Rancho Santa Fe Hopefuls Not Sure Goal Is Worth It

It sounds almost like a contradiction in terms. Two candidates, each of whom is running for a seat on the first Rancho Santa Fe City Council, are not sure they favor changing this wealthy, unincorporated estate community into a city with a council.

Though uncertain about the merits of incorporation, Al Frowiss and Martin Buncher joined 10 other residents in filing their papers with the county registrar of voters before last week’s deadline, thus qualifying as candidates for the June 2 election.

The five candidates receiving the most votes will serve as council members, providing the voters also approve incorporation.

“If I decided that cityhood was a lousy idea, I would rather be the mayor of no city than the mayor of a city that was a bad idea,” said Frowiss, a businessman.

“I could come out the last week and say, ‘Vote no on cityhood and yes on Al Frowiss.’ Cityhood has a lot of benefits. Whether it is worthwhile depends on whether the city has leverage in solving regional traffic problems.”

Buncher, a research marketing consultant, said that before he could “accept or reject the whole concept” of incorporation he would have to make an in-depth study of relevant reports by the San Diego Planning Commission and the Local Agency Formation Commission.

“It may be that the best even an informed voter is going to have is an educated guess,” Buncher said. He said he is running because he doesn’t know whether there will be any “black and white answer.”

The other candidates, who are clearly in favor of incorporation, are Marie Addario, who is vice chairwoman of the Study Committee on Home Rule; Clifford Douglas, a retired attorney; Tim Haidinger, a businessman; business consultant Noel Horwin; retired publisher Bill Reich; John Rainsford, a director of the Rancho Santa Fe Community Services District; Paula Ray, a homemaker and volunteer worker; Dick Scuba, president of the Rancho Santa Fe Assn.; businessman John Seyfert, and businessman Al Vignato.

The campaign for Rancho Santa Fe cityhood has begun to shape up as a real contest, with the formation of the No Inc. Committee, some of the council candidates say.

Last month the No Inc. Committee distributed a letter strongly criticizing the Home Rule study committee for being a pro-incorporation committee rather than putting out a report listing the pros and cons of incorporation. Some people are concerned about losing Rancho Santa Fe’s exclusivity through annexation, an action made possible by incorporation.

The communities of Whispering Palms and Fairbanks Ranch could petition for annexation. In fact, residents of these communities have already voiced a desire to be a part of a city of Rancho Santa Fe. If enough residents in those cities voted for annexation, the City of Rancho Santa Fe would be forced to accept them.

“There are a lot of emotional arguments on both sides of the fence,” said Buncher. “For so long, (the Study Committee on Home Rule) has brought out the positive aspects of incorporation. Now, there’s another group bringing out the negative.”

Golf courses moving in. See Business, Page 2B.