Stocks Named Mayor of Encinitas

After a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Teresa Barth opposed, the Encinitas Mayor is now Jerome Stocks and the Deputy Mayor is Kristin Gaspar. Both were appointed during a special council meeting Tuesday night, and they’ll fill those posts until mid-December 2012. 

Councilman James Bond also ended his run as Mayor Tuesday night, and he made the motion to appoint Stocks and Gaspar to their new roles. Councilman Mark Muir seconded that motion. 

Unlike some other cities, the public does not vote for a mayor in Encinitas. Instead, the council majority decides who will serve. 

Stocks, who was first elected in 2000, got the council majority vote for Mayor in 2003 and 2008. 

Barth, who was first elected in 2006, has never served as Mayor nor Deputy Mayor. Tuesday night was the third time she has not been tagged for either position. 

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Muir said perhaps it was time to consider changing the process for selecting a mayor to make it “more criteria based” — an idea that was supported by Stocks and Bond. 

“I think we’re beyond that small town now,” Bond said. “I think we’d do best with an elected mayor now.”

Shortly after he said that, it became apparent that some residents feel the same way. While some applauded the motion to make Stocks the mayor, dozens chose to stand and turn their backs to council as Stocks spoke to show their displeasure with the vote.

Gaspar said she supported Stocks as mayor due to his proven leadership on council and throughout Encinitas and the region during a rough economic time. Stocks said he was humbled to be taking on the role of mayor and would do his best to serve the community. 

During this next election cycle, the council seats belonging to Stocks, Bond and Muir will be up for grabs. Tuesday night Bond stated that he will not be running for re-election. Stocks did not state if he will run or not. Muir, who was  after , has that he is undecided about running for election. 

Lisa Shaffer, who that was recorded before she passed away, and Tony Kranz, who was runner-up in the last election, have