People have already started picking up papers to run for Encinitas mayor and one of the two City Council seats on the November ballot.
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The filing period opened Monday, and by the end of the week, two people already had collected their paperwork. Both of them had previously announced their candidacy.
They are Rimga Viskanta, a San Dieguito Union High School District board member who previously served on the Encinitas Union School District, and Brad Lefkowits, one of the founders of the Parents of Encinitas Union School District community group and the chair of the city’s Urban Forest Advisory Committee.
Viskanta is seeking the mayor’s spot, which is currently held by Bruce Ehlers, a former City Council member and former city Planning Commissioner.
Lefkowits is seeking the District 4 City Council spot that’s currently held by Marco San Antonio. A former Olivenhain Water District Board member, San Antonio was appointed to the council spot in January 2024 after Ehlers was elected mayor. District 4 covers Olivenhain and parts of New Encinitas.
Potential candidates currently have until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, to return their paperwork.
In addition to the mayor and the District 4 City Council race, the District 3 council spot is on the Nov. 3 ballot. District 3 primarily covers the city’s Cardiff region. Its current representative, incumbent Joy Lyndes, has announced that she will not seek re-election, and because of that decision, the filing period for the District 3 race is expected be extended. The deadline will shift to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 for races where no incumbent chooses to file, the City Clerk’s office notes.
In the mayor’s race, voters participate citywide and the winning candidate serves a two-year term. Council members are elected by voters on a district basis, and the successful candidates serve four-year terms.
People can obtain candidacy papers from the City Clerk’s office by appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and on Friday, July 24, until 4:30 p.m. City Hall is scheduled to be closed July 31. To make an appointment, call City Clerk Pete Weichers at 760-633-2601 or at [email protected].
In order to run for mayor, candidates must be Encinitas registered voters who are at least 18 years old. In order to run for City Council, candidates must meet those qualifications, plus live within the district they seek to represent.
To obtain information on the district boundary lines, visit: https://encinitas.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e5d56b1cbbb7426eb453b60c2c6b7d31
For regularly updating information on who has picked up election paperwork, who has returned the completed documents, and who has been deemed a qualified candidate, visit encinitasca.gov/government/municipal-elections.
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