ENCINITAS: Lots of choices in City Council race
Nine candidates vying for three seats on the panel
By RUTH MARVIN WEBSTER - Staff Writer | ∞
ENCINITAS ---- When Encinitas voters go to the polls on Election Day, they'll have plenty of choices in the City Council race: nine candidates are vying for three seats on the panel.
Voters must also decide the future of Proposition K, a measure that would hike the tax on short-term vacation rentals to help fund sand replenishment projects. Prop. K requires a two-thirds majority to pass. In June, a similar measure, labeled Proposition G, was narrowly defeated.
The City Council race is generating the most interest as evidenced by the number of names on the ballot. A 10th candidate, Betsy Aceti, pulled out of the race last month, but her name will still appear before voters.
The candidates are:
-- James Bond, who is running for a fifth term on the council. A retired telephone company executive, the Olivenhain resident has served on the board of directors of the San Diego County Water Authority since 1993 and chairman in 2006 and 2007. He also sits on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In this campaign, Bond has said he has a record of making commonsense decisions.
-- Tony Brandenburg, who has been a North County resident for almost 50 years and lives with his wife and two children in Olivenhain. This is his first time running for City Council. After 16 years on the bench in the Municipal and Superior Court in Vista, Brandenburg retired in 2004 from the Superior Court and was appointed as a chief judge of the Intertribal Court of Southern California. He calls himself an independent voice, decrying the divisiveness he sees on the current council.
-- Rachelle Collier, who has been on the board of the Leucadia Town Council since 2001 and its president since 2006. She is also secretary of the Leucadia 101 MainStreet Association. Growing up in Stamford, Conn., she moved to Encinitas with her husband in 1992. She currently works as a manager of a dental office in Pacific Beach. She says she would like to restore trust in government and encourage involvement in each of Encinitas' five unique communities.
-- Maggie Houlihan, who was first elected to the council in 2000. A vocal animal rights activist, she is a founding member of the Spay-Neuter Action Project and during her terms on the council has repeatedly called for traffic calming, restrained development and city acquisition of open space for conservation and preservation. A retired UC San Diego librarian, she has been a resident of Encinitas for 38 years.
-- Doug Long, a plumber, who grew up in Encinitas. He has been actively involved in the community for over 35 years, serving as chairman of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission, president of the Downtown Encinitas Merchants' Association and vice president of the Encinitas Preservation Association. A supporter of Proposition K, Long considers protecting Encinitas beaches and providing parks and recreation for its residents as two of his top priorities.
-- Bob Nanninga, a freelance writer and co-owner of the E Street Cafe in downtown Encinitas. He has served three terms as a Parks and Recreation commissioner and written an opinion column for the Coast News since 1994. This is Nanninga's third time running for City Council. An outspoken advocate for environmental issues, he said that this time he is also running as a business owner, not simply on his environmental record.
-- Harriet Seldin, a newcomer to Encinitas politics. She is a dentist who lives in Encinitas and works in Clairemont. She is also a founding board member of PADZ, which stands for People and Dog Zones. Appointed by the governor to the Dental Board of California in 2005 and past president of the San Diego County Dental Society, she says she is running on a platform of public health and safety.
-- Joe Sheffo, a former assistant opinion page editor for the North County Times. He previously worked as an aide to Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and to former Assemblyman Mark Wyland. Noting that he has taken a pledge not to raise taxes, city fees or assessments, Sheffo opposes high-density development. He is 20-year resident of Encinitas and graduate of San Dieguito High School.
-- Jerome Stocks, the third incumbent in the race. An insurance business owner, Stocks is a member of the Encinitas Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and past board member and coach of Cardiff Soccer. Since being elected to the council in 2000, he has served on the North County Transit District Board, San Diego Association of Governments and the San Elijo Wastewater Joint Power Authority. He is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and a commonsense approach to local government.
Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 901-4074 or rwebster@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
Zephon wrote on Oct 31, 2008 7:03 PM:I pray that we can rally unitedly and with solidarity around: Collier, Nanninga, and Houlihan for a better Encinitas.
It would be a tragedy to see Stock and Bond to continue the ...
Please vote for Collier, Nanninga and Houlihan.
better representation wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:13 PM:Elect to City Council
Brandenburg
Collier
Houlihan
Ted wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:35 PM:Let's see... Collier called a press conference to lie about her stand on needle exchange and was caught. Nanninga's campaign contributor Gary Tucker ran the candidates forum. houlihan's shown several times she's not a real representative of the people.
Voter wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:20 PM:Our city is a great city with our new library, Cottonwood Creek Park, and the Moonlight Beach play area. Jerome Stocks supported all of these and made sure our city had excellent reserves for a rainy day which appears to be on the way.
