KTPG Elections 2025

Ken Baer -

Ken has been a Kensington homeowner for 15 years and was previously a Talmadge homeowner for 4 years. He grew up in Carlsbad. He and his husband, Rob, have a friendly dog named Bee.

In addition to serving on KTPG, he has been a docent volunteer at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve since 1998. He serves on the Government Affairs Committee at the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS. He is also a member of the Kensington Maintenance Assessment District (KMAD) committee for Kensington Heights. Ken & Rob obtained historic designation on their 1928 home. 

 

"Kensington is San Diego's most unique neighborhood, with the largest collection of 1920's-1930 's-era architecturally intact homes." Early photos of Kensington homes from the San Diego History Center compared to photos taken today reveal that the only difference is the vintage of the vehicles in the streets. "As a community, we love our architectural legacy. We need to fight against the tide of State and City mandates that incentivize density in the name of affordability. That has not been the outcome to date. We need to defend & speak up now more than ever, as City elected officials have opted to both ignore us and mischaracterize us the past several years."

 

Marlyn Gonzalez -
My name is Marlyn Gonzalez, owner of Gem Coffee. Gem Coffee is a Latina owned, small business located on the corner of Euclid and El Cajon Blvd. Gem has been operating for 5 years where we focus on serving high quality drinks and are always seeking for ways to engage with our community.

We take pride in our community involvement and advocacy for our community and local businesses. Gem serves as an anchor for the residents in Talmadge and the local businesses in the boundary on El Cajon Blvd. We promote, advocate, and encourage residents and our community to support the local businesses in our district and embrace its rich culture and diversity. We believe a healthy community includes safe streets, a walkable business district and unity with residents and its local businesses. I appreciate your support and consideration. Thank you,

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David Roth -
My name is David Roth. I have been a San Diego resident since 1982 and a homeowner in Kensington Heights since 2010. After extensive restoration, our house was historically designated in 2014. I have been actively involved in community matters in Kensington/Talmadge for more than 10 years since my husband, Bill Adair, was first elected Secretary of the KTPG Board. During his tenure, I served on the Elections subcommittee in multiple years and lent assistance to Historic Review and the Kensington Heights Maintenance Assessment District. 

 

Since my election to the KTPG Board in 2023, I have served as Secretary of KTPG, Historic Resources liaison and Chairman of the five Kensington Maintenance Assessment Districts. I am particularly interested in preserving the unique historic character of Kensington/Talmadge and protecting our neighborhoods from overly aggressive development by non-residents. I am a founding member (and currently President) of Historic Kensington San Diego, a 501c3 organization comprised of neighborhood volunteers pursuing designation of Kensington as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. I have also been heavily involved in community efforts to preserve and protect Kensington’s historic streetlamps and to resist re-zoning measures which jeopardize our single-family neighborhood status. 

 

By profession, I am in my 39th year as a geospatial engineer and analyst with FedEx Corporation. I have decades of experience in project management, successfully working with commercial and governmental interests to design and implement projects worldwide. I look forward to being able to continue bringing my experience and passion for our special Kensington/Talmadge neighborhoods to the KTPG Board.

 

Lisa Stone -
Hello, my name is Lisa Stone. I moved to Kensington from New York City 4 years ago. Since then, I was elected to the Kensington Talmadge Planning Group in 2023 and am on the Board of Historic Kensington helping to make Kensington a National Historic district. 

 

I live in Kensington Manor and am fortunate to have wonderful neighbors and friends in both Kensington and Talmadge. I am running for the KTPG Board because I’m passionate about the local planning decisions that affect both the Kensington and Talmadge communities. 

 

I have been and will continue to be a dedicated community advocate and am passionate about preserving our neighborhood’s unique charm and historical significance. In the past, I. have volunteered as the co-chair of my NYC buildings Tenants Association. I have also served on the board of a battered woman’s shelter in NJ for many years. My current career is working for a woman-owned boutique company providing technical consulting to large law firms throughout the U.S. and Canada. 

