What qualifies someone to be appointed to the Encinitas City Council? Two or three years living in the city with little public footprint outside a brief stint on the Parks and Recreation Commission. The one sitting council member to question this? Mark Muir.

Encinitas Parks and Recreation Commission member Joe Mosca will fill a vacant seat on the Encinitas City Council after the council voted 3-1 on Jan. 11 in favor of his appointment.

Encinitas Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear retains her sound lead for the city's mayoral seat as housing Measure T fails, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, as of 10:30 a.m. Nov. 9. Incumbent Dave Roberts holds a narrow lead over current Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar in the San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 3 race, county returns show. Local school improvement bonds are passing widely.

Catherine S. Blakespear is on track to be the next mayor of Encinitas, with City Council incumbents Tony Kranz and Mark Muir, and newcomer Tasha Horvath Boerner, joining the dais, according to county election results as of 11:50 Tuesday night. Incumbent Dave Roberts was ahead in the District 3 race for San Diego County supervisor.

The North Coast Current’s editorial leadership suggests the following candidates for several Nov. 8 races affecting the city of Encinitas. The nature of this year’s local campaign reflects some of what we’ve seen nationally, with preferred candidates taking positions on issues that are at odds with other aspects that make those candidates appealing.