The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosts an online City Council candidate forum Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. via the Zoom virtual meeting platform.

The online format is in keeping with Encinitas and other north San Diego County cities that have taken the same approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The four candidates are vying for Carlsbad’s District 2 and District 4 seats have ties to the Chamber of Commerce, the organization stated in a news release.

“We are gratified to see such highly qualified candidates running for public office here in Carlsbad,” Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bret Schanzenbach said in the announcement. “All of these candidates have been engaged with us at the Carlsbad Chamber for extended periods of time through many different committees and activities. This event will give the public a great chance to get to know these candidates the way we do.”

Keith Blackburn and Lela Panagides are running for District 2, which includes McClellan-Palomar Airport and Legoland to the west, and east and south to Rancho Carrillo. Teresa Acosta and Phil Urbina seek the seat for District 4, which borders Encinitas to the south and includes Batiquitos Lagoon and La Costa.

District 4 is up for election for the first time since Carlsbad went to a district-based City Council.

Chamber Board Chairman Matt Leonard will moderate the event.

Residents are invited to submit questions for the candidates by email to ceo@carlsbad.org. To register to attend the forum, click here.

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