Encinitas' schizoid civic personality is split five ways.
With three multi-term incumbents and seven worthy challengers running for three City Council seats, the election movie should be called “The Five Faces of Eden: Leucadia, Cardiff, Olivenhain, and New and Old Encinitas.”
At a forum Tuesday night, an audience of Cardiffians heard all 10 candidates expound on a variety of topics – the demise of “grow houses” (aka greenhouses); the number of playing fields at a long-planned community park; a view ordinance; the obligatory grieving over Miracles, the Cardiff coffee shop.
One question, however, involved time travel.
“I'd like to know,” a courtly gentleman said, “what you think your legacy would be 50 years down the road?”
First up was James Bond, the four-term councilman who shocked everyone by deciding at the last minute to run for a fifth term.
“Well, thank you for that (question),” Bond said to a rustle of laughter.
He continued: “We want to maintain Encinitas in a way that it remains one of the best places to live in Southern California. We do that by thoughtfully planning any growth – and any growth is planned in a responsible way. So intelligently planned growth will work and that should happen in an intelligently planned, well-thought-out way.”
Message: Whatever my legacy will be, it will be thoughtful, intelligent, responsible and well-planned. And redundant.
Judge Tony Brandenburg took the mic and dreamed of a “simple and straightforward community.” He framed himself as a champion of neighborly cooperation and the end of “city government in turmoil.”
If you want a judicious swing vote on a split council, vote for me, a cool judge with a ponytail.
Bob Nanninga, the city's theatrical policy wonk – no, he's living proof it's not an oxymoron – envisioned a world-renowned “eco-tourism destination” that he helped create.
You want caffeinated idealism writ large – and in rhyme? I'm your gnarly green giant.
Rachelle Collier, a Leucadia activist, took a conservative approach to the legacy question, simply repeating, “Keep Encinitas as it is today.”
On my political tombstone, draw a stopped clock under a canopy of eucalyptus.
Betsy Aceti – her husband, Steve, directs the California Coastal Coalition – predicted she'd be 96 years old and kicking in 2058. She summoned a utopian Encinitas in which all paths lead to the ocean. “Neptune is still there, as is the SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship) garden.”
The coastline is my crusade – and I have great genes.
Maggie Houlihan, the two-term councilwoman seeking her third, itemized the political promises she's delivered: transparent government, historic preservation, the support of arts and culture.
I could expire today and my heroic legacy would be set in stone.
Doug Long, a plumber and civic volunteer, looked back on his 50 years in town. “I can remember what (Encinitas) was before the congestion,” he said. “I wouldn't want to be known as the generation or the council member who messed it all up.”
On his monument, Hippocratic praise: “He did no harm.”
Councilman Jerome Stocks, a two-termer seeking a third, roughly paraphrased Lincoln's famous line: “The future will little note nor long remember what's said here.” Stocks asked for one simple statement for his epitaph: “He looked out for our quality of life.” Stocks paused and added with a touch of pathos, “Anything more, that would be too much.”
I'm a modest Lincolnesque man, not a shameless bloviator like someone I know.
Harriet Seldin, a dentist and dog advocate, warned the audience of health risks as global warming worsens. She'll be known as a champion of water conservation as well as the Carlsbad desalination project.
The future of Encinitas, like the human body, is 60 percent water.
Finally, Joe Sheffo, native son and former political aide, blew off the far future and focused on the next four years. He warned of a state bill that threatens to rob Encinitas of its “sovereignty” in land-use planning.
I'm the realist here, the pro. The rest of these folks are dreamers.
The Encinitas election will be decided in large part by combinations of candidates. Who goes with one another.
Sure, it's a high turnout presidential election. Some clueless voters will go eenie-meenie-miney-moe or, more likely, check the incumbents.
But many savvy Encinitas voters will be acutely aware of opposite poles: The pro-business (aka “common sense”) side as represented by Bond and Stocks, and the pro-environment (aka “quality of life”) side as represented by Houlihan.
Within that ideological divide, one (or at most two) lucky challengers may make their mark on history.
Logan Jenkins: (760) 737-7555; logan.jenkins@uniontrib.com
