The City of Carlsbad administered the Oath of Office for its newly elected officials on Tuesday, along with recognizing outgoing Mayor Matt Hall and District 1 City Council Member Peder Norby.
The election results, which were certified by the County of San Diego Registrar of Voters on Dec. 8, are as follows:
Mayor
Keith Blackburn
Council Member, District 1
Melanie Burkholder
Council Member, District 3
Priya Bhat-Patel
City Clerk
Sherry Freisinger
City Treasurer
Craig J. Lindholm
Next steps
The City Council is scheduled to discuss options for filling the District 2 vacancy at its Jan. 10 meeting. The vacancy was created when Keith Blackburn was elected mayor. He previously served as the District 2 City Council Member for a term ending in 2024.
According to section 2.04.110 of the city’s municipal code, the City Council has two options to fill the vacancy, appoint someone or hold a special election. Based on the vacancy being officially declared on Jan. 10, 2023, these deadlines would apply:
Jan. 24 Deadline for City Council to decide how to fill the vacancy
Feb. 24 Deadline to make appointment, if that option is chosen
Nov. 7 Date of special election, if that option is chosen
Carlsbad voters have also authorized the City of Carlsbad to spend over $1 million of city general funds to renovate and expand Monroe Street Pool, located next to Carlsbad High School in northern Carlsbad. The ballot measure was needed because of Proposition H, a Carlsbad-specific law that requires voter approval for certain construction projects that cost more than $1 million in general city funds. The City Council will discuss next steps at an upcoming meeting.
