We received the following message from Santaluz resident Nguyen Gianni, who raises a serious concern about the current Member Board nomination process—specifically the uncontested candidacy of Craig Benedetto. Given Mr. Benedetto’s previous association with a development proposal that generated significant public interest and discussion, we believe this message merits full transparency. The email is shared below, exactly as it was received:
Nomination to the Santaluz Member Board
Dear Santaluz Neighbors,
I’m writing to raise a serious concern about the current nomination process for the Santaluz Member Board and to urge immediate action from our community.
As you may know, Craig Benedetto has been nominated for one of the two open golf seats on the Santaluz Member Board. While community involvement is always valuable, Mr. Benedetto’s past actions call into question whether he will prioritize the best interests of Santaluz. Many may not know but Mr. Benedetto was the paid representative who actively campaigned in favor of Costco’s development of the 27-acre parcel of land on the corner of Camino Del Sur and Carmel Valley Road—land originally designated by the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) for a future middle school. This proposal included a large Costco warehouse, a 32 pump gas station, and surrounding retail spaces. Despite significant opposition from local residents, many of whom voiced concerns about increased traffic, safety risks, and environmental impacts—the proposal was eventually stopped through the dedicated efforts of Protect Our Community SD (POCN) and local residents.
However, the threat is not over. Earlier this year, the Poway School Board once again voted to declare the 27-acre parcel as surplus property, making it available for potential development. Given this renewed risk, it is crucial that we elect board members who will stand firm in protecting the integrity of our Santaluz community.
The current nomination process is troubling. The Santaluz Member Nomination Committee has only nominated two individuals for the two open seats, automatically placing Mr. Benedetto on the board. This leaves no room for a third candidate unless a petition with at least 37 physical signatures from golf members is submitted. It is imperative that we push the Nomination Committee and the current board to come up with an alternative candidate—one who truly represents the interests of Santaluz and not those of outside developers. Simply accepting two candidates for two seats, when one of them is not an option for our community, is unacceptable.
To collect signatures for a third candidate, please note that the individual collecting the signatures must be the person who submits them. This is a key requirement in the Santaluz petition guidelines, and it’s essential that we act quickly. We have less than two weeks to collect the necessary signatures—the deadline to submit the petition is May 4th.
If you believe our community deserves more than an uncontested nomination, please join us in collecting signatures and advocating for a third candidate. Together, we can ensure that Santaluz is represented by someone who truly understands and protects the values of our community.
Let’s ensure that our community remains strong, united, and well-represented.
Sincerely,
Gianni Nguyen Proud Santaluz Resident
Just to clarify, a Santaluz Club Board candidate does not represent Santaluz as a community. The candidate represents the Santaluz Club. A Golf member does not have to live within the gates of the community to be a member of the club.
Fair point, but let’s not pretend the Club Board has no influence beyond its gates. Their decisions affect everything from property values to the character of the area.
If we’re seriously considering someone who supported a giant Costco with a 32-pump gas station next to our golf course, maybe we should start handing out hard hats with our tee times.
The bylaws give us a chance to petition. Let’s use it and get a real candidate—someone who actually represents what Santaluz stands for.
That 27-acre parcel was supposed to be for a school. Benedetto wanted to trade classrooms for a Costco. That tells me everything I need to know.
People forget, but Layton Smith and Debra Cooper current board members were also fine with the Costco plan.
Debra Keel Cooper is also on the Real Property Advisory Committee (Poway Unified School District) and she is supporting the Costco’s project.
The RPAC is responsible for advising the district on matters related to real property, including the evaluation of surplus properties.
We can’t let insiders choose our future.
Who cares if they were fine with the Costco plan? Not everyone was against the plan, much less think the same way you do. We can agree to disagree.
Totally just a coincidence, of course, that Debra K. Cooper’s husband happens to be in commercial real estate. And sure, Costco would just accidentally be a dream client. Nothing to see here, just board members with overlapping interests helping evaluate surplus property while nodding along to a 150,000-square-foot warehouse next to our community. I’m sure it’s all purely in the public interest.
Now you are making things up.
Let’s not pretend this is democracy.
Two candidates for two seats? One of them a known developer lobbyist? This is a selection, not an election. Petition, people.
Gianni makes some great points. I tried to join the Santaluz Club Board of Directors a few years ago and I found out that there is no real vote! The Club basically decides who they want as their slate. They do a fake vote with only the number of people that have slots open. It’s a total farce!
It is not really a vote at all but who the Club wants on the Board. A few years ago one of my close friends David B. tried to challenge them and get on the Board of Directors and the Club kicked him out of the Club! All for trying to get on the vote for BOD.
They are so challenged by people they don’t hand select that they kicked him out of the Club for daring to try to join the Club.
I am on the waiting list to sell my Golf membership but it will take years! To be fair to Russell the Club was already toxic. Russell is always cordial to me. I don’t care if he stays or goes but the Club has seen it’s best days behind it.
More people I know want him out. Santaluz needs to change their process of picking who is on the BOD. Now it is just who they pick. Don’t believe me? Just ask them.
I don’t think Gianni has any room to question anyone. I believe she was on the Committee to renovate the Main Dining room at the Club. They spent over $1 million and by the time it was done it looked the same as before!
Anyone that had anything to do with that dining room renovation shouldn’t be allowed to comment on anything Club related.
REAL PROPERTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mr. Taylor reviewed the location and property details of the four sites to be considered as surplus:
1. 10.88 Acre Water Tower Site located in the Rancho Bernardo area in the City of San Diego
2. 3. 10.48 Acre Site located in the Torrey Highlands area in the City of San Diego
27.22 Acre Site located at Carmel Valley Road and Camino del Sur in the City of San Diego
Ms. Burgoyne also reviewed the annual projected budget of approximately $50,000/yr. to maintain the surplus properties and stated the estimated did not include staff time. Current cumulative costs for the four sites is over $550,000
A motion was made by Rob Caringella and seconded by Debra Kell Cooper.
Final Recommendations
1. The RPAC recommends that the Board find and declare all of the Sites surplus
as they are not currently needed for school purposes and are not anticipated to
be needed in the foreseeable future.
It’s right there in the official Report to the Board of Education dated May 21, 2012—Debra Keel Cooper, now a current board member at The Santaluz Club, was part of the Real Property Advisory Committee. And this is what she wants for Santaluz:
Findings of the RPAC
The RPAC found that the current available seating within the District can accommodate
the current enrollment of the District as well as the long-term enrollment projected by
District staff and consultants, without the need for or use of the identified vacant Sites
for school facilities.
The RPAC then voted 8 – 0 to recommend that the Board find that the Sites are not
needed for school facilities and should be declared surplus pursuant to the
requirements of the Education Code.
you can download the document directly from here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P6SZxY6bWLzNca299y7M54aKT-wV1PYe/view
To Mr. Benedetto – I would encourage Craig Benedetto not to participate in this election. It would be a true demonstration of honesty.
Of course Debra Copper and Layton Smith should resign.