With the scramble down the stretch to election day, sometimes "good stuff" like this gets missed....

Last Wednesday night (5/7/08), longtime local businessman and Republican activist Doug Perkins was appointed to fill the vacant seat on Del Mar Union School District's Board of Trustees. The decision was made after two and a half hours of debate by a unanimous (4-0) vote of the sitting Trustees.

Perkins founded Pacific Gateway Group, a highly successful full service consulting firm based in San Diego, as a partnership in 1985 with then future San Diego City Councilmember Byron Wear and attorney Bonnie Kane (also Duncan Hunter's sister). Perkins has solely run the company since 1989.

Over the years, Perkins has run San Diego City Council campaigns for Byron Wear and Judy McCarty, as well as the Jeff Marston for Assembly race.

Doug has been a political appointee under Senator and Governor Pete Wilson. He is a 15 year member and volunteer of the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. He holds a Masters in Education from the University of Maryland.

"I'm very honored to have received the support of the District and Board," he told me. "I'm anxious to hit the ground running and begin working with parents and staff from all the eight schools in the district as we move forward through this transition period."

The District has some addtional info on its website. Congratulations to Doug, an "old" friend!