The Town Council is made up of elected and appointed volunteers from 8 districts laid out to coincide with the elementary school boundaries. There are up to 2 elected representatives from each district and up to 8 appointed members-at-large. No district may have more than 4 representatives. The council currently has 20 members.
District 1 (Adobe Bluffs)
Mike Shoecraft Committees: Grants, Maintenance Assessment District, PQ Planning Board; Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2005
I’ve been a resident of San Diego since 1975, and of Rancho Peñasquitos for the last 18 years, with my wife Margie and 2 daughters. Margie is a former RN. Our eldest daughter is attending Azusa Pacific University; the youngest will start Palomar College in the fall. I’m a retired Navy, government employee. I retired as a manager of a Cost Analysis branch, but spent most of my career doing Manpower and Personnel Research. I have a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering (Operations Research concentration), and have been a licensed Professional Engineer in California since 1982. I have been on the Town Council since 2005, Grants Chair since 2006, Planning Board representative since 2007, former Vice President, former Parliamentarian, and former web-master and involved with the Fiesta, Fire Safe Council, and Redistricting Committees. My hobbies include genealogy, biking, walks with my wife, and, hopefully soon, lots of travel. Go Penn State!!
Ralph Peters Committees: Banner District, Re-Districting; Elected, Term Expires 2013; Member Since 2006
I was born in Denver, Colorado, but moved East at a young age and went to both undergraduate and graduate school at SUNY Buffalo, New York. I’ve lived in San Diego since 1983, and Rancho Peñasquitos since 1993. I am a local business litigation attorney with the firm of Ward & Hagen, husband of Mary Best, and father of Eagle scouts Evan and Cole, who are in college and graduate school, respectively. I am the winner of the prestigious Wiley Manuel pro-bono award for legal work for the poor, a long-time active member of the PQ Town Council, a former RPQ Little League board member, a Scout Master and Merit Badge counselor with BSA Troop 667, a Black Mountain District Eagle Board member, and an active member of my church, Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation. My hobbies include bicycling, cooking, reading, history, softball, body surfing, and tinkering on the aging fleet of Peters-Best automobiles and bicycles.
Vince Ruggiero Committees: Miramar Community Leaders Forum, School Community Policing Program Collaborative; Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2005
I’ve lived in RP for 28 years since coming to San Diego in 1983 with wife Carol and son Michael. I’m from New York, where I earned a BSEE degree at Polytechnic University, by way of New Jersey, where I earned an MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University. During my early days in RP, I was a Board Member of HOOPA that later became the RP Community Council before going inactive for many years. We have been active members of Peñasquitos Lutheran Church for more than 25 years, where I served as President of the Congregation Council and in many other volunteer roles, including Trustee Board and Missions Leadership Team member. I recently took my first missions trip to Honduras where I presented micro credit, entrepreneurship, and business basics. Currently, I serve on the boards of Turning Point Pregnancy Resource Center, San Diego Inventors Forum, and Alfa Romeo Owners Club San Diego Chapter and as a volunteer resource to CONNECT/Springboard, a technology/life science business start-up mentoring program. I am self-employed as Technology Business Solutions, a business advisory/management consulting practice focused on a broad range of technology-based company issues and challenges. As a service provider, I have provided Technical Assistance to over 100 SBA Microloan borrowers starting and operating a broad range of businesses subsequent to funding. Personal interests include travel, cars, music, photography, exercise, and politics.
Jerry Bouck Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2009
I’ve lived and loved PQ for almost 15 years. I’m married with children and grandchildren and would describe myself as an engineer type person. In addition to the council, I’m active in the PQ VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post and the newly formed PERC (Peñasquitos Emergency Response Council), as well as church and a few low energy sports. I am a recent attendee of the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland. I’ve been active in the Town Council for 3-4 years. Always appointed, my goal in life is to actually get elected. However, with the likes of Mike Shoecraft, Ralph Peters, and Vince Ruggiero in District 1, this goal may take me a couple decades to achieve. My life view is to try to help others out as much as possible with the little talent I have. Finally, my view of PQ is a community of talented, mostly working class folks, doing the best they can to provide and maintain a bastion of safety, comfort, and consequence for their families and friends.
