Written by: Skyler Dale
During the Carlsbad City Council Chamber meeting on August 24, City Council members unanimously voted to appoint Peder Norby to the vacant District 1 seat. Norby is the third D1 representative since the city moved to district elections in 2017.
In total, 13 residents submitted applications. All but one was interviewed in the meeting, and towards the end, city council members decided that Peder Norby was the best fit for the job.
Norby was inspired to apply for the position after his father passed away this summer, stating: “When you lose a patriarch, there’s some… readjustment and re-evaluation of what you are doing.” Norby has spent much of his career consulting in the public sector. He consulted for the City of Encinitas for 21 years in capacities such as the downtown executive director, Coast Highway 101 corridor coordinator, general plan update facilitator, and rail and streetscape consultant.
Additionally, he consulted with the City of Carlsbad for four years. He served on committees such as the Housing and Redevelopment advisory committee, design review board, Proposition E Steering committee, and on the boards of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation.
Norby’s time in office is limited; according to the city’s municipal code, he cannot run in the next election. However, he is not planning on just sitting around until then. One of the issues he wants to address is updating the city’s Growth Management Plan (GMP). The original plan was drafted in the 1980s, and although it pointed the city in a great direction, Norby believes it’s time to chart the future.
Republican Mayor of Carlsbad, Matt Hall, supports Norby and his longtime work in the public sector. He stated: “I thought we would go into a second day. With Peder on all four, for me that says volumes. I know your heart’s been in the community for a long, long time.” Norby gets sworn into office on August 31st.
Photo from: Ocean Palms Beach Resort
