CARLSBAD — Six candidates are vying for two seats on the City Council.
In District 1, Linda Breen, Tracy Carmichael, Barbara Hamilton and Dave McGee are looking to fill the void left by Mark Packard, who decided against running for re-election.
In District 3, Priya Bhat-Patel and Corrine Busta will fill the void left after incumbent Michael Schumacher announced he will not seek re-election.
Mail-in ballots will be sent out on Oct. 8 and the general election is Nov. 6.
Each has different views and visions for the city and the results of the election could change the philosophy and ideology of the council for the next four years.
The candidates gathered on Sept. 13 for a public forum at the Dove Library, which is the only known public forum they will participate in this election cycle.
Regardless, each has a different viewpoint on the state of the city, although most agree the operations of the city has been a success over the years.
Breen, an engineer and small business owner, has said her top three issues are the division from Measure A, which failed in 2016, traffic and safety and protecting the coastline. McGee, a surfer and residential mortgage broker, said living in the Barrio has made him protective of the neighborhood, while he also champions for better access and protections of Carlsbad’s coastline.
Hamilton, a sustainability professional, said her top concerns center on the rapid change of the Village and Barrio followed by traffic and parking in the Village and the homeless. Carmichael, the former Carlsbad Unified School District board trustee, said public safety, local control for government and communicating with residents are her top three priorities.
Bhat-Patel, a health professional working on her doctorate degree, said her top concerns are development, traffic and the McClellan-Palomar Airport Master Plan update. Busta, meanwhile, a former sailor in the U.S. Navy and grants manager for San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, said her top priorities include public safety, protecting the city from overdevelopment to make sure any project remains consistent with community standards and being smart and responsible with tax revenue.
For the full transcripts of each candidate’s response to Coast News questions, please find the links below:
For full transcripts from Matt Hall and Cori Schumacher, please click here:
2 comments
Busta just took a big donation from one of the developers who wants to build on Marja Acres. THAT isn’t even in the district she would be representing. so why would he donate to her campaign? Maybe because he thinks she has a chance to win and therefore wants her vote? Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen folks. Vote for Priya…because she grew up here and doesn’t take money from developers.
Anyone who wants to understand what is going on here need simply peruse the Financial Disclosures from all candidates. This information is readily accessible on the city’s website. Carmichael and Busta are Hall’s lackeys and are willing to do his bidding. Each in her own way represents a step backward. Vote for anyone other than those two and you’d be doing Carlsbad and its residents a great service.
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