ENCINITAS — In a ceremonial changing of the guard Tuesday night, newly elected city leaders took oaths of office and outgoing representatives delivered farewell remarks before stepping down from the dias for the final time.
During the meeting, Mayor-elect Bruce Ehlers briefly outlined his vision for Encinitas, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the city’s small beach-town character and clean coastal environment.
Ehlers, a former District 4 representative, said his leadership would prioritize collaboration and nonpartisanship, focusing on what is best for Encinitas.
“This is not a left or a right thing … this is about Encinitas,” he said, reiterating his commitment to centering the city’s needs over political affiliations.
During the meeting, Ehlers also nominated Councilmember Joy Lyndes for the position of deputy mayor, highlighting her extensive experience and tenure on the council as key qualifications for the role.
Newly elected council members Luke Shaffer (District 1) and Jim O’Hara (District 2) supported Ehlers’ recommendation, which led to Lyndes’ unanimous appointment to the role.
Outgoing Mayor Tony Kranz, Councilmember Kelly Hinze and outgoing Deputy Mayor Allison Blackwell were recognized by community members, local leaders and organizations for their service to the city. While most reflections highlighted their achievements in infrastructure improvements, affordable housing initiatives and environmental preservation, others criticized the former leaders’ approaches to local governance.
New Officials Sworn In
Ehlers, a former planning chairman, emphasized the importance of thoughtful leadership and community engagement. During his campaign, Ehlers centered his message on reinforcing local control over development decisions and opposing state-imposed housing policies he deemed excessive and impractical.
“My number one vision, in a nutshell, is maintaining our small beach-town ambiance and clean coastal environment,” Ehlers said. “And that, to me, encapsulates it.”
Running on a platform that echoed similar messaging, Shaffer, a lifelong Encinitas resident, military veteran and high school coach, expressed his commitment to representing the city’s interests.
“Everything I decide and will do is in the best interest of Encinitas,” he said. “Progression is a part of our future, but I’m hopeful that it is Encinitas that can grow it in the way we see fit.”
O’Hara, owner of the event management company Race San Diego LLC., echoed a similar sentiment, highlighting the community as the city’s greatest asset.
“Everytime someone comes up to me and says something about congratulations for running, or congratulations for winning the election, I think about all of the weight that it carries with it and the burden,” O’Hara said. “And I want you to know that that is something I will carry with me in every discussion we have.”
Reflections from Outgoing Officials
Blackwell, who served on the council for two years, expressed gratitude to her family, staff, and the community for their support. She urged the incoming elected officials to represent all constituents, including those not voting for them.
Blackwell further emphasized fostering civility during council meetings and encouraging respect and dignity in public discourse.
“I hope that the new council members realize they did not win their races with 100% vote for them,” Blackwell said. “There were thousands of people who voted for Mayor Kranz and for me and for Destiny Preston, and those thousands of people still expect that you’re going to represent them well here.”
Hinze thanked her friends and family in attendance for their support during her tenure.
“The thing about Encinitas is that we’re all committed to it, and we’re all committed to seeing the city continue to flourish,” Hinze said. “So with that, I say thank you.”
Addressing the challenges of implementing state housing laws locally, Kranz described the past years as a “political science experiment” where Sacramento policies led to unpopular decisions at the local level.
He recounted the city’s efforts to comply with state housing mandates, including failed ballot measures, court-ordered compliance, and visible impacts of housing element laws.
“It will present the new council with some very difficult decisions, but ultimately, I think it’s critical that cities stay compliant with the law,” Kranz said.
Kranz, who spent 12 years on the council, including as mayor, cited Emily Dickinson’s poem “I Dwell in Possibility,” which he related to the opportunities and challenges of housing and governance.
With those reflections, Kranz formally transitioned the meeting to the next agenda item, marking the end of his time as mayor and the beginning of new leadership for Encinitas.
The newly seated council will face critical decisions, including appointing a replacement for Ehlers’ former council seat, selecting a new city manager, and addressing ongoing housing, infrastructure, and community engagement challenges. Community members expressed optimism and high expectations for the council’s future actions.
“As mayor, I’m one vote, I’m one out of five, I’m not two out of five, I’m not one and a half out of five, I’m one out of five, and it takes three to do anything up here,” Ehlers said. “This is a participative sport. I don’t do anything alone up here; we don’t do anything alone up here, and we need your input.”
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““I hope that the new council members realize they did not win their races with 100% vote for them,” Blackwell said. “There were thousands of people who voted for Mayor Kranz and for me and for Destiny Preston, and those thousands of people still expect that you’re going to represent them well here.””
Hilarious, Name one time, just one, where the Blakespear hang represented anyone but developers and the Limousine Liberals that continually poured money into their campaigns to overwhelm any opponents?
Good riddance.