|
Full slate of candidates look to
fill Campo-Lake Morena board
By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
CAMPO — San Diego County’s Back Country
is in the sights of many big developers and builders, especially
the rural areas of Campo and Lake Morena.
In the quickly growing Back Country 11 candidates have
thrown their hats in the ring, vying for five seats on the
Campo-Lake Morena Planning Group board. The community group
reviews and makes recommendations to the county planning
department on issues of zoning and land use in the rural area.
With a growing population, and various development
projects slated, planned and proposed for the rural area, the
local planning group has many hot topics on its plate in coming
years. However, this also makes for some contentious Back
Country politics.
There are the supposed “pro-development candidates,”
who generally support development of the Back Country, to
increase business and work opportunities for residents.
Then there are “slow-growth candidates,” who understand
that development is inevitable, but want it to stay in character
and scale for the rural area.
Profiled here are three more of the candidates vying
for seats on the local planning board. See coming issues for
profiles of the remaining CLMPG candidates.
Larry Johnson
Married to Arvilla Leach Johnson, whom I discovered here in
Campo in 1957. We have two grown children and five
grandchildren. Age: 71.
Occupation: Retired from the military electronics
industry, now fully occupied with our ranch, family, hobbies and
community functions.
What I like most about living in Campo: It’s like
living in an isolated National Park, lots of wide open spaces,
great weather, access to mountains, desert, ocean, Mexico and a
deep connection to the area through family that preceded us.
Interests and hobbies: Too many; photography, ham
radio, astronomy, reading, gardening, antique car restoration,
groundwater, weather, genealogy, history, science and probably
more.
Inspirations: My mother, with her wit, skill and
tenacity; my wife, with her dedication to family; our children,
whom have turned out well; our grandchildren, with their
expanding minds that reach all directions with the greatest of
ease; Thomas Jefferson, who was interested in everything;
Leonardo de Vinci, who’s life work is still bright and fresh
today; Abraham Lincoln, Steven Hawking, John Kennedy and many
more.
Contributions to community: By assisting with Emergency
Preparedness for the area, by serving on the Sponsor/Planning
Group for almost six years, helping within the Kiwanis, the
Campo/Lake Morena Seniors and the Mtn. Empire Historical
Society. (Not only to Campo but the surrounding communities)
Biggest issues facing Campo: Bob Dylan said “The times
they are a-changin”. It was true when he wrote his song, it is
true now and I hope it remains true for the future. But that
doesn’t mean that everything has to change quickly and it is not
all physical.
Our area of Campo/Lake Morena, a part of the Mtn.
Empire, is faced with some of the same problems that other
Planning/Sponsor Groups face.
We need to be enlightened about our groundwater, where
there are adequate sources, where there are limited sources,
what the quality is, how sustainable the supplies are as it
relates to growth, recharge, short term weather and long term
Climate Change. Once it is degraded or gone, it is hard to
recover.
We face the tough problems of the weighing the property
rights of individuals vs. the common good to the overall
community vs. the pressure to develop and the long-term
sustainability of our common treasures. In my travels I have
seen many examples of pristine rural areas that have developed
slowly over time with small village cores and large expanses of
land dedicated to the local agriculture or native vegetation.
These usually hold historic treasures of environments, places or
events and are a window into the past that many urban families
can experience by traveling to the area and seeing first hand
what still exist.
We are now an interconnected world via the Internet. We
are brought closer together and goods and services are quickly
available from around the globe. At the same time, the cost of
physical travel is rapidly becoming much more expensive due
primarily to the cost of fuel for all sorts of transportation.
The Internet improves part of our conditions in a rural area and
the fuel cost effectively isolates us more. These, and many
other variables, indicate that the “….times are a-changin”.
I believe that the next two to three years are critical
in the planning for our area and a key tool for that planning is
the General Plan Update and our Community Plan. We need the
participation of all the voters in this area to speak clearly in
the November election and elect those people that reflect your
views and desires for the future for you and the area. I would
appreciate your vote.
