The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) voted for a new slate of trustees at its March 3 meeting, returning several incumbents to the board for another term. There were 10 candidates running for eight seats. The winners are incumbents Joe LaCava, Jim Crisafi, Jim Fitzgerald, Orrin Gabsch, David Little and Ray Weiss. The new trustees are Dan Allen and Cynthia Bond. The LJCPA is a local planning group of unpaid volunteers who make non-binding recommendations to the city on development in La Jolla and have influence both on local developers and San Diego city planners. District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner will swear in the winners on April 7, when LaCava will officially hand over his gavel to a new president. Officers will be elected by the board. “We had a really great slate of candidates. I want to thank everyone who came forward to run,” said Trustee Mike Costello. “Where do we get such great people?” LJCPA trustees serve three-year terms, although due to some personnel shuffling, Allen will serve two years and Bond only one year before they are up for re-election. LJCPA winners Joe LaCava: “La Jolla is a beautiful community, but it is also in a constant state of tension between preservation and the economic pressures for redevelopment. We have to work together to make sure that redevelopment is as good for the community as it is for the applicants and be assertive in improving our community’s infrastructure and protecting its natural beauty.” Orrin Gabsch: “I believe that as a longtime resident and business owner, I understand the issues and challenges we face as a community. I will continue to focus my energy on maintaining the integrity and beauty of our Village and community.” Jim Fitzgerald: “La Jolla is a very special place that offers a unique quality of life and a village atmosphere for its residents, businesses and visitors. Maintaining this environment requires: 1) continually striking a fair and reasonable balance between the many legitimate interests within the community; and 2) protecting and supporting the integrity of the processes and rules that govern La Jolla … I believe that my record as a trustee demonstrates that I have consistently fulfilled these critical responsibilities to the CPA and the La Jolla community.” Tony Crisafi: “I believe that any new design in La Jolla should be better than what is replaced. Design and implementation of new development should honestly respond to its environment and to the Community Plan.” David Little: Little has said he is favor of preserving the two-story limit in the Planned District Ordinance, keeping the building height limit to 30 feet in the coastal zone and preserving the character of La Jolla as a very desirable place to live. Ray Weiss: “I care deeply about my community and about the kind of La Jolla that we will leave for future generations. I am interested in continuing as a trustee of the CPA in order to have a positive influence on this future.” Editor’s note: Although incumbent Ray Weiss technically resigned from the board last month, he was on the ballot at the meeting and was one of the top vote-getters. He will be awarded his seat back for another three-year term. Cynthia Bond: “Having attended almost all of the LJCPA meetings over the last 12 months, I appreciate the diligence of its members, their professionalism and commitment to maintaining a balance between development and preservation.” Dan Allen: “I would put at the top of my priorities working toward preservation of a united La Jolla advocacy to the city, county and metropolitan government entities, where various community groups have separately argued in decision-making forums.”