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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
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LOCAL & INDEPENDENT NEWS
VOL. 14, N0. 11
MAY 25, 2018
Trump backs RSF’s Cox for governor
3 vying for two seats on RSFA board By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — Three candidates are vying for two open seats on the Rancho Santa Fe Association board. On May 10, Covenant residents gathered at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club to hear the positions of each candidate in the election. According to the Association, all ballots have been mailed out and are due back no later than 5 p.m. June 11. The votes will be counted on June 12. Fred Wasserman and Michael Gallagher are the two incumbents seeking re-election and Sharon Ruhnau is the third candidate. Each of them had an opportunity to say a few words after the Association’s annual meeting. First up was Ruhnau. A resident of the Covenant for more than 20 years, Ruhnau has served on Rancho Santa Fe Association committees such as the Governing Documents and Review Committee, Recreation and Trail Committee and Rancho Osuna Committee. When Ruhnau spoke, she told Covenant residents in the audience how fortunate she felt to live in the Ranch. She was thankful to its founders, and the many people that followed. Ruhnau said she wanted to continue that tradition. “It takes hard work to protect what we have here,” she said, adding she was a longtime litigator. Ruhnau went on to share her concerns about the downtown decline and the competitive growth of other communities around the Covenant. Ruhnau said the Covenant must make TURN TO ASSOCIATION ON 3
Cox gets endorsement over GOP rival Allen By City News Service
with loud applause. Gumb believes the district is in a “downward slide, and the board members are taking their eye off the ball.” She wants new, “forward-thinking” leadership and doesn’t believe Dalessandro can “make the hard decisions” needed to set things straight because of her “personal feelings for the community.” One specific area of concern for Gumb and other parents who spoke at the May 10 school board meeting is SDUHSD’s spending. According to its own internally generated report, the district is running in the red, with an anticipated shortfall this school year of
REGION — President Donald Trump on May 18 endorsed Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox for governor. “California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man — he'll be the best Governor you’ve ever had,” Trump tweeted. “I fully endorse John Cox for governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great Again!” Polling suggests Cox, a Republican, is neck-and-neck with Republi- John Cox can Assemblyman Travis Allen for second place in California’s gubernatorial race. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic lieutenant governor, so far has polled ahead of the other Democratic candidates in the race — former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Treasurer John Chiang and former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin. Only two candidates will advance past the June 5 primary to a November runoff election. Delegates at the state Republican convention held in San Diego this month overwhelmingly favored Cox over Allen by a 55 to 41 percent margin, though Cox still fell short of the 60 percent threshold required to secure the party’s official endorsement. On Friday, Cox voiced his appreciation for Trump's endorsement.
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OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FAIR
Charles Boghosian, better knowns as Chicken Charlie — the man who brought deep-fried Twinkies and ice cream to the San Diego County Fair — goes savory this year with fried filet mignon marinated in his secret sauce. This year’s theme for the fair, which runs June 1 through July 4, is “How Sweet It Is,” and Chicken Charlie will also offer a cotton candy ice cream sandwich. STORY ON PAGE 9. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
SDUHSD board members face recall effort By Carey Blakely
ENCINITAS — Joyce Dalessandro has been a San Dieguito Union High School District board member since 1996. No, that is not a typo. Her sixth-consecutive term is expected to carry her to 2020 for 24 years of uninterrupted tenure. But not if Wendy Gumb, parent of a Torrey Pines High School student, has her say. Gumb voted for Dalessandro in 2016, but now wants the incumbent recalled. Gumb laughed at the unusual situation of being a supporter turned adversary. “Like a lot of people, I figured someone who’d been on the board for many years had the experience the district needed,” she said. But as Gumb started attending school
board meetings over the past two years, she did not like what she saw. “As my questions went unanswered, and I watched Dalessandro’s demeanor and the way she interacted with common people like me who are taxpayers, the more I lost confidence in her ability to lead.” Numerous people attended the May 10 school board meeting to publicly express their support for Dalessandro, including students, parents and staff. Tim Staycer, a teacher, football coach and union president for the district, praised Dalessandro’s “tireless dedication” and said she had “earned the teachers’ and community’s support.” His comments were met
Trolleys ramble through Ranch By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — It was a sight to see in Rancho Santa Fe on May 12 as four trolley cars motored through the Covenant. The trolleys transported ticketholders of Rambling thru the Ranch for a unique adventure to visit four private estate gardens. Hosting the event was the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club. Nearly 300 people were in attendance throughout the day. According to Shelly Hart, the executive director RSF Garden Club Executive Director Shelly Hart, Executive Director of SMARTS Farm Polly of the Rancho Santa GarLankford Smith and Rambling thru the Ranch Chair Janet Lawless Christ. Photo by Christina den Club, this was an event revival from a five-year hiMacone-Greene
atus. “We had this in 2011 and 2012, and it was super successful,” Hart said. “When I talked with my Activities Committee, I asked what event they’d like to bring back, and Rambling thru the Ranch was the answer.” And in stepped Covenant resident Janet Lawless Christ, who served as the committee chairperson for Rambling thru the Ranch. “Everyone told me to contact Janet,” Hart said. “Together, we made it happen.” Lawless Christ was first asked to chair the Garden
Tour in 2011. She told them that she would if would was done in a completely different manner. “Before 2011, it had been older ladies with a boxed lunch that was probably not very tasty — they would drive their own cars out to the gardens, and that was it,” Lawless Christ said. “That didn’t seem very fun to me at all.” Lawless Christ, who is also a real estate agent based in Rancho Santa Fe, said she changed up the energy and rented openair trollies and designed TURN TO RAMBLE ON 2