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Encinitas City Council appoints Marco San Antonio to District 4 seat; sworn‑in date to follow resignation
Summary
After interviewing eight applicants for the District 4 vacancy, the Encinitas City Council appointed Marco San Antonio to fill the seat left open when Bruce Ehlers became mayor. The council voted 4–1; Deputy Mayor Lyons voted no. Council plans a formal swearing‑in once San Antonio resigns his water‑district post.
The Encinitas City Council on Jan. 22 appointed Marco San Antonio to represent District 4, filling the seat vacated when Bruce Ehlers was sworn in as mayor. Following interviews with eight applicants, Councilmember O'Hara moved to appoint San Antonio; the motion was seconded and carried 4–1, with Deputy Mayor Lyons voting no.
San Antonio, a long‑time New Encinitas resident and local business owner, told the council he grew up in the community and emphasized local roots and public‑service experience, including prior service on the Olivenhain Municipal Water District board. In his interview he said he would focus on public safety, infrastructure and responsible growth.
Council discussion referenced the priorities Ehlers and voters emphasized in the recent election — public safety, managing growth and protecting local character — and several council members cited San Antonio’s local ties and prior elected experience as persuasive. Some councilmembers also said they had met or spoken with multiple applicants and weighed a mix of experience, community connections and willingness to run for the seat in 2026 in making their choices.
Council action and next steps: The council directed staff and the new appointee to coordinate a brief swearing‑in once San Antonio resigns from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District; staff said the formal, ceremonial swearing‑in will occur at a future council meeting. The appointment is effective immediately upon the appointee’s resignation from his water‑district post.
Why it matters: The appointment restores a full five‑member council after the mayor’s election and puts an elected District 4 representative in place for the city’s near‑term priorities, including the FY26 work plan and continued discussion of housing and public‑safety measures.
What the council said: Councilmembers repeatedly praised the deep local ties of several applicants; supporters of San Antonio pointed to his prior elected service and neighborhood knowledge. Lyons, who voted no, urged caution about appointments that might yield incumbency advantages in later elections and emphasized the value of preserving the public’s right to choose in 2026.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the resignation / swearing logistics and return with any administrative follow‑up. The appointee may run or not run in 2026; the council did not attach a running‑restriction to its appointment.
