Encinitas Says Give Barth a Chance

On Wednesday, January 19, Encinitas city council will decide whether to give residents of Encinitas the power to elect a mayor. Currently, the city council appoints a member as mayor by a three-fifths majority vote. After acting as mayor for one year, the appointee steps down and council appoints another member as mayor.

The debate occurs one month after the city council chose to appoint four-term councilmember James Bond the mayor of Encinitas, overlooking councilmember Teresa Barth for the second year.

During the December 15 council meeting, the mayoral conveyor belt seized up and skipped over Barth. Several residents objected to Bond's appointment as mayor and implored councilmembers to give Barth a chance.

After the discussion, Mayor Bond stated that his first order of business would be to discuss the option of placing a measure on next year's ballot that would take the council out of the equation and give residents the power to select a mayor.

If approved, the cities of Del Mar and Solana Beach will be the only cities in the county where councilmembers are responsible for appointing the mayor.

During Wednesday's meeting, the city council and Mayor Bond will debate whether to make the term a two- or four-year post. If, however, the city council decides to keep the current policy, then the members can opt to establish a formal rotation method for the appointment of mayors.