In 2012, Lisa Shaffer received the most votes out of a half dozen or so candidates running to serve on the Encinitas City Council. I came in 2nd place that year and so when we took our oath of office that December, we brought two votes which changed the direction of the city. Along with Mayor Teresa Barth, we had three votes to focus more on the environment and creating a more sustainable city.
I enjoyed serving with her and feel like we accomplished a lot together. Over the years, our friendship has grown and we continue to talk regularly about ways to improve our quality of life here in Encinitas.
I’m honored to share with you an essay she wrote about why she thinks the voters in Encinitas should choose me to be the next Mayor.
This is an open letter to thoughtful voters in Encinitas. Although, as some of you know, I now live just inches on the other side of the line dividing Encinitas from Carlsbad, what happens in Encinitas matters to me, and matters to everyone in the region.
Bottom line: I value integrity, experience, and commitment to work within the law for the betterment of the community. For that reason, I encourage you to vote for Tony Kranz for mayor.
I heard a pundit say recently that he wishes elections were about policies and programs, but unfortunately, they’re mainly about theater performance. The skills it takes to get votes are not the same as what it takes to be good at governing, sad to say. Encinitas is a prime example of this. There are candidates for mayor and city council who can activate potential voters with fear and unrealistic promises. But there is one candidate who has the experience and understanding to deliver real results. There is one candidate with a record of working with people of all political persuasions: Tony Kranz.
Tony Kranz has served Encinitas for 10 years. He has worked hard, brought forth his own innovative ideas and supported colleagues to make significant improvements in Encinitas. Among them:
Eliminating single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout containers
Prohibiting vaping in all places where tobacco smoking is banned
Creating an urban forest plan and creating a city arborist position
Updating regulations for urban farming
Updating and activating a climate action plan
Completing two pedestrian rail undercrossings – at. Santa Fe and El Portal
Starting the process to get federal and state authority to make all of Encinitas a quiet zone, eliminating routine train horn noise
Improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, especially around routes to schools
Investing in marine safety by funding the Moonlight Beach safety center
Expanding emergency response capability by adding a fire station in Olivenhain
Purchasing the Pacific View school and funding its rehabilitation as an arts education facility and open space
Banning puppy mills
Banning harmful pesticides containing glyphosates from public spaces
Bringing the city into compliance with state housing laws for the first time in over 20 years
Addressing problems with alcohol-serving establishments in downtown Encinitas
Creating a safe place for unhoused individuals and families to sleep in their cars while they work with social service agencies to improve their situation
Ensuring completion of the streetscape from Marchetta to Basil streets, with the north end construction starting by January
Implementing short-term rental rules that help to protect neighborhoods and eliminate nuisances
Joining a Community Choice Energy program to enable consumers to choose greener energy
Completing the very popular and heavily used Cardiff Rail Trail
Providing space and support for public art as part of freeway bridge improvements for bikes/peds.
Providing support for local businesses during the pandemic
There are lots of myths and misrepresentations in this year’s campaigns. It is easy to make claims and promises when you have no track record and have never been forced to comply with existing laws, even when they are distasteful. Working within the system is a lot harder than throwing darts from outside. It’s easy to talk about more affordable housing, and harder to commit to rezoning a particular parcel in a neighborhood with agitated residents while developers are exercising their legal property rights to build on their land. It’s easy to complain about permits and file appeals, but harder to study and learn what is and is not allowable and vote even though you wish your personal preferences could prevail.
So I implore you to think before you vote. Some of the promises of candidates for mayor and for city council are superficially appealing but totally unrealistic. Please vote for the proven public servant who has earned your vote: Tony Kranz.
Lisa Shaffer
Former Encinitas City Council member