Carlsbad Councilmember Teresa Acosta now leads the League of California Cities, the statewide organization that advocates for cities in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Acosta became the first Carlsbad resident to serve as league president after delivering her inaugural speech at the organization's annual conference in Anaheim on Sept. 25, The Coast News reported. She is also the first president from the San Diego region since San Diego City Councilmember Jim Madaffer held the role from 2007 to 2008.

The position puts Carlsbad's representative in direct conversations with the governor, attorney general and top officials in both Sacramento and Washington.

"This is the first time we've had Carlsbad at the table in those conversations with the governor and the attorney general and the top administration in Sacramento and in D.C.," Acosta told The Coast News on Monday, Oct. 5. She said she is thrilled to bring Carlsbad with her to the role.

Acosta, first elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2020, said she wants to shift the league away from a reputation for reflexive opposition. She told The Coast News the league had developed what she called "League fatigue" by "opposing everything," and she plans to push a more collaborative strategy focused on presenting solutions to state legislators rather than blanket resistance.

That approach tracks with frustrations Acosta has voiced locally. At a July 29 council meeting, she said a mixed-use condo project in Carlsbad Village took advantage of state density bonus law in ways the city could not block. "The way that we stop this is by changing the state laws in Sacramento," she said at the time, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Acosta pointed to her work on the Carlsbad City Council's legislative subcommittee as preparation for the role. That panel has worked on legislation strengthening protections for victims of workplace harassment and legislation addressing lifeguard certifications, according to The Coast News.

She also brings unusual institutional knowledge. Acosta is the first league board member who previously served on the organization's staff, having worked as a regional public affairs manager before entering elected office. She graduated from the University of Southern California at 18, later earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and worked for state Sen. Jack Scott for seven years before joining the league's staff.

Acosta moved to Carlsbad in 2010 and taught at MiraCosta College before winning her council seat.

Her league presidency comes alongside another regional leadership post. Acosta became vice chair of the San Diego County Water Authority's board on Thursday, Oct. 1. The vote was unanimous. She has represented the Carlsbad Municipal Water District on the authority's board since June 2023, according to the North Coast Current.