Encinitas Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Bruce Ehlers
Candidate for Mayor (incumbent)
Bruce Ehlers, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Encinitas in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Rimga Viskanta.
Ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayMayor of Encinitas since 2024, elected to the City Council in 2022 and a two-time Planning Commissioner. He chaired the Planning Commission most recently.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Mayor, City of Encinitas
- Campaign website
- www.bruceforencinitas.com
Marco San Antonio was appointed to the District 4 seat in January 2024 after Bruce Ehlers was elected mayor; the Nov. 3 ballot offers a full four-year term. City of Encinitas
All six candidates, including mayoral candidates Bruce Ehlers and Rimga Viskanta, answered questions at a Sept. 17, 2026 League of Women Voters forum. The Coast News
Where Bruce Ehlers stands: positions on the record
Local control2 sourced positions
Candidate statement says he supports local land use control and opposes state mandates.
“He supports local land use control and opposes state mandates.”
Own statementBruce Ehlers candidate statement, City of Encinitas Clerk · Aug 1, 2026
Supported the council resolution backing the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative (passed 4-1, May 2025).
Council voteThe Coast News · May 17, 2025
Homelessness grants1 sourced position
Voted yes to deny applying for a state Encampment Resolution Funding grant (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteEncinitas City Council minutes, June 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026
Homelessness approach1 sourced position
As reported by The Coast News
Chose treatment first over housing first at the League of Women Voters forum (Sept. 2026).
“It’s not compassionate to just put them in a house and let them do drugs”
Forum answerThe Coast News
License plate readers1 sourced position
As reported by The Coast News
Told The Coast News he supports the city's license plate reader program and has not seen a breach in how it is used.
“So far, I have not seen any breach in how we use them”
Own statementThe Coast News
Red-light cameras1 sourced position
As reported by The Coast News; not a direct quote
Said yes at a forum when asked whether the city should bring back red-light cameras (all six candidates did, Sept. 2026).
Forum answerThe Coast News
Wildfire evacuation1 sourced position
Voted yes to direct staff to scope an Evacuation Master Plan and draft objective evacuation standards (passed 5-0, Aug. 2026).
Council voteEncinitas City Council minutes, Aug. 26, 2026 · Aug 26, 2026
City budget1 sourced position
Moved to adopt the FY 2026-27 operating budget and capital improvement appropriations (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteEncinitas City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026
Traffic safety1 sourced position
Voted yes to approve the Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission's FY 2026-27 work plan with added enforcement and curb-daylighting goals (passed 4-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteEncinitas City Council minutes, Aug. 26, 2026 · Aug 26, 2026
Environmental Commission1 sourced position
Voted no on approving the Environmental Commission's FY 2026-27 work plan (passed 3-1, with one abstention, Aug. 2026).
Council voteEncinitas City Council minutes, Aug. 26, 2026 · Aug 26, 2026
What Bruce Ehlers said vs. how Bruce Ehlers voted
Local control
In their words
Candidate statement says he supports local land use control and opposes state mandates.
Aug 1, 2026 ·Bruce Ehlers candidate statement, City of Encinitas Clerk · Aug 1, 2026
On the record
Supported the council resolution backing the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative (passed 4-1, May 2025).
May 17, 2025 ·The Coast News · May 17, 2025
Also running for Mayor
All 6 Encinitas candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
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