NEW MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, CLERK COMING FOR CARLSBAD

Hall says he’s retiring at end of year after serving community for decades

A new mayor, new city clerk and at least one new City Council member will come on board in Carlsbad with this year’s general election.

Mayor Matt Hall has said he plans to retire at the end of 2022 after serving three four-year terms as mayor, preceded by four terms as a council member, a total of 28 years as a Carlsbad elected official. He also was an appointee on the city’s Planning Commission for 10 years before that.

“It’s been a real honor and a pleasure to be able to serve the community,” Hall said recently. “Things have really gone in a positive way. I’ve been able to work with some really special people.”

The official filing period for next November’s election is yet to be scheduled, but it will begin sometime in midsummer. Still, some people have formed campaign committees and taken other steps to indicate their intentions.

The only apparent candidate so far for mayor is Councilmember Keith Blackburn, a retired police officer who’s been on the council since he was first elected in 2008. His Blackburn for Mayor fundraising committee had a cash balance of $121,534 as of June 30, according to the most recent available statement, filed Aug. 2 with the city clerk’s office.

Blackburn was re-elected to the District 2 council seat in 2020. If he is elected mayor, the council will have to appoint someone or hold a special election to fill the two years remaining in his term as a council member.

The city treasurer position also is up for election in November, and so far no one has announced their intention to run for that job. The current officeholder,