SAN DIEGO: San Diego school trustee Luis Acle has revived his re-election campaign, this time as a write-in candidate.
Acle was disqualified as a candidate after he failed to collect enough valid signatures for the June primary. But on Monday, he pulled papers to defend his seat as a write-in candidate.
He once again must collect 200 signatures from registered voters. It is a requirement that he has had trouble with before. In his first bid for the school board in 2004, he came up about 30 signatures shy. He took the issue to court, and a Superior Court judge found that Acle had substantially complied with the nominating requirements.
With a May 20 deadline to collect signatures, Acle said he has plenty of time to fulfill the requirement.
Ongoing budget hearings and an ethics investigation into Acle's failed 2006 City Council campaign took the trustee's attention away from collecting signatures, he said.
“I am a decent public servant, but I'm not a particularly good candidate,” said Acle, a international business consultant and former substitute teacher.
The top two vote-getters in the primary face off in general election.
The San Diego Ethics Commission has said Acle likely violated election laws 42 times when he ran for the City Council against Ben Hueso. It found that Acle failed to pay vendors for their services, failed to disclose campaign expenses and failed to maintain accurate financial records. He faces fines of up to $210,000.
A final ruling is expected at a May 9 hearing. Acle contests the findings.
Arc of San Diego building new $3.5 million center
SAN DIEGO: The Arc of San Diego, a nonprofit that provides services to the developmentally disabled throughout the county, is building a new center in the Stockton neighborhood east of downtown.
The facility will house employment training and other programs that serve more than 1,000 people. Administrative offices will also be located there.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the $3.5 million project near Market and 30th streets, where Arc already has a cluster of buildings, was held Thursday. Construction is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months.
The building has been named the Sulpizio Family Arc Center of San Diego in honor of Rich and Gaby Sulpizio of La Jolla, who donated $1 million for the project.
Founded in 1951, Arc operates 13 group homes and several centers and workshops. The agency serves more than 2,500 people, ranging from infants to seniors.
La Jolla business group endorses parking meters
LA JOLLA: A La Jolla business group has endorsed parking-management ideas that include parking meters for the beach community's commercial corridor around Prospect Street.
The board of Promote La Jolla, a business-improvement district, voted Wednesday to forward the “research and recommendations” of the La Jolla Community Parking District to the San Diego City Council for consideration.
Aside from meters, the parking district board has recommended creating residential parking permits for those who live near the commercial core. It has also discussed ideas such as adjusting time limits for street parking.
Promote La Jolla lobbied the city to create the parking district in 2005. The parking board has not voted on the recommendations.
Armed Services YMCA hosting kids' event today
SAN DIEGO: The San Diego Armed Services YMCA will host the third annual Healthy Kids Day for military families to fight childhood obesity and promote healthy living today. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at the Santo baseball field, 3293 Santo Road.
All service members and their families are welcome to enjoy the dozens of activities, but the lunch portion is now full. Information is available at militaryymca.com.