Why I’m a candidate: It is with some reluctance that I
am running again. I have many unfinished items on my “bucket
list”. However, I think that the next two to three years are
very important to the long-term future of this area. I am
willing to help if the voters want me to. My wife and I will
remain active in the community no matter what the outcome.
Paige McAllister
Wife, Mother, PTO President, PAC Vice President,
founder of the Back Country Players and AYSO Coach, chaired
Salute to Heroes Day/Parade, co-chaired Firefighter Appreciation
Day to help Campo volunteer Fire Department. Age: 40.
Education: High School Diploma, Foothill Jr. College,
College Graduate from AADA received an Associates Occupational
Studies Degree.
Martial Status: Married 15 years to Capt. Carl McAllister of the
Bonita Fire Dept. We have three beautiful children Hayden 3,
Megan 5 and Riley 7.
Why you live in Campo/Lake Morena? Because I believe,
it is a wonderful place to raise children.
Occupation: Stay at home Mom
Where do you hope to see Campo/Lake Morena in 20 years?
My hope is that the community spirit will have continued to
blossom into a fully self-sufficient rural community. A
community that offers positive choices for our children while
embracing our seniors.
Why are you running for the Campo/Lake Morena Planning
Group? I want to embrace our community’s diversity and present
an impartial forum in which they may speak openly and honestly.
Making informed decisions is my priority community first with no
hidden agenda.
As a passionate community advocate with no hidden
agenda, I am running for the Campo-Lake Morena Planning Group to
give voice to the majority of people who are not being heard by
those planning our town’s future. I am a supporter of
responsible gradual growth.
What are the three most important issues in this race?
The biggest issues are water, community growth, and our
Volunteer Fire Department.
The water issue is very important for the future our
community. As always, conserve water by practicing responsible
usage on a daily basis. Continuing to have comprehensive Ground
Water studies regularly is imperative.
Growth; I will address this issue with a realistic
approach. Growth will happen; it is up to all community and
board members alike to work together to make sure it’s done
responsibly and gradually.
In a special election, our Volunteer Fire Department
asked for community support to pass a benefit fee to help
compensate our local heroes. Sadly, the small stipend they asked
for was rejected. I believe the majority of community members
who voted it down did not fully understand the measure and
therefore rejected it based on lack of understanding. I would
like to see this measure brought up to the community again.
Rob Romero
My Family: Married so many times I refer to my ex-wives
as World War 1, WW2, WW3 and WW4. As far as kids, 10 that I know
of. We have been here for six generations. Age: 48.
What I Do: Raise hell at the local school board
meetings in a attempt to shame and humiliate board members and
administrators into reinstating a few of the many long lost
electives such as auto shop, wood shop, welding or drivers ed. A
little help would be nice!
Favorite place to hang out: Restaurant at Golden Acorn. Service
is great, staff’s friendly and portions are large.
What I like most about living in Campo: Dark skies at
night, wide-open spaces and not too many cops. I don’t like them
and they don’t like me.
Interest and hobbies: Domestic disturbance, Disorderly
conduct and Russian Women.
People who inspired me: My grandmother Lisa Hammond and
My great uncle Johnny Blackwell. She taught my how to tell the
truth and he taught me how to lie. Clark Gable with his suave
and debonair ways. Humphrey Bogart on how to treat a women.
How I have contributed to the community: Source and
subject of CHEAP TALK. All around HULLIGAN.
Biggest issues facing campo: Water management and
accelerated growth.
Why I’m a Candidate: I will attempt to sell my vote to
a developer in exchange for start-up money for a community pool
at the recently closed down old campo elementary school site
next to the new library. Then I will attempt to sell my vote for
3 new wood lathes of industrial grade for the school shop that
will last 20 years.
All payoffs must be made prior to voting and not
contingent on majority vote passage. All payoffs will be tax
deductible from school district.
E-mail
the Editor
|
