Local school board trustee Rimga Viskanta launched her bid for Encinitas mayor Wednesday, Feb. 4, marking an active week of announcements for the City Council this election season.
The announcement comes within days of the first announced candidate for Encinitas City Council, Brad Lefkowits for District 4.
Current Mayor Bruce Ehlers was elected in 2024 for a two-year term, unseating Tony Kranz.
In a news release, Viskanta highlighted her years on the boards of the San Dieguito Union High School District, on which she currently serves, and formerly the Encinitas Union School District. She was first elected to the Encinitas Union board in 2016 and served as board president in 2020. Then in 2022, she was elected to the San Dieguito board, serving as board president until 2024.
“I’m running for Mayor to bring my open-minded, forward-thinking, and practical leadership style to tackle the challenges facing Encinitas today, while strengthening our community as we plan for our future together,” Viskanta said in the news release.
She cited her 20 years living in the community, raising her children here; her work in residential property management and accounting; and her time as part of Solana Beach’s city staff, where she worked with various agencies, nonprofit groups and residents on issues such as homelessness and sustainability.
“As Mayor, I’ll focus on results and bringing people together to tackle housing, traffic, climate change, and homelessness,” Viskanta said in the announcement. “I understand how city government works from the inside, and I know how to turn good ideas into real outcomes. I’ll lead with transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to move Encinitas forward.”
The news release outlined Viskanta’s focus on a regional approach to addressing homelessness, improved street safety, community involvement and climate.
“I will draw on my experiences from staff-level implementation, regional coordination, and experience building consensus to be ready on Day One to take on the issues facing Encinitas and deliver real results,” she said.
More information about Viskanta’s campaign is available online at voteforviskanta.com.
