Eleven new and returning trustee candidates are competing for eight La Jolla Town Council (LJTC) seats, which will be filled at the next LJTC meeting on April 12. Due to a month’s postponement, all previous ballots received by the Town Council will be voided, and new ballots will be sent to LJTC members on April 3. In order for ballots to be counted, they must be received no later than April 10. Officer elections will also take place at next month’s meeting at 5 p.m. on April 12 at the La Jolla Recreation Center, located at 615 Prospect Dr. Deborah Arnau As the co-founder and owner of Deal Me In Today, La Jolla, I have worked to introduce local merchants to consumers who live, work or play in La Jolla. I have always been an active participant in the nonprofit community. I have used my expertise as a retired teacher and education consultant to contribute to the needs of children through extensive charity work. I have sat on several boards in Las Vegas, including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and The Shade Tree Shelter, a 24-hour accessible shelter designed specifically to meet the needs of abused women and children in Southern Nevada. In an effort to raise money for the shelter, I founded The Friends of The Shade Tree, a local 501(c)3, which has raised more than $900,000 to help provide life changing services. It is with this passion for community that I am able to now entrench myself in the La Jolla scene. I feel it is an absolute joy to have this opportunity to develop wonderful relationships with La Jolla merchants and community organizations. I hope I will be able to use my extensive connections within the community to help foster the council’s reach and project success. Ann Kerr Bache The special nature and character of the Village needs to be preserved while embracing new ideas and technologies to make the Village friendlier for business and more accommodating to residents and visitors. There are a number of organizations in the village and it is crucial that the many organizations and initiatives be developed in concert and with the widest participation possible to integrate the activities to come to common solutions. Have combined technical interests with volunteer activities to improve the organization of efforts to maximize the limited volunteer resources faced by all volunteer organizations and efforts. Since I have many “tentacles” into local and global communities, I am able to represent the Town Council in outreach activities, including the introduction of youth marshals to recognize outstanding youth who will soon become the next generation moving La Jolla forward. Yolanda De Riquer I want to help our community and bring people together to be a part of the solution to our problems. I especially want to involve more Hispanic people in community service in La Jolla. Everyone in La Jolla must do what they can to preserve our small-town atmosphere. We need to motivate people to be a part of improving and preserving the best things about La Jolla and I am willing to work very hard as a volunteer to make sure that happens. Emiliano De Riquer I have attended La Jolla high school since 2009, and I will be a senior in September for the graduating class of 2013. It truly has been an outstanding privilege to live in La Jolla, given so many opportunities to strive and create success. I am a member of the LJHS varsity tennis team. I am looking forward to become a trustee of the council because I believe that I can be a connection between the youth of La Jolla and the older population and innovate new ideas to preserve the community while giving a touch of modernity at the same time. I have always found that I love to help people, and I feel that, given the opportunity, I can help our residents, both young and old, achieve their goals. Philip Forgione The primary reason I’d like to serve another term as a trustee for the La Jolla Town Council is to enhance the quality of life in La Jolla for residents, merchants and guests. The primary issues facing La Jolla including preserving La Jolla’s antiquity, promoting the business community and supporting public safety. I’m very fortunate to live in La Jolla and I would be honored to contribute to our beautiful town. The issues I would like to work on are public safety and preservation of La Jolla’s beauty and antiquity. Charles Hartford Charles is originally from the San Diego area. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989 and subsequently earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in diplomacy and international commerce from the Patterson School, University of Kentucky. He deployed multiple times and earned numerous awards and decorations in service to the nation … Charles served as the deputy United States national military representative to the Strategic NATO Headquarters in Mons, Belgium before continuing his service to others as a trusted financial advisor. Charles serves in a variety of positions for charitable organizations including Rotary International, and has been a featured speaker for financial planning and perspective, as well as for his combat experience. Rob Hildt I am interested in continuing on the Board of Trustees to assist in enhancing the effectiveness and prosperity of the community of La Jolla; it’s residents, businesses and visitors. This, I believe can be accomplished by facilitating relationships between those groups and city government and by continuing to offer a unique service and advocacy in a way that supports and enhances communications, understanding, and respect among the various constituencies that make up our city. I have served on the Christmas Parade Committee by assisting to meet its financial and donations goals for the past two years. In addition I feel fundraising will be an ongoing challenge for the council. Fundraising should also be a primary issue for the council. Ron Jones Ron has been dubbed the “Unofficial Mayor of La Jolla” because of his many community volunteer positions held over the past 25 years, which include his emcee work with the La Jolla Concerts By The Sea series for the past 15 seasons; a stint as executive director of the La Jolla Town Council; as executive director of the Riford Community Center; and is currently serving as president of the Greater La Jolla Meals on Wheels organization while acting as president of the Rotary Club of La Jolla. It has been claimed that Rob has more connections that AT&T, “He knows everybody!” Egon Kafka Since 2001 I have been privileged to operate the La Jolla Village Lodge with my better half Maureen Murphy. Together, we love and appreciate La Jolla very deeply. As an active community volunteer, I work on a handful of different committees and boards, in addition to pursuing some personal community service projects individually. I co-chair the Design and Beautification Committee in the village PROW with Jim Alcorn and James Niebling. I work on the boards of both the Merchants Association and the La Jolla Town Council. La Jolla faces some challenging issues. Through both individual and group efforts, each challenge represents an opportunity to fix or improve something, or to create and build something new. I believe that the single-most important function of the Town Council is to serve as a unifying voice for this community. I promise that I will continue to work hard on behalf of all our friends and neighbors; I would be honored to return as a trustee for the La Jolla Town Council. Dyanne Marie Routh I think the condition of the streets and using whatever funds are available more creatively is important. I also think having someone from our Town Council representing us more successfully with the San Diego City Council to help them direct more public funds to repair our streets, etc., is something I could do very well. Also I love La Jolla and think it is a paradise that I am blessed to live in, and I want to help preserve its beauty and repudiation as a world class resort for future generations. John Weinstein I have been involved with many charities and community organizations. In addition to chairing the La Jolla Town Council’s membership, SunSetter Community Happy Hour, Speaker Series, Charity Poker and serving on the executive committee, I chair the La Jolla Newcomers Speaker Breakfast Series and volunteer with Voices for Children working as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) and mentor for foster kids in San Diego. My goal is to maintain and improve the quality of life in our stunning beach town through community participation and civil debate.