 

Thank you for considering me. If elected I promise to bring proactive leadership and dedicated advocacy to the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group. Thank you.

 

Paul Tourkin -
My name is Paul Tourkin. I am an attorney specializing in nonprofit corporation formation and governance. I live in Talmadge in a Cosgrove house that is a contributor to the Talmadge Park Estates Historic District. 

 

I've just served my first term on KTPG where among other things, I have been a member of the Bylaws and Transportation Committees. For my next term, my focus will be on safety and traffic calming along the Monroe corridor, especially from the Euclid and 47th intersections through the Hoover area. 

 

I live on a cul de sac with many young children and I want to make our neighborhood a safer place for growing families which will increase the value for all. I think as residents, we deserve a safe environment and I will push our council member, city government and SANDAG to follow through on their promises for that result.

 

Roger Utt -

As a founding Board Member of the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group in 1991, I have served on the Board and various Subcommittees (on-and-off) since its formation, and have attended 80-90% of the monthly board meetings since then.
I have been a practicing Architect in San Diego for over 40 years, becoming very knowledgeable of the City of San Diego Land Development Code and Planning regulations, including new City Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) regulations. I have brought my extensive architectural, design, engineering and planning experience to the Board and Subcommittees to help guide the preservation and development of our community over the years.
 

I have lived and conducted my business in both Kensington and Talmadge for over 40 years, raised my family in the Kensington neighborhood, and been an active member of the community in many ways. I would appreciate your support to continue my service to the community to ensure compatible and aesthetic development occurs within our community. Thank you for your Vote!

 

Neil Winner -
As a K-TPG Board Member, I would support planning and development appropriate in size, scope, and character for our neighborhood. I’ve attended City Council and Planning Commission meetings to oppose over-development of ADUs, oppose development in high fire-risk areas, and promote the ½ mile transit distance.
 

Throughout my career, I’ve applied technical understanding to projects and planning that affect individuals, businesses, and communities. A licensed Professional Engineer, I have degrees in Geology (water resources and hydrogeology) and Environmental Engineering (water supply and treatment). My 45 years of full-time work experience include: municipal drinking water supply and treatment; environmental and engineering consulting; construction, manufacturing, and rehabilitation of municipal and industrial water supply and treatment systems; and regulatory experience with state government. I am semi-retired, working part-time, virtually, for an environmental and engineering consulting firm. 

 

While I have been a full-time resident of Kensington for 2+ years, Gail (my wife) and I have a deeper connection with Kensington. Our house previously belonged to my aunt and uncle since the 1970’s, and, since the 1980’s, we visited, met neighbors, and came to love the neighborhood. We acquired our house in 2012. After retiring, we made Kensington and San Diego our permanent home in 2022. While passing by, you may have noticed our various restoration projects—we know the challenges and joys of making a home in Kensington. We enjoy and participate in the sense of community, friendliness, and energy. I see membership on the K-TPG Board as a way of supporting our community.

 

Daniel Bertao -
My name is Daniel Bertao and my wife Jessica, our infant Nathan, and our two dogs have been proud residents of Kensington since 2017. We were drawn to the neighborhood given its historical character, charming downtown, and walkability. We live in a 4-plex in “Baja Kensington” and have the unique experience of not just being a homeowner but also landlords.
 

I am passionate about urban planning, traditional architecture, and balancing the need for growth and progress while preserving the character of our existing communities. It’s this passion that led me to become a licensed architect and builder focused on placemaking and creating places for people to thrive.
 

I’m interested in joining the KTPG to ensure that we preserve what makes our neighborhood special while appropriately planning for our next generation. As a homeowner, landlord, and parent who wants their child to grow up with the option to live in San Diego, I will positively contribute to the KTPG leaning on my professional background as an architect and builder. I recognize the nuances of preserving our community and the challenges with balancing this with the regulatory and economic forces necessary to plan for the future. Thank you for your support!