La Jolla’s business improvement district (BID) elected six “reform candidates” during October’s election and then began the new year Jan. 14 by electing a new set of officers and replacing many who had served on the Promote La Jolla (PLJ) board for years. Newly elected PLJ board member Rick Wildman was elected president, replacing former president Deborah Marengo who served 10 years. “I think everybody has confidence that people are doing this for no other reason than that they care about their community,” Wildman said. “The most exciting thing was that everything was unanimous at the meeting.” The PLJ board also replaced Vice President Peter Wagener with Jennifer V.G. Clark, according to Tiffany Sherer, PLJ executive director. “I didn’t know what to expect when people said that I should run for VP — it happened kind of quickly, but I ran unopposed,” Clark said. “Everyone who was nominated ran unopposed.” PLJ board members elected Daisy Fitzgerald treasurer and Glen Rasmussen secretary. The cross-section of merchants on the new PLJ board creates a new sense of optimism for the future, Clark said. “We all have a little more time on our hands with this economy,” Clark said. “We can reflect back for when things pick up …” Clark encouraged village merchants to talk to PLJ. “As a BID member, I didn’t approach [the old PLJ]. I’m really hoping that merchants step up and let their voice be known, because I’m open to anybody’s input,” Clark said. “I think I have very good relationships with former board members and current board members. Coming into this with an agreement to start anew is the ticket.” PLJ plans to focus on three main issues: trash; beautification of La Jolla, which encompasses homelessness; and parking, Wildman said. “Most of us are successes if we stay in business for this amount of time,” Clark said. PLJ’s will meet Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m., at La Valencia, 1132 Prospect St. For info, visit www.lajollabythesea.com. n