended until Aug. 12. That’s because the incumbent — Joy Lyndes — isn’t expected to file candidacy paperwork. She announced early this year that she wouldn’t seek re-election.
Interest in Lyndes’ council spot already is evident. Two people — Arielle Golden and Ed Sprague — have picked up papers since the filing period opened July 13. A third person — Jonathan Warshauer — initially picked up the paperwork, then withdrew from the candidacy process two days later.
Golden has a background in food supply and previously served on the California Food Policy Council. Sprague is a retired firefighter and a former Olivenhain Municipal Water District board member.
To run for mayor, candidates must be Encinitas registered voters at least 18 years old. To run for City Council, candidates must meet those qualifications, plus live within the district they seek to represent.
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