I want Jerome Stocks to help us get through the rain. I'm voting Jerome Stocks.
Woof wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:40 PM:Rochele Collie said "My mommy taught me not to lie..."
But then, oops, she lied at her first press conference as a candidate for public office... Turns out she supports needle exchange programs for junkies after all and the automated phone calls were just making sure the public knew how she TRULY stood on this important public policy issue...
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. What's the problem in the public knowing where you stand on this issue? Be opoen and honest and "transparent" with the public. Tell them you want junkies exchanging their dirty needles in your neighborhoods!
Zephon wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:58 AM:As far as I know Collier's press conference was about how Stock was portraying her regarding the needle exchange program and not about her views on needle exchange. I saw no lies portrayed by her on this issue.
Collier's reputation in Leucadia is pristine and it my understanding that she has worked hard altruistically to help her community improve there.
Nanninga has consistently worked as a environmental steward.
Houlihan is one of the only council representatives that listen to the citizens, ie: Hall Property, against special interest groups, ie: developers.
can_i_get_witness wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:29 AM:Bond=with all due respect, needs to retire.
Collier=wants to pull the council together, to compromise in order to take care of business.
Houlihan=doesn't support big development.
Doug Long=who knows.
Bob Nanniga=environmental focus is welcomed.
Seldin & Sheffo=who knows?
Stocks=doesn't represent the citizens of Encinitas. He represents special interest. If you've ever watched him at a council meeting, you know he doesn't have any patience for others opinion. It's time he step down. It's too personal for him.
Ann wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:30 AM:Brandenburg has not been involved in this city on any level and knows none of the issues. Vote only for Collier & Houlihan and let's break the developer hold on this city.
Ann J. wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:47 AM:Nanninga is the choice for wise growth and smart restraint. Bob is a vote for historic preservation and ecological restoration
Pro business and pro environment equals pro Encinitas.
Please join me, my friends and neighbors, and vote to elect Bob Nanninga to the Encinitas city Council.
Mary wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:11 AM:Sheffo is my choice. Houlihan whines too much. "James" Bond is getting senile. Jerome is too full of himself - too close to Christy Guerin. Doug Long is a good old boy.
Get rid of the incumbents - VOTE SHEFFO!
Best wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:54 AM:Elect
Brandenburg
Collier
Houlihan
Old Timer wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:56 AM:We have to keep Stocks who else will provide Mr Oiler his information so he can use it to carry on his "Poor me Crusade".....
Jessy wrote on Nov 1, 2008 4:45 PM:James Bond said he would not run this election numerous times, I guess he's either a liar or has lost it.
Jerome Stocks has lied so many times, people think that he does not know how to tell the truth.
What he does no how to do, is take political contributions from Employee Unions and Developers.
You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. Right?
He also approved 14% increase in salaries and huge pension increases for all of City Hall. Is that someone you want running City Hall?
John E wrote on Nov 1, 2008 5:58 PM:It is regrettable that Collier, Nanninga, Sheffo, and Brandenburg will be pulling voters from a common pool. With a field of 6 challengers, the 3 incumbents have a clean shot at re-election.
If we do not adopt either term limits, a primary-and-runoff format, or instant runoff / preference voting, we will end up with more than our share of 20-year (5-term) council members.
Annie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:25 PM:Not Brandenburg. He's one of the good old boys. No more of his ilk.
Raoul wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:43 PM:BRANDENBURG is the only real choice:
Educated
Impartial
Long-Time Resident
Knows how to handle the REAL issues facing Encinitas (not just the NIMBY issues)
T wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:07 AM:John E:
It is regrettable that people wish to participate in the democratic process? Sounds elitist to me! I believe in the process, and I find it amusing that people fear the results of a fair election. When more than two candidates (parties) run, we get to see exactly how the process works. Look what happened when Ross Perot ran a viable third party campaign for president. People were sweating the possible outcome! Sounds like people in Encinitas are doing the same…
Nic wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:38 PM:Anyone still doubt that Stocks, Bond and Long are slimy after the last week of robocalls that try to distract, scare and mislead voters from the real issues?
Houlihan, Collier and (Nanninga or Brandenburg). Let's take our city back.
- OCEANSIDE: Killer may be granted parole (5471)
- SOLANA BEACH: Pregnant woman, fetus killed in I-5 hit-and-run (4332)
- CHARGERS: Sproles carries Bolts to playoff win over Colts (4074)
- ENCINITAS: Carlsbad has questions about Encinitas shopping center plan (3362)
- Game face: Neil Strauss is back with another pickup book (2761)
Advertisement
Videos
Advertisement