Kranz, Ehlers to run for Encinitas mayor
Incumbent mayor to face first-term councilman in race for Encinitas mayor with infrastructure and homeless two priority issues
ENCINITAS — Longtime Planning Commissioner Bruce Ehlers announced he will challenge incumbent Mayor Tony Kranz in November.
Ehlers filed his candidate intention statement on Monday and confirmed with North County Pipeline his candidacy. Kranz filed his statement in October 2023 to run for re-election.
Kranz was elected mayor in 2022 succeeding Catherine Blakespear, who left office after she won her election to the state senate. Kranz was first elected to the City Council in 2012, while Ehlers was on the Planning Commission before being removed by Blakespear and the council in 2022 after he announced his candidacy for the City Council.
In Encinitas, the mayor is elected every two years, while council members are every four.
Ehlers, who authored Proposition A, said his platform will focus on local control and infrastructure, noting the city’s deteriorating roads, drainage issues in Leucadia and public safety. He said the city’s infrastructure has long been problematic noting at least six sinkholes due to rusted corrugated metal pipes, while Leucadia has been ignored for years.
“When I ran two years ago, my announcement was titled ‘Has Encinitas lost its way?’ and the answer is yes,” Ehlers explained. “Repairing infrastructure, public safety and getting more traffic enforcement, I support the repeal of Prop. 47 and changing that because I think it’s had disastrous effects on local retail. And continue to address homelessness. I’m an advocate for both carrot and stick.”
He also pointed to a 2008 policy for how the city would approach local control and fight against legislation from Sacramento on a myriad of issues related to land use. Ehlers said the policy states the city will oppose the state “usurping” land use ordinances and expanding the state Density Bonus Law.
The policy was amended in 2019 by Blakespear and approved by the City Council and added a new policy to support state legislation to meet state housing goals, Ehlers said. However, Ehlers was able to reverse the action, but wants to know why the council, and Kranz, amended the policy.
Ehlers said he will continue to fight for local control, noting how Blakespear and the council sued residents twice to override Prop. A. Each time the court ruled against the city.
Kranz said the issue is more complex than Ehlers discussed and it was the city defending itself against Housing Element lawsuits from the state. Kranz said the City Council, at the behest of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, voted to challenge Prop. A, which Kranz voted against.
His other priorities include refocusing on basic infrastructure, repairing storm drains, investing in road and pavement repairs. He said the storm drain funds have increased from $250,000 to $500,000, but more must be invested due to inflated costs and economic factors.
Ehlers said his goal is to increase the funding to $1 million to $2 million, but it will have to wait as the “free capital funds” are committed elsewhere. Leucadia, meanwhile, is another sore spot as flooding in January rekindled calls from residents to the city to tackle the issue now.
“The total cost for Leucadia drainage … is $51 million remaining,” Ehlers added. “But there is a lot of interim steps that we can do to solving the drainage.”
Kranz, meanwhile, said his track record is proven and noted how under his leadership and time on the council, the city has moved forward infrastructure improvements, railroad crossings, quiet zones and stormwater facilities, to name a few.
“There’s a lot of history I’m privy to that I think gives me an advantage in getting these projects over the finish line,” Kranz added. “I think voters appreciate that experience I have. I haven’t really got the sense there is a whole lot of dissatisfaction with what I’m doing.”
He said one of area where the city has made great strides is with the homeless population. The city opened a joint shelter with the city of Vista with 12 beds dedicated to Encinitas and serves as a transitional center to move those individuals into permanent housing, Kranz said.
Also, investments in social workers and a dedicated team from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department have helped the city tackle the issue, he said. Kranz said a second social worker was approved several months ago and will assist in the city’s mission to help the homeless.
Another big win for Kranz and the city has been the acquisition of Surfer’s Point. The city recently issued $5.7 million in bonds to preserve 1.43 acres as open space, according to The Coast News.
“I think it was my leadership that was a big part of that,” Kranz added. “But at the same time, Bruce and I served on a subcommittee to make that work. I’m not discounting his participation. This is one of those businesses in Encinitas nobody can do anything alone to get things done. It takes three votes and where we can work together, we do. The number of times we’ve been in disagreement is pretty minimal.”
As for a potential next term, Kranz said some projects in the pipeline are scheduled but may encounter funding challenges, especially with state grants. However, he said the city is actively pursuing two at-grade rail crossings in Leucadia, which are in the design phase.
Also in design a citywide quiet zone throughout the rail corridor, which will run from Leucadia Boulevard to Chesterfield Drive.
Another project in the works is funding from the San Diego Association of Governments, which Kranz sits on the Board of Directors, for the next phase of the Coastal Rail Trail from Santa Fe Drive to E Street.
“There are a lot of great projects underway,” he added. “Santa Fe Drive will be improved, there are things happening on Highway 101 in the north end. I’m very proud what I’ve accomplished as my two years as mayor and my 10 years as a City Council member.”
In addition to the mayoral race, incumbent Councilwoman Allison Blackwell will run for re-election in District 1 and Destiny Preston in D2. Preston has been endorsed by most of the council and will seek the seat currently held by Kellie Hinze, who announced last month she will not run for re-election due to family obligations.
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*Correction: Kranz clarified statements about the origins of the Prop. A lawsuits and said the California Department of Housing and Community Development engaged with the City Council to challenge Prop. A, which Kranz voted against but was outvoted, 4-1.