FALLBROOK – The 15 members of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group serve four-year terms and advise the county Board of Supervisors on issues such as land-use planning, traffic and development.

Thirteen people, including six incumbents, are seeking eight seats in next month's election. They were asked to respond to questionnaires.

They said the key issues facing Fallbrook are 2,000 housing units and other development proposed near Interstate 15 and state Route 76; maintaining the community's rural and agricultural character despite future growth; and making sure the community plan deals with those issues properly. Here are the candidates:

Michele Bain, 63, is a retired court reporter. She says she is running to keep large developments out of the community, and to make sure developers build as “green” as possible. Bain would also like to see a new hospital built in Fallbrook. She wants Fallbrook to hang on to its rural charm.

Jim Bowen, 86, is a retired chemical engineer. An incumbent, he said he wants to stay on the board to help complete the county's general plan update. Bowen said he wants to limit growth and keep Fallbrook as an agricultural community.

Fallbrook Community Planning Group Panel: 15 elected members Purpose: Advises the county on planning traffic and land-use issues Area population: 44,000 Election: 13 candidates seek eight seats

Harry Christiansen, 77, is a real estate agent. An incumbent, he has been on the board since 1992. He said he hopes to finalize plans for development near I-15 and Route 76; finish updating Fallbrook's community plan and the county's general plan; and get the county to complete certain road improvements in Fallbrook. The development at I-15 and Route 76, he said, must provide adequate roads and parking.

“I do not want I-15 at Fallbrook to look like Temecula, where people are stacked up to get off” the freeway.

John Crouch, 62, is a supermarket administrator. He is an incumbent and was elected to the planning group in 1997. Fallbrook will grow, Crouch said, but he hopes residents will be able to maintain their quality of life. He said increased traffic congestion will be a concern, and the “massive” development proposed near I-15 and Route 76 could change Fallbrook's way of life.

Jean Dooley, 67, is a retired bilingual teacher in the elementary school district. She's concerned about future water usage and drought, and likes Fallbrook's village atmosphere. She said: “If we want to maintain a rural, agricultural area and not drive out agriculture with a proliferation of additional housing, we will need to write, publish and enforce strict guidelines regarding water permits.”

Donna Gebhart, 56, is a financial planner and investment adviser representative who co-owns Gebhart and Associates. She wants to protect local farmland and watersheds, and keep large developments in check.

“The increase in population density will challenge the Fallbrook planning group to preserve our country lifestyle with its unique cultural amenities, parks, trails, open spaces and agricultural land.”

Jackie Heyneman, 77, is a community volunteer who said she wants to preserve and maintain Fallbrook's rural qualities. Her concern is how Fallbrook's community plan will be updated in the county's general plan as developers seek rezoning in the I-15 and Route 76 area. She said she will work to restrain high-density development and “overreaching commercial plans.”

Roy Moosa, 55, a business owner in downtown Fallbrook, said he wants the community to maintain its rural character and supports plans to revitalize downtown with a historic theme. His businesses include financial and real estate services.

James Oenning, 71, is a real-estate and financial consultant seeking a second term on the planning board. He said he wants developers to build with energy efficiency in mind; increase quality job opportunities in the community; and maintain the community's character so it won't become another Orange County.

Isaac “Ike” Perez, 73, is a retired civil engineer and an incumbent. The biggest issues, he said, are development, traffic and protection of open spaces. “Unregulated development will destroy the character of our community, make our streets impassable and severely reduce our open spaces and our agricultural areas.”

Chuck Sanacore, 71, an incumbent, said he has worked hard to control growth and traffic congestion and wants to retain Fallbrook's village charm. The biggest issue, he said, is development proposed east of I-15 “with its accompanying traffic congestion and potential rivalry as a new town center.”

Stephen “Steve” Smith, a retired elementary school principal, said change is inevitable but he wants future development to be in line with what the community is now – a rural, agricultural area. For example, he said, he wants developers to follow traffic mitigation requirements and doesn't want to see multistory buildings in single-story neighborhoods. He declined to give his age.

Jack Wood, 73, is a retired business executive and former planning group member. He wants development east of I-15 to be carefully planned and managed to avoid harming downtown businesses and increasing traffic.

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Linda Lou: (760) 737-7574; linda.lou@uniontrib.com