Teresa Acosta

Teresa Acosta was elected to the Carlsbad City Council, representing District 4, in November,

2020. She is the first Latina to be elected to the Carlsbad City Council.

Highly skilled in innovation, collaboration and consensus-building, Teresa has worked for more

than 20 years to create positive community change, serving as Field Representative for a

California State Senator and Regional Public Affairs Manager at the League of California Cities,

before transitioning to consulting. For more than a decade, her Carlsbad-based firm has

focused on building public-private partnerships between government agencies, non-profit

organizations, and companies to benefit communities throughout California.

Teresa consistently champions sustainability, connectivity, and public safety. An active member

of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, she has chaired both the Government Affairs

Committee and the Technology Advisory Committee. She is currently Vice-Chair of the board of

directors of the Institute for Local Government, which promotes best practices among local

governments in California. She volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation and the Batiquitos

Lagoon Foundation and has held leadership roles on the boards of multiple San Diego non-

profit organizations, including MAAC Project and the National Charity League, Del Sol Chapter.

As a proponent of lifelong learning and the transformative power of education, Teresa taught

Business Communication courses at MiraCosta College for three years, and she regularly

mentors students and young professionals. In 2021, she co-founded the Carlsbad Volunteer

Leaders, a local community service group.

Teresa earned her BA from the University of Southern California and MBA from Pepperdine

University. She is a graduate of the HOPE Leadership Institute, the Center for Creative

Leadership Latina Leaders Program, the Carlsbad Citizens Academy, and the San Diego County

Water Authority Academy. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2021 Ring of

Honor Award from MANA, a national Latina organization.

As a Councilmember, Teresa sits on the Carlsbad City Council Legislative Subcommittee and

represents the City as a delegate to numerous organizations: League of California Cities San

Diego County Division, City/School Committee, North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority,

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce (Alternate), Clean Energy Alliance JPA (Alternate), Encina

Wastewater Authority (Alternate), North County Transit District (Alternate).

Teresa lives in the La Costa area of District 4 with her family and enjoys many hobbies, including

organic vegetable gardening.