Mayor — City of Solana Beach

Lesa Heebner has lived in Solana Beach for 44 years in neighborhoods east and west of I-5, north and south of Lomas Santa Fe and on both sides of Highway 101. She appreciates the natural beauty of its coastal setting, eclectic style and small town quality of life.

Before her election to City Council in 2004, Heebner led the successful grassroots effort to create the Coastal Rail Trail design we enjoy today. She also served on the Solana Beach View Assessment Commission.

During her three terms on City Council, Heebner helped to convert Fletcher Cove from an asphalt parking lot into a popular gathering space, build the Cliff Street pedestrian bridge, update Fletcher Cove Community Center and Fletcher Cove Park, complete a beautiful upgrade to Highway 101, purchase property to expand La Colonia Park, preserve the land at the City’s northern border as open space, now known as Harbaugh Seaside Trails, and led the vote to stop an overwhelmingly unpopular consultant-driven proposal for roundabouts on the east side. 

Additionally, she was on the Councils that enacted the first single-use plastic bag ban in San Diego County and launched the first Community Choice Energy program and approved the City’s Climate Action Plan. Heebner travelled to Washington DC multiple times to advocate for approval for the Army Corp of Engineers 50-year sand replenishment program for our beaches.

She served for 10 years as the primary Board member on SANDAG and three as Chair of the SANDAG Regional Planning Committee. She was both a Primary and Alternate Board member of North County Transit District (NCTD), and the San Dieguito River Valley JPA, and served on numerous Council sub-Committees, including the Community Relations Committee composed of Solana Beach and Del Mar Council members and Fairgrounds Board members.

Heebner's business career began in 1981 as a stockbroker with EF Hutton. Later, she developed a successful culinary business that featured her talents as an author, TV chef, professional speaker, and as a nationally known kitchen designer. Heebner launched Lesa Heebner & Associates in 2017 to mentor entrepreneurs and cause-driven individuals. 

Heebner graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 1980, with a BA in History, and Minors in Economics and Communications. She lives with her husband of 35 years, Don Davis, and their Maine Coon cat Scout.

Solana Beach has been my home for 44 years, probably for the same reasons it’s yours ... the natural beauty of our coastal setting, small town character and quality of life.  But, with 

several complex problems confronting us, soon we won’t recognize Solana Beach unless we take decisive action. 

We face the loss of local control over what’s built in Solana Beach neighborhoods due to overreaching State legislation; critical damage to City finances due to Covid; and severe impacts to neighborhoods from how the Fairgrounds redevelops. 

The seriousness of these problems compels me to run for Mayor. 

The expertise I developed while previously on Council uniquely qualifies me to tackle these threats.  I have extensive experience with the intricacies of City finances and land use laws.  A successful business owner for many years, I bring analytical skills and entrepreneurial perspective to problem solving.

I support quality development that fits our neighborhoods and commercial districts.  I’m committed to balancing new development with protecting community character. 

Regrettably, the State legislature is radically increasing density in all neighborhoods without requiring new parking or affordable units.  This will overcrowd schools, jam streets, destroying the very reason we live here.  I’ll fight for compatible development and smarter State policies. 

The pandemic is devastating our businesses and will seriously damage City finances.  I served on Council during the Great Recession, and understand how to protect our budget and resident services.

The future of the Del Mar Fairgrounds is grim.  Who will be in control and how it redevelops will impact SolanaBeach forever. We must have a strong, experienced voice at the table to help craft what’s next. 

I do my homework and get things done.  I led the grassroots effort to create the Coastal Rail Trail we enjoy today.  While on Council, we redeveloped Fletcher Cove into a popular gathering space, purchased land to expand La Colonia Park, and preserved the land for Harbaugh Seaside Trails, making our community more livable.  We remodeled Fletcher Cove Community Center and completed a beautiful upgrade to our Highway 101 business district.  Also, I listened and led the vote to stop an overwhelmingly unpopular proposal for roundabouts on the east side. 

My priorities are the preservation of our community character, fiscal and environmental sustainability, social justice, and filling potholes!  

Experience, qualifications, and values matter.  I’m independent, and will stand up to special interests.  I’ll listen to all viewpoints.  I’ve demonstrated my unbreakable commitment to all of Solana Beach, and respectfully ask for your vote for Mayor.

www.Lesa4SolanaBeach.com