A Problem Solver for Encinitas

The Encinitas City Council is in dire need of practical and experienced leadership. The City is confronted with a number of difficult challenges, some of which are of its own creation. Foremost among these are the disposition of the Pacific View Elementary School Site and unsustainable budget pressure on the city’s finances including $39M in unfunded pension liability for city workers. Overcoming these challenges will require fiscal prudence and experience running complex organizations while managing within a budget. That’s why I’m supporting Alan Lerchbacker for Encinitas City Council.
Mr. Lerchbacker is a Naval Academy graduate with over 40 years of combined leadership experience as a military officer and civilian. In the Navy, Mr. Lerchbacker rose to the rank of Commander and earned a reputation as a problem solver who could handle the most difficult of missions. Now a civilian, he is a respected leader in industry and has held executive positions in the industrial and private equity sectors. His unique resume provides him with the perfect blend of operational leadership and financial acumen help tackle Encinitas’ challenges.
The City’s handling of the Pacific View real estate acquisition from Encinitas School Board District is illustrative of the City’s need for new leadership. The City purchased the property without a plan for how it was to be used or financed. Most egregiously, the $10 million dollar purchase price was more than $5 million over an appraisal of the property, and was made without any other competitive offers from other bidders. Mr. Lerchbacker would be a voice for accountability on the council and would insist that deals such as this not move forward without proper planning. “A basic responsibility of government is to have a plan for how we are going to use taxpayer’s money. Right now we are the only city in the San Diego region that refuses to have a plan.” Mr. Lerchbacker said. “We need to have a plan that optimizes the use of the City’s assets for the entire community.”
Encinitas’ problems require the leadership of problem solvers like Mr. Lerchbacker on the City Council. The solutions offered by others so far, including potential sales tax increases, promise to only deepen the City’s challenges. Mr. Lerchbacker will insist upon accountability in the City government and will block any further attempts to jeopardize the City’s fiscal health. He is the right man for Encinitas City Council in this election.