Twenty-year Encinitas resident Susan Turney announced her candidacy for City Council District 2 last month.

Turney launched her “Residents First” campaign in a March 16 news release and filed papers with the city Feb. 18 and April 1. She faces current District 2 Councilwoman Kellie Shay Hinze, who was appointed by the City Council to fill a vacancy. Hinze filed papers for the 2020 race on Jan. 27.

“I will work to preserve the unique character of each of our five communities and always put the interests of our residents first over special interests,” Turney said in her announcement.

Turney noted her involvement in the Proposition A “Right to Vote” campaign in 2013. Voters approved the measure, which put limits on building heights and required a vote of residents on new housing projects.

Critics of Proposition A maintain that the limits it imposes have compromised the city’s ability to successfully craft a California-mandated growth plan. Supporters cite the measure as an additional check on overdevelopment and special interests.

“Susan believes firmly that the overblown plans and the city’s delayed actions to develop a Housing Element Update, not Prop A itself, resulted in Encinitas’ inability to comply with state law,” Turney’s news release stated.

Turney also cited the city’s lawsuit against residents over Proposition A as another reason for seeking office.

“Following the council’s recent action to sue its own residents to eliminate their Prop A vote on Housing Element Updates, Susan decided to run for District 2 against the mayor-appointed council member Kellie Shay Hinze,” the announcement stated.

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