ENCINITAS — For the first time in the city's history, Encinitas residents voted for City Council members by geographic district on November 6, 2018, marking a fundamental shift in how the coastal city elects its local leaders. The transition from at-large to district-based elections was part of a statewide trend prompted by the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), which has reshaped municipal governance across the state.
The switch was triggered by a July 2017 demand letter from attorney Kevin Shenkman, who has sent similar letters to dozens of California cities alleging that at-large election systems dilute minority voting power. Rather than face potentially costly litigation, the Encinitas City Council adopted Resolution 2017-82 in August 2017, committing to the transition to district-based elections.
A New Electoral Map
Under the new system, the city was divided into four council districts, with the mayor continuing to be elected at-large. In this first cycle, only Districts 3 and 4 were on the ballot, with Districts 1 and 2 scheduled for 2020 to create staggered terms. In District 3, Planning Commissioner Jody Hubbard challenged incumbent Mark Muir, while in District 4, incumbent Joe Mosca faced retired judge Tony Brandenburg. Catherine Blakespear won the at-large mayoral race on the same ballot.
The new system created confusion for some voters, many of whom were accustomed to casting votes for every council seat. Under the district model, residents could only vote for the candidate in their specific district, leaving some feeling disenfranchised. City officials acknowledged the learning curve and emphasized that the change was intended to ensure more equitable representation across the city's diverse neighborhoods.
Encinitas was far from alone in making the switch. Neighboring cities including Carlsbad, Oceanside, Poway, and Vista had also transitioned to district elections in response to CVRA challenges. Advocates of the new system argued it gives distinct communities — from coastal Leucadia to inland Olivenhain — a stronger voice in city government, while critics contended it fragments the city's sense of unified governance.