MERIT sees this election as the most important our community will ever face. We think you will also. We encourage you to vote for the ONLY candidates that can truly preserve and protect our community - Esry, Slaff, Noblitt and Morse.

Quick Guide to Election Facts

Campo and Lake Morena have continued to grow for the past 15 years as measured by building permits, fees paid to the schools and post office deliveries. Growth continues at 3 % a year. The current Planning Group has approved that growth and would continue that pattern.

The current Planning Group is strongly supportive of property rights. During the Commercial and Industrial planning for GP 2020 they voted to preserve the existing commercial zoning of every landowner who wished to retain the designation.

Esry, Slaff, Noblitt and Morse (the red white and blue VOTE signs) love our community and want to work to keep our rural life style and hold down traffic and demand on water and retain the quiet and peaceful and private existence that attracted most of us to move here.

SLAFF, ESRY and NOBLITT have fulfilled at every opportunity their promise made to you when you elected them in 2002. They are the people who made it possible for you to have the opportunity to vote for Planning Group members.

Your Community Character Statement details what our community wants. You can read it now by clicking this link: Community Character Statement.

MERIT brought the error about incorrect absentee ballots being sent to Campo residents to the attention of the Registrar of Voters and sent out notices to many in the community about this error. Correct ballots have now been mailed and received. If you received an incorrect ballot, destroy it.

MERIT is an organization dedicated to land use issues and protecting our environment. We do not normally support candidates or issues that are not related to land use. However, we do recommend for the Mountain Empire School Board Ralph Davis, Jim Banks, Rob Romero and Holly Stover.

A Very Simple Choice for Voters on November 7^th

The choice is Bill Slaff, Bev Esry and Pat Noblitt based on their performance during the past four years. Denise Morse also deserves your vote based on her platform and experience.

Since 2002 the Planning Group you elected has worked to protect the special place that is Campo and Lake Morena. They have recommended denial of projects that would create urban style density, they have spent many hours to work out a plan for Cameron Corners, they have set up the first Groundwater Committee in the County to educate you and themselves so land use decisions will protect our Groundwater, they have developed a comprehensive Community Character Statement that guides the County and the Planning Group to make land use decisions that reflect what you want for our community, they have been instrumental in the County’s undertaking an analysis of the groundwater situation and the County’s preparation of a better Groundwater Ordinance, they have developed a Trails System for integration into the County’s trails system.

All the work they have done and the actions they have taken are because that is what you wanted done and elected them to accomplish. Bev Esry, Pat Noblitt and Bill Slaff fulfilled their campaign promises. They have listened to what you have said in meetings and in personal conversations. They carried out what you told them was right for our community. The have honored their pledge for Growth at a Rural Pace. Some of you know that as “slow growth” and that is what you want. That is what will protect the lifestyle you have chosen.

As a public service MERIT is providing the candidate statements for each of the Planning Group hopefuls. We have highlighted those candidates MERIT recommends as the individuals who would do the most to preserve the rural character of our community, do the most to protect and preserve our groundwater, and who will protect and maintain our natural resources. SLAFF, ESRY, NOBLITT and MORSE will work to keep growth at a rural pace.

JEAN BATES Age: 91 Retired

I am running as an incumbent for the Campo/Lake Morena Planning Group. My last four years have been served with integrity and I pledge to continue to serve the needs of the community. We need to plan ahead to make this area a better place to live. My late husband and I moved to this area in 1947 with our earth moving business operating out of our 120 A. ranch. We were responsible for building many of the Soil Conservation engineered dams which were needed for flood control. The original athletic fields at the old Mt. Empire High School at Camp Lockett were constructed by us. My children attended Campo Elementary School where served as PTA president. The Campo Athletic Association was organized under my direction and I started first Little League team in Campo. My employment with the Roberts’ Clothing manufacturing plant in the old Lockett warehouse gave me not only a skill that I used in later employment but also showed me how a clean industry can provide jobs for the community (in that case over 50). One of my goals is to encourage that type of employment so that our employable community members can stay on the “Hill”.

DENISE MORSE Age: 50 Healthcare Consultant

I have been a Campo property owner since 1971. My husband Ron and I have lived intermittently in Campo since the late 1980’s and permanently since 1998.

Campo/Lake Morena is a unique community with a diversity of economic layers as well as a goldmine of creative artists. Recently, it has also embraced the influx of young families in search of a safe, healthy and affordable community to raise their children.

As country residents we all share a major concern for the quantity and quality of groundwater. Other concerns include fire safety, healthcare access, quality education for children and the desire to preserve our historical character.

I believe all Campo residents deserve well researched, analyzed and planned slow, rural growth. If elected to the Planning Group, I would work to create a process that would serve the needs of all Campo/ Lake Morena residents.

Community Projects: Mountain Empire Garden Club, Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council, owner of Habitats in Harmony. Back country advocate on the Alpine Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Committee.

Qualifications: Healthcare Project Management, Consulting and Presentation Development with Secure Horizons/PacifiCare, Partners in Care Foundation and Huntington Memorial Hospital. BS in Health Science and graduate work in Exercise Physiology.

