Candidate for
Council Member; City of Encinitas

My name is Kristin Gaspar and I have officially declared my candidacy for Encinitas City Council. My record of public service in Encinitas proudly began with the Rotary Club and I personally subscribe to their motto; Service Above Self. Throughout my life I have always been a leader, whether it has been as a student athlete, member of the ASB, teacher/mentor to underprivileged elementary students, founder of a non-profit organization, CFO and business manager or most recently as President of the Encinitas Rotary Club. I am running for the upcoming election because I want the opportunity to put my leadership skills to work for the citizens of Encinitas.

Here now is a little more about myself.

Raised in North County... I had the pleasure of growing up in North County with my Mom, Jannae, and big brother, Steve. My connection to the inner-workings of a city began early with "bring your daughter to work day" at the age of 6. My mom proudly served the Public Works/Engineering Department of the City of Carlsbad for over 22 years. Her commitment to the city taught me to have a strong work ethic and dedication to all endeavors. I am so fortunate to have attended school grades K-12 in the Encinitas and San Dieguito Union High School Districts, which are among the finest districts in the nation. I am also a proud graduate of the nationally recognized Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism.

As a Wife and Mother... My husband Paul and I were married in 2001 and we continue to love, challenge, and inspire each other every day. We cherish raising our three children, Carson, Payton and Addison. A healthy childhood, well-rounded education, and happy childhood are our priorities for them. As a mother, I firmly believe in teaching my children to give back to the community. I guarantee that every moment away from my family serving Encinitas will be meaningful and well-spent to improve quality of life in our community for generations to come.

As a CFO and Business Manager... Shortly after graduating from college, I was hired as CFO and Business Manager for Doctors of Physical Therapy, which opened in Encinitas in1994. Since then, the business has grown to six locations spanning from Solana Beach to Oceanside. The success of the company has been related to service excellence as well as hiring and retaining key personnel through equity participation. I was instrumental in helping the company become the state's first ROPE Program participant, which is the California Physical Therapy Association's highest honor for clinic excellence. Serving as CFO and business manager, I touch nearly every aspect of our business; budget and business plan development, bookkeeping, daily operations and human resources. I am forward-thinking and decisive, but above all my primary goal has always been to create an environment in which people are empowered, autonomous, productive, and happy. It is both exciting and fulfilling to see business thrive here in North County. We are so fortunate to live in a city with limitless business opportunities. Our community's strong support for local people and small businesses, like ours, inspires me to give back to the City of Encinitas, so that future generations can enjoy the quality of life currently experienced here.

As a Community Leader... As Past President of the Encinitas Rotary Club I put my leadership skills to the test for our community. During my year as President I presided over a club of almost 90 members, most of whom were very experienced business people and community leaders. Together, we raised and distributed over $130,000 back into our community in one year. In addition we completed several work projects to improve our city. To recognize my efforts as a community leader, I was honored to have the Encinitas City Council declare July 2nd, 2009, "Kristin Gaspar Day." I continue to serve on the Encinitas Rotary Board, Giving Committee, and Wine Festival Committee. This year I am also privileged to serve on the Rotary District 5340 leadership team as District Council Chair. My responsibility in this role is to coordinate and run meetings with 61 clubs in the district.

During the last 10 years, I have assisted the local high schools and San Dieguito School High School District (SDHSD) with employing and fundraising for the Athletic Trainers Program. We have raised several hundred thousand dollars for the schools, trainers, and scholarships for student trainers during that time. I currently serve as President of the San Dieguito Sports Medicine Foundation, which is the official employer of the athletic trainers for the SDHSD. In 2008, in honor of my service to the community, I was selected to participate in two unique activities; the Encinitas Union School District's Principal for a Day program, and Scripps Memorial Hospital's Physician for a Day program. These experiences reinforced my pride in both the Encinitas public school system and our community hospital.

Finally, I am on the board of directors for Patrons of Encinitas Parks, a non-profit organization committed to improving park facilities in Encinitas and the Encinitas Educational Foundation, a non-profit committed to enriching the lives of elementary school children. I founded The Coast Cardiovascular Fitness Club in 2002, which provides fitness programming for seniors. Eight years later I still enjoy starting my Tuesday mornings leading a senior fitness walk at Swami's. In addition to these board positions, I have consulted with and continue to chair several fundraising events for non-profit organizations in Encinitas.

I have accomplished a lot in a relatively short period of time. It is a simple fact that busy people keep the world turning through efficiency, time management skills and strong work ethics. My vow to you is that I will bring to Encinitas the leadership, energy, character, and conviction that has served me well my whole life. I want to thank you for your time and your interest in me and my candidacy. I feel that I am without a doubt the most passionate and qualified candidate for the City Council position and I will be a major factor ensuring that the next 25 years for Encinitas are happy and healthy.