District 2 (Canyon View)
Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff Committees: Government Affairs, Public Relations; Elected, Term Expires 2013; Member Since 2011
This is my first term on the PQ Town Council and I’m excited to be a part of the Government Affairs and Public Relations committees. Having grown up in PQ and recently returned to raise my own family here, I have a long history with and affection for this community. During my time away, I went to college at Stanford University and then at UC Hastings College of the Law. Professionally, I’ve worked most memorably in state government as a legislation expert. Currently, I work part-time as an Adjunct Professor at USD, so that my two young kids barely know I’m gone. I look forward to serving this community that I’ve been a part of for so long.
Alex Chan Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
District 3 (Deer Canyon)
Alan Gin Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
District 4 (Los Peñasquitos)
Rick Dieterle Committees: Public Relations, Business Community Liaison; Elected, Term Expires 2013; Member Since 2009
I represent the Los Penasquitos area. I’m a lifelong San Diegan and have lived in Rancho Penasquitos since 2003 with my wife and two young boys. I’m an entrepreneur and own a mobile development company here in Rancho Penasquitos. I’ve served on the RPTC since 2009. Last year, I volunteered to be the Chair of the Public Relations Committee and the Small Business Liaison. As the Public Relations Chair, it’s been a pleasure to help get out the word about about all that the Council does for PQ via our website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. As the Small Business Liaison, I’m trying to help small businesses realize that they have an ally in the RPTC when it comes to issues with the city of San Diego, neighbors, or any situation in which we can support them.
Ramesses Surban Committees: Government Affairs, Public Relations; Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
Hi, my name is Ramesses Surban. I’ve lived in PQ since pre-school, having attended Los Pen, Bernardo Heights, and Mt. Carmel. My wife Jennifer (another Sundevil) and I are now lucky enough to find ourselves raising our own young family here. Jenn and I both went to UCSD after Mt. Carmel. She now works as a health care executive in Solana Beach, while I am attending law school at California Western. Prior to enrolling in law school, I was an urban planner for six years, working on such projects as new home subdivisions, telecommunications towers, and traffic circulation plans. In addition to my involvement with the Town Council, I also hold the Renter-at-Large seat on the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board. I enjoy exploring the county when I’m free, both on my road and mountain bike, as well as with my hiking shoes. I love PQ and want to help keep our community one of the best places to live in San Diego. This is my first year on the Council and I have a lot to learn, but I hope that you, my friends and neighbors, will help me as we work together to improve our community. Follow me on Twitter — @RamessesSurban.
Thom Clark Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2008, 2011
I have happily lived in PQ for 25 years with my wife, Mary, as we raised our two children. This is my second term on the Town Council, having previously served two years as secretary and Code Compliance Committee chair. I am also a member of the PQ Planning Board. I am an architect and currently have my own practice specializing in educational facility planning.
Bethann Jackson Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
I am a Senior Clinical Research Associate in San Diego, CA with over 20 years of experience in the field of Drug Development. I am also a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California San Diego. I am married with four children and have lived in PQ for 8 years. My hobbies include gourmet cooking, gardening, and catfishing.
District 5 (Park Village)
Andy Berg President, Executive & Finance; Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member 1999-2006, 2009-present
I am a native New Yorker who moved to San Diego in 1977 and Rancho Peñasquitos in 1993. Except for a short hiatus from 2006-2009, I have been a member of the Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council since 1999. I also serve as chair of the Citizens Oversight Committee, monitoring the Proposition C construction for Poway Unified School District. A graduate of UCSD, I currently live in Park Village with my wife Andrea and three children: Ashley, 18; Alex, 14; and Andrei, 11.
