Lambert Ling elected chair; Kristen Smith chosen vice chair of Encinitas Senior Citizen Commission

Lambert Ling was elected chair of the Encinitas Senior Citizen Commission on March 17 after Commissioner Collins nominated him and another commissioner seconded the nomination. The commission confirmed Ling by touchscreen vote, with five commissioners voting yes and one abstaining.

Kristen Smith was nominated and elected vice chair after an initial nomination was declined. The vote for vice chair also passed 5–1. Chair Ling will finish the current meeting, then assume the chair role for the coming year.

The leadership votes came early in a meeting that featured introductions from three newly seated commissioners — Julie Thunder, Kristen Smith and Karen Kaden — and a procedural approval of last month’s minutes. Commissioner Angel moved to approve the February 17, 2026 minutes; that motion passed with three voting yes and three abstaining because only incumbents were eligible to vote on those particular outcomes.

The commission has one vacancy on its seven-member roster, staff said, and managers reminded commissioners that meetings are recorded and that staff will assist with procedural items such as touchscreen voting.

Next steps: Chair Ling will preside at the commission’s April meeting. The commission planned no immediate policy actions tied to the leadership change; the newly constituted body moved on to draft work-plan discussions and other agenda items.