Encintas mayor running for state Senate seat

Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear announced today she plans to run for California’s 36th Senate District in 2022.

The district includes coastal areas of North San Diego County, from Encinitas north to Oceanside and Fallbrook, as well southern portions of Orange County. It is currently represented by state Sen. Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel.

A fourth-generation resident of Encinitas, Blakespear, 45, grew up there and has served on the City Council since 2014, for two years as a council member and four as mayor. She is a Democrat.

During her tenure, the council passed the city’s affordable housing plan and developed a climate action plan to provide 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

Encinitas also improved transportation infrastructure by building its coastal rail trail and expanding protected bike lanes. It also restored 4 acres of sand to its beaches, adding a safeguard against storm surges and sea level rise.

“It used to be cobblestone, so it was essentially unusable,” she said. “Now it’s usable, but also it’s a buffer, protecting Highway 1 from the crashing waves.”

Blakespear also serves as chairwoman of the San Diego Association of Governments and as a board member of San Diego’s Airport Authority, the Encina Wastewater Authority, the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority and the San Dieguito Water District.

Her priorities as a state Senate candidate would focus on “opportunity, sustainability and prosperity,” Blakespear said.

“We know that California right now is really in need of an equitable economic recovery from the pandemic,” she said. “We need bold leadership in tackling the ever growing threat of climate change. That requires action from all levels of government at all times. It’s really important that California continue to be a leader.”

Blakespear aims to offer Californians more choices for zero-emission vehicles and accessible transit and to create jobs in renewable energy. She supports making COVID-19 recovery funds available to small businesses, particularly those owned by women and people of color, and providing resources to help students make up for learning loss experienced during the pandemic.