Darshana R. Patel Committees: Health & Education, Public Safety; Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
I moved to Rancho Penasquitos in May 2010 from the San Francisco Bay area and put my career on hold in order to have more time for family. While my academic background and professional experience has focused on biochemistry and drug development, my personal goals have always included a desire for a well-rounded perspective and community service. I graduated from Occidental College with a BA in biochemistry and completed a minor in religious studies, I was active in graduate student council while pursuing my PhD in Biochemistry (UC Irvine), and devoted personal time to co-chair the South Asian Network at Genentech. I plan to apply my organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills to support community projects and facilitate problem solving. My hope is to use the momentum generated from the redistricting process to expand our community’s civic involvement, and help my neighbors become more informed on issues that impact our landscape and values. I live in Park Village with my husband, three daughters, and mother-in-law. In my freer moments, I enjoy baking, gardening, reading, and the art of stained glass.
District 6 (Rolling Hills)
Richard Lambertus Vice President; Committees: Public Safety, Fiesta 2012; Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2010
I moved to San Diego in 2003. I am happily married since 2001, raising two young boys that attend Rolling Hills, and enjoying Rancho Penasquitos.
District 7 (Sundance)
Erik Marquis Health and Education Committee; Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2010
My family and I have lived in PQ since 2003. We moved here for the school system and have grown to love this community. We enjoy the immense cultural diversity. We rely on and enjoy the safety of our “kid friendly neighborhood.” We are frequent users of the wonderful recreational parks and athletic activities right at our fingertips here in PQ. I joined the Rancho Penasquitos Town Council to help contribute to the well-being of our community. I am a native New Englander and moved to San Diego after receiving my BA in Mathematics from Boston College in 1994. In 2000, I founded E Billing Solutions LLC, a medical billing and practice management company, which my wife and I manage together. In 2006, I founded the Sundance Elementary Chess Club. We will have over 40 students in chess club as we head into our 6th year at Sundance. In addition to the Sundance Chess Club and the various subcommittees of the RPTC of which I am a member, I have also enjoyed coaching youth basketball for the past two years. I enjoy volunteering because it provides daily proof that one person can make a difference.
Celena Vandergrift Elected, Term Expires 2013; Member Since 2011
Jim Hogan Miramar Community Leaders Forum; Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2009
District 8 (Sunset Hills)
Theresa L. Gonzaga Parliamentarian, PQ Parks & Rec Council; Elected, Term Expires 2013; Member Since 1992
I am a broker, notary, and teacher with degrees in Elementary Education, Child Psychology, and Business Administration. I was also a banker for 18 years. I’ve been happily married for 42 years and raised 3 fine boys, all of whom finished their degrees here in San Diego. I also have 4 grandchildren. I was a Marching Band Mom, chaperon, and Band Booster for the Sundevils for 6 years and travelled with them in and out of the country for tournaments and invitationals. I have also served with my church as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. I am the only active surviving Town Council member from the time we reorganized the Council 23 years ago and am still willing to volunteer. I am one of the Prudential California Realty volunteers who raise funds for those in need within the San Diego area. I have received many different awards and recognition for the work I have done for so many years. Quality of volunteering is very important to me, rather than trying to do everything and having no accomplishments.
Kevin Smith Elected, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2009
Cyndy Macshane Secretary, Code Compliance Committee; Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2010
RJ Hernandez Appointed, Term Expires 2012; Member Since 2011
I am a native Californian, born in Southern California and raised throughout the area from Redondo Beach to Orange County to the Inland Empire. I’ve been politically active since high school, and in college I lobbied with the United States Student Association and served as Director of Local Affairs as a liaison between the City, County, and the University of California Riverside. There I attained a Bachelors degree in Sociology. I spent one year abroad in the UK at the University of Sussex at Brighton where my emphasis was business management. I have been a Regional Sales Manager for a lath/plaster company, a Project Manager for a Fortune 500 homebuilder, a VP of Business Development for a steel company and have since founded HD&D Construction– a residential and commercial construction company based in San Diego. My activities include traveling, reading, writing, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, political activism, and mentoring.
