Zales appointed to Bonsall CSG vacancy

Richard Zales was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Bonsall Community Sponsor Group.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 October 19 to ratify Zales’ appointment after he was recommended for the vacancy by the sponsor group members. He replaces Chuck Davis on the sponsor group seat, and his term will expire on January 3, 2011, although he will be eligible for reappointment.

“I’m really anxious to get involved in the Bonsall area,” Zales said. “Since I’m retired, I have some time now.”

Zales is also the president of the Hialeah Estates Homeowners Association. His wife, Cheryl, is the president of the Bonsall Woman’s Club and is also the choir director at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

“We’re pretty active,” he said.

Zales spent 30-1/2 years in the United States Marine Corps and retired in 2005 with the rank of Colonel.

Zales is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University before joining the Marine Corps. During his Marine Corps career, Zales obtained a law degree from Gonzaga Law School and became a judge advocate in 1980. After his initial courtroom work, he specialized in labor law and was involved in contract issues and administrative hearings. Zales and his wife, who retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, met in Washington, DC.

Zales was stationed at Camp Pendleton for his final three years in the Marine Corps, and purchased his Bonsall home 12 years ago.

“When we found this house, that was it,” he said.

Zales and his wife looked for homes throughout the United States prior to their retirements.

“We really studied hard and we selected this area,” Zales said. “We’re so happy we made the decision.”

Davis’ wife, Elaine, is also a member of the Bonsall Woman’s Club, and the Zales family met the Davis family through that organization. Richard and Cheryl Zales were having dinner with Chuck and Elaine Davis when Chuck Davis indicated that he might be resigning from the sponsor group. Richard Zales felt that he might be interested if he had the time, and when Davis told Zales that he was resigning Zales determined that he had sufficient time. “What a neat opportunity, fits nicely with my desire to do something,” Zales said.

The rest of the Bonsall Sponsor Group was willing to recommend Zales for the position.

“My goal is to make sure that we are able to maintain this quality of life and the character of Bonsall,” Zales said. “North County and particularly our area is a very desirable area for development.”

Zales recognizes that some development will occur, and the objective is to ensure that the development is compatible with the neighborhood character and charm while maintaining the community’s residential-agricultural balance.

“We need to find a way to intelligently move ahead with development that is done rationally,” he said.

The Zales property itself totals four acres and has a small avocado grove. In addition to harvesting avocados and his community activities, Zales is also a film buff.

“That keeps me quite busy. I’m very excited to begin,” Zales said of his sponsor group service, “and I look forward to learning more about my home area.”

To comment on this story online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.