CARLSBAD — This November, Carlsbad residents will elect candidates for mayor, City Council districts 1 and 3, treasurer and city clerk.
So far, three candidates have filed to run for mayor, according to the city. The candidates include incumbent Mayor Keith Blackburn and challengers Eric Nixon and Skar.
Incumbent Councilmember Melanie Burkholder and Jennifer Kerwin have filed to run for the District 1 seat. Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel has filed to run for District 3.
Incumbents for city clerk, Sherry Freisinger, and local treasurer, Christian Peacox, have also filed.
Blackburn was first elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2008 and later won the mayor’s seat in 2022. He has served as a police officer for 42 years, including 33 years with the Carlsbad Police Department. Additionally, he has worked in real estate and development, including residential projects and the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
On his campaign website, he notes improving traffic flow with modern traffic signals as a point of emphasis, as well as larger environmental projects like the desalination plant and Agua Hedionda Lagoon stewardship as examples of progress during his time in city politics.
“As your mayor, I want to continue to support the revitalization of Carlsbad Village, as well as preserve open space and maintain our beaches for the enjoyment of future generations,” Blackburn wrote of his 2026 bid. “During our city’s continuing development and improvements, I will continue to use my business experience and public service background to maintain Carlsbad’s financial strength and security.”
Nixon has worked in public health and emergency response. He has been an emergency medical technician and has worked on several public health and safety campaigns throughout San Diego County over the last seven years.
He said that, as mayor, he would prioritize listening to the community and building partnerships to solve problems. Nixon added on his website that he would prioritize quality of life, public safety and smart growth.
“Carlsbad is an incredible city, but it’s at a turning point,” Nixon wrote. “I’m running for mayor because I know what makes this place so special … and I’ve seen how easily that can be lost if we’re not careful. I’m not a career politician. I am someone who’s been in the community, solving real problems, working with real people … and I am ready to lead.”
Skar, listed by legal name on the application form, could not be identified by The Coast News.
Burkholder, who is running for the District 1 City Council seat, is a licensed mental health counselor who runs her own practice in Carlsbad. Prior to that, she served as a special agent for the Secret Service, working on cases involving theft and fraud. She left that career to raise her two children in Carlsbad.
Burkholder emphasized public safety, mental health, homelessness and economic growth as key issues. She added that working with residents on ideas has been the best way to center quality of life in public conversations.
“I have been effective in listening to the needs of residents and implementing policy to address those needs, pushing back on overreach from Sacramento, and being available to and supporting small businesses,” Burkholder said. “Being present for residents has had a great impact, particularly since this seat has had several representatives over the last decade. People want consistent representation from someone who is invested in the community.”
Kerwin, also running for District 1, has served on numerous school district committees and parent-teacher organizations while raising her two children in Carlsbad. Prior to that, she worked in commercial real estate in Austin, Texas and Los Angeles. She has managed projects in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
In reference to her work in school organizations, she wrote on her campaign website that she would bring collaborative problem-solving to a wide range of issues facing the community, including responsible growth, environmental stewardship, safe neighborhoods and a vibrant Village.
“Carlsbad is a special community, and thoughtful leadership is essential as we plan for the future,” Kerwin wrote. “I’m running because I believe residents deserve a voice in the decisions shaping our city.”
Bhat-Patel, running for District 3, is a public health professional who holds a doctorate in public health from Loma Linda University. In that capacity, she worked on statewide initiatives combating domestic violence.
She cites safety, housing, economic development and sustainability as key issues she would like to continue addressing in another term. Bhat-Patel also emphasized transparency as an important tool to achieve those goals, including increasing civic engagement, expanding access to public information and reducing government silos to work more effectively.
“Having grown up in the district, Priya knows how expensive it can be to live here and how out of reach it can seem, even for those who have called the district home their whole lives,” her campaign website said. “Priya recognizes how important it is to not lose local residents who have contributed to the community and local economy by being priced out. An increase in affordable housing has another upside; it also makes it possible for the next generation of business leaders to settle here and drive innovation.”
Freisinger, a certified municipal clerk, retired from the city several years before returning as a part-time employee in the clerk’s office. In 2022, she was elected city clerk.
Peacox became treasurer mid-term in December 2024, but said he is proud of the progress made so far. He said that, with decades of experience in corporate finance and entrepreneurship, he prioritized updating Carlsbad’s investment policy and establishing the city’s first Investment Review Board, among other accomplishments during his tenure.
“I base every decision on the core principles of public funds management: safety of principal, sufficient liquidity, and responsible yield. My goal is simple: protect taxpayer dollars, maintain transparency, and earn public trust,” Peacox wrote. “I’m honored to serve Carlsbad and look forward to continuing this work — and I ask for your support in my re-election.”
