Knopp eager to bring new perspective to city's leadership

By: ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:10 PM PDT ∞

POWAY ---- David Knopp had a fairly simple goal when he entered this year's City Council race in August.

"When I first decided to run, I just wanted to play a role in the city," he said Wednesday. "I thought I would make a good leader, I'm part of the community, and I want to be part of that (leadership aspect)."

Several weeks of campaigning, three candidate forums and some personal research time later, Knopp said life as a candidate has been eye-opening.

"I feel like I've grown up politically through this whole process," he said. "So I worry about our future after going through this process."

Knopp, 39, said his campaign experiences and observations have convinced him the council needs a fresh viewpoint.

"It takes a fresh perspective, sometimes, to get things done," he said.

He will face off against six other candidates in the Nov. 7 election. Two people whose names will appear on the ballot ---- Mickey Cafagna and Ed Carboneau ---- are vying for the mayor's position.

Knopp, incumbents Don Higginson and Betty Rexford, and challengers Connie Messina and Joe St. Lucas each hope to win one of two regular council seats in the nonpartisan race. Winners will serve four-year terms.

Knopp moved to Poway in 1994 and lives near Meadowbrook Middle School. He has a bachelor's degree in recreation management from San Diego State University.

He has been a municipal recreation manager for the past 16 years, including nine years with the city of Poway. The creation of a family camp-out program at Lake Poway is an example of Knopp's efforts on behalf of the community while on the job here.

He also spent six years with the city of El Cajon's recreation department before he took over management of a new community center in Coronado a year and a half ago.

Knopp's enthusiasm for Poway comes through when he talks about the community, which he describes as "wonderful." He also is quick to credit past and current councils with making Poway what it is and says he is generally happy with the way the city is being run.

Knopp said small things about the city's leadership irk him, however. The council's unanimous decision in June to raise the salaries of the city's top and mid-level managers was one example he cited.

City officials have said the increases were necessary to keep Poway's pay scale on a par with those of surrounding communities, but Knopp said he would have liked to see at least one council member question the raises.

"The things that have happened on the council with five people and five 'yes' votes ---- I'd be a new voice in that," he said.

He also said he was bothered by incumbents' response to candidate forum questions about whether a proposed town center project should be put to a public vote. At least one incumbent told listeners that voters elected him to make decisions about such projects, so they would not have to. Knopp said he thinks residents should "definitely" get to vote on the project.

If elected, he said, he would put his supervisory experience, insight into city operations and love for the community to work on behalf of all Poway residents. Sending local youth to county track meets and adding supervision to the city's skatepark were among the personal goals he cited.

Priscilla Campbell, who has lived next door to Knopp for more than 10 years, described him as the type who jumps in to help whenever needed. Campbell also said she had no doubt Knopp has what it takes to be a good councilman.

"He takes care of business, is very on top of things and doesn't forget," she said. "And if he doesn't know (something), he'll sure find out."

Knopp and his wife, Anne, have no children. The candidate, who is running a low-budget campaign funded out of his own pocket, listed playing softball and football and hanging out with his wife and dog as his favorite free-time activities.

-- Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.

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