Ten candidates are running for six seats on the La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) board as the group gears up for its annual 2009 election, beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday March 5, at La Jolla Recreation Center. One candidate challenged last year’s results, claiming the group violated its bylaws. “We’re hoping that’s part of our past,” LJCPA President Joe LaCava said. “We’ve gotten it clarified — that two years ago, people were standing at the door [with slates of proposed candidates]. The bylaws said you had to be 200 feet away, but that’s not enforceable.” During last year’s election, citizens passed out a slate of recommended candidates called Save Our Village, which included recommendations on candidates to avoid. La Jollan Phil Merten ran during last year’s 2008 election, but lost. Merten and Alice Perricone — who was elected in 2008 — challenged the results, claiming locals distributed slates close to the polls. But Deputy City Attorney Alex Sachs worked with LJCPA election subcommittee, eventually determining there was not a valid challenge to overturn the results. “We clarified the CPA could not endorse the slates but outsiders can do the slates,” LaCava said. “The public sidewalk is the appropriate place to stand.” This year’s candidates — Michelle Addington, Greg Salmon, John La Raia, Ryan Hill, Nancy Manno, Dan Courtney, Alice Perricone, Phil Merten, Michael Morton and Tom Brady— will run to fill six three-year seats. LJCPA members elected Courtney to fill a trustee vacancy, but Courtney’s term will run out, LaCava said. Courtney said he is a La Jolla Town Council trustee and was a member of LJCPA for 10 years. “As a trustee of the La Jolla Town Council I was the maker of the motion opposing paid parking in the village,” Courtney said in a candidate statement. Salmon said he lived in La Jolla Shores for 15 years, was a member of La Jolla Shores Association for six years and served on the Parks and Beaches Committee. “My passion is the ocean and you can usually find me surfing at the shores or sharing my love for the ocean with my family,” Salmon said in a candidate statement. La Raia said he lived in San Diego for more than six years renting and owning property and became involved with St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic parish and other groups. “I believe that balance must be achieved between the property rights advocates and the collective community goals,” La Raia said in a candidate statement. Hill said he is a third-generation La Jollan, focused on small-town family values and preserving the area’s coastal environment. “I am interested in being a trustee of the LJCPA because I plan to raise my future family here and am dedicated to maintaining and preserving the historical value of La Jolla,” Hill said in a candidate statement. Merten said he has lived in La Jolla for 33 years and owns an architectural firm. He has been a member of LJCPA since 1988. “I believe new development must be sensitive to and respect existing neighborhood character and surrounding development…I was an active contributor in the development of our current La Jolla Community Plan and Local Coastal Program,” Merten said in a candidate statement. Morton said he is a San Diego native who raised his family here. Morton owns a La Jolla architect firm, working in the area the past 20 years. “I try to find workable solutions for the issues facing La Jolla. I believe that property rights need to be balanced with community needs,” Morton said in a candidate statement. Addington said she lived in La Jolla the past 13 years. Addington was on the Pacific Beach Community Planning Committee from 1991 to ’94 while living in the area. “I understand and welcome differences of opinions. I like to work with all groups within the community for its benefit,” Addington said. Perricone said she used her legal and real estate skills the past three years she served as a trustee on LJCPA board. According to Perricone’s candidate statement, she believes there are “sufficient organizations already protecting the tourists and would like to represent the community of people who live and work within the boundaries of the LJCPA.” Brady lived in La Jolla more than 40 years, practiced law in the area and served on area boards. “The La Jolla community plan and the LJCPA provide a policy and organization to make recommendations to the city council, planning commission, city staff and review individual development projects that are relevant to the…community…If I am elected as a trustee, I will serve as an active member for the betterment of…La Jolla,” Brady said in a candidate statement. LJCPA members can vote for six candidates March 5 at La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St., from 3 to 7 p.m. For more information about LJCPA, visit www.lajollacpa.org, call (858) 456-7900 or e-mail [email protected].