By ADRIANE TILLMAN
Village News
The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) will hold an election for executive board members during its March 2 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St.
Six seats are open. Residents, employees of La Jolla or people who own property in La Jolla are eligible to run. Candidates must be at least 18 years old. To run, e-mail Marty McGee at [email protected]. Candidates may submit a resume or biography but it is not mandatory.
Eight candidates are currently running, including David Abrams, incumbent Gail Forbes, Joe LaCava, incumbent Claude-Anthony Marengo, Phil McConkey, Paul Metcalf, Lance Peto and Alice Perricone.
Abrams presided over the LJCPA in the early 1990s when he worked on the community plan update. He has lived in La Jolla since 1976 and has worked in city planning for more than 25 years.
“(I’m an) advocate for balanced, quality growth and development in La Jolla while being respectful of existing neighborhoods and natural assets,” Abrams said.
Incumbent Forbes has served as an LJCPA trustee for four years. She also chaired the La Jolla Shores Association and is currently a member of the La Jolla Shores Advisory Board and La Jolla Town Council. Forbes has lived in La Jolla for 30 years.
“(I’m) interested in a healthy economy, safe streets and beautification,” said Forbes, who is self-employed as an administrative assistant.
LaCava chairs the Bird Rock MAD (Maintenance Assessment District) Advisory Committee, and the Bird Rock Planned District Ordinance (PDO) subcommittee. He also serves on the Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) board, La Jolla Traffic & Transportation board and the Bird Rock Traffic Task Force.
LaCava has lived in La Jolla for 22 years. He is a registered civil engineer who provides land-use consulting and project management for primarily suburban residential land development.
“We need to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process,” LaCava said. “I believe that in addition to CPA’s discretionary role in the planning process, that we should be pro-active in finding solutions to community issues.”
Incumbent Marengo has served as LJCPA president, vice-president and treasurer and has chaired the Coastal Development Permit Review committee. He has also served on the La Jolla PDO subcommittee, Mayor’s Parking Task Force for La Jolla, Torrey Pines Corridor Committee, La Jolla Parkway Realignment Committee, Code Monitoring Team of San Diego, Substantial Conformance Committee of San Diego, La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee, and Coastal Access and Parking Board. Marengo represented La Jolla at the Community Planners Committee of San Diego.
He has lived in La Jolla for 40 years and is both a homeowner and business owner.
“I truly love our community, and I want so much to keep La Jolla the jewel that it is in all our hearts,” Marengo said.
McConkey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979 and served as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. An NFL football player for the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers, in 1990 he ran for the 12th congressional district in New Jersey and lost. Between 1990 and 2000, he was an entrepreneur in real estate, insurance and banking. He presently works for GGET, LLC as senior vice-president for institutional equity block trading.
Metcalf is primarily concerned with issues of traffic and parking. He has served on the Bird Rock Traffic Calming Task Force, Bird Rock Beautification Committee that implemented MAD, and has represented the BRCC on the La Jolla Traffic and Transportation subcommittee and La Jolla Parking District. He was also appointed to the Coastal Development Permit Committee. In addition, he is a member of the BRCC and LJCPA.
“(Traffic) is an important issue that is an ongoing discussion,” Metcalf said. “The Traffic and Transportation [Board] is looking to develop a comprehensive plan in the future to respond to these needs.”
Metcalf plans to remain on both the parking district board and traffic and transportation committee. He moved to La Jolla in 1952, and most recently has resided in La Jolla for 10 years. He works for a small company in raw land development and entitlement, but has no plans to develop Village land.
Peto has been a member of the LJCPA for nine years, as well as a member of the La Jolla PDO subcommittee and La Jolla Parking Advisory Committee. He also chaired the Coastal Access and Parking board. Peto has lived in La Jolla for 10 years and operates Teak Treasures and Bud’s BBQ.
“I have witnessed a great deal of bitterness between the various La Jolla organizations, and my goal would be to moderate these differences and attempt to reach compromises and avoid the painful conflicts which have been so visible in the past few years,” Peto said.
Perricone acted as an attorney for 25 years and licensed real estate broker for nine years. She has also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives on legislative matters. She has been a member of the LJCPA for eight years and is an alternate member of the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee. Perricone has lived in La Jolla for 16 years.
“My goal would be to help create a consensus regarding the decisions made by the planning association, keeping in mind that we live in one of the most beautiful communities in the world,” Perricone said. “There are many challenges ahead, especially as the population grows, and I am up to the task at hand with my legal and real estate background.”
Only LJCPA members are eligible to vote in the March 2 election. For information e-mail McGee, [email protected].