BEV ESRY Age: 64 Incumbent

Four years ago I began a drive to change our self-elected Sponsor Group to a publicly elected Planning Group because I was concerned the residents of our community had no say in how our area would be developed. As a result, Prop Z was passed and now you, the voter decides who sits on this advisory board. I have served as a member of this Planning Group for four years and have tried my best to keep my promise to the voters who elected me – to vote a “slowgrowth” platform. Campo is now in the crosshairs of many developers and unfortunately they have a small but vocal group of local residents who are working hard to see Campo grow beyond its potential.

The decisions made by the Planning Group in the next few years will determine the course our community will take. Will Campo remain small and rural, or will the pro-growth faction succeed in making it the next Alpine? I believe people have a right to develop their property, but not at the expense of the community or its precious water resource. If reelected, I will continue to vote for responsible, not reckless, growth.

PATRICIA NOBLITT Incumbent

My family and I have lived in Campo for many years and have seen an explosion of growth in the last few years. Many formerly empty parcels have been built upon. The Department of Planning and Land Use has predicted that if each of the properties were built upon it would meet/exceed the projected growth for our area. That does not include five proposed sub-divisions/housing projects for Campo and Lake Morena.

I’m worried about Campo and Lake Morena’s WATER! Even though it seems some areas have plenty of water, all water feeds through fractured rock into the same aquifers. Some Campo residents have had to (re)drill their wells to 800 feet, and some still have not reach the required 3 gallons per minute. That’s why I’m a GROWTH AT A RURAL RATE candidate.

Campo does not have the infrastructure to handle more sub-divisions/housing projects. Campo is approaching crisis overload, from our roads, to our Emergency services i.e. sheriff and our volunteer fire departments. Our sheriffs are stretched from Tecate USA to Jacumba. Our ambulances are serving Campo and Potrero. We can’t handle many more people.

Vote for GROWTH AT A RURAL PACE or CAMPO will be another ALPINE!

RICHARD “RICK” NORTHCOTE Age: 33 Ranch Caretaker

I have lived in the Lake Morena/Campo area since I was 4 years old. I attended Campo Elementary and graduated from Mt. Empire High School.

I started attending the Sponsor Group meetings when only one or two others would attend. Since that time I have attended almost all community meetings. I am the vice president of Mtn. Empire /Campo Kiwanis and a Lake Morena Village Council board member. I am a member and volunteer of the Motor Transport Museum and the Mtn. Empire Historical Society, and have been a director of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association for the past eight years. I am also an active member of the Campo-Lake Morena Business Association and have just become Red Cross certified for shelter operations.

I believe in growth at a manageable rate while preserving our rural lifestyle. I see a need for the creation of local businesses and jobs in our area. I will listen to and represent the whole community of Lake Morena and Campo. Thank you for your vote.

DEBRA M. FORD Retail Sales Person

As a resident of Lake Morena since 1978, I am running for a seat on the Campo-Lake Morena Planning Group to serve as a voice for the people in the community. I have worked locally for over twenty years while raising my three daughters. During that time, I was involved in the PTA and Girl Scouts and I am currently an active member of the Mountain Empire/Campo Kiwanis.

My vision for our community is to see balanced growth that will stimulate the local economy while maintaining our rural lifestyle. This can be achieved by electing members to the Planning Group who will represent a broader spectrum of our community. As a long-term resident and an employee of a local business, I believe that I can offer unique insight into the diverse needs of the Campo-Lake Morena area. Furthermore, if elected, I will listen to the people and do my best to represent their concerns and desires for our future.

I ask for your vote for balanced growth and a better community. Respectfully, Debra M. Ford.

 WALT “WALLY” PALMER Senior Logistician/U.S. Government Employment

As an advisory group to the County Planning Commission, I believe the Campo-Lake Morena Planning Group has a chartered responsibility to both seek and listen to Community input regarding land use issues in our area. I don’t think this is happening under the current board.

 As the County population continues to grow, growth and development in this area are inevitable. I personally think this activity can be effectively managed to both preserve the rural character of our community while enhancing the quality of life for all of our residents. Supported by public input, well founded decisions by this group of elected member are essential to the future of our area. I am prepared to work with the Planning Group and the community to ensure our input to the Planning Commission represents community desires and concerns, and not those of any individual or special interest group.

WILLIAM “BILL” SLAFF Incumbent/Retired Military

As a current member of the Campo Lake Morena Planning Group I have consistently fought for those who voted for me in 2002. I stand for Growth at a Rural Pace. This includes reasonable growth, where resources permit, and commercial growth that allows for both public needs and fits our Community Character.

I was co-Chair of the ad hoc Cameron Corners Town Center Planning committee, where I fought to keep the rural atmosphere, while simultaneously providing for community services. As a Planning Group member, I was a participant in the County GP2020 studies. As a Campo community resident for almost twenty years, I have been active in many community groups. I was a member of the Campo Volunteer Fire Department Board for two years serving as President for one year, I am a member of the Campo/Mountain Empire Seniors, and was a past Board member, and I am a current member of the VFW Post 2080, recently elected to that Board of Directors.

As a member of the community I listen to both pro and con voices regarding development. I also volunteer at the MERIT Recycling Center that gives funds to our various community projects, mostly for our local youth.