ENCINITAS — Encinitas voters elected Kellie Shay Hinze and Joe Mosca to the City Council on Tuesday, adding two new voices to a governing body that will face critical decisions on housing, infrastructure, and the city's relationship with the State of California over the next four years. Both candidates ran on platforms emphasizing pragmatic governance, community engagement, and finding workable solutions to the housing challenges that have dominated Encinitas politics.
Hinze, a former journalist and community volunteer, topped the field with 28% of the vote in the four-candidate race. She campaigned on a message of transparency and collaboration, arguing that the council needed members who could bridge the gap between slow-growth advocates and those pushing for state-mandated housing compliance. Kellie Hinze told supporters at her election night gathering that Encinitas doesn't need more fighting — it needs leaders who can sit down, listen to all sides, and find a way forward.
Mosca, a former mayor of Sierra Madre who relocated to Encinitas several years ago, finished second with 24% of the vote. He brought executive experience to the race and campaigned on fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and a measured approach to development that would meet state requirements while protecting neighborhood character.
Issues at Stake
The 2018 council election was shaped by several defining issues. The city's Housing Element — the state-mandated plan for accommodating new residential growth — remained a source of fierce debate, with Encinitas facing the threat of legal action if it failed to demonstrate adequate planning for future housing. A 2013 voter initiative known as Proposition A requires voter approval for density increases, creating a tension between local preferences and state mandates. Voters had already rejected the Housing Element update (Measure T) in 2016, and Measure U on this same 2018 ballot also failed, further complicating the city's compliance with state housing law.
Infrastructure concerns also featured prominently in the campaign. Aging roads, inadequate stormwater systems, and the need for improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities were raised repeatedly at candidate forums. Both Hinze and Mosca pledged to prioritize infrastructure spending and explore new funding mechanisms.
The new council will be seated in December, joining incumbents Tony Kranz, Catherine Blakespear, and Jody Hubbard. Political observers expect the reconstituted council to take a more collaborative approach to the housing debate, potentially breaking the gridlock that has characterized Encinitas politics on the issue for several years.