50 People to Watch in 2007

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Marvin Hamlisch
He's won three Oscars, four Grammys and three Emmys. Hes composed more than 40 movie scores and has served as music director and arranger for Barbra Streisand. He adapted Scott Joplins music for The Sting, which earned him a top 40 hit in 1974 with The Entertainer. And now Hamlisch is principal conductor of the San Diego Symphony Pops. Of his new digs, he says: Its beautiful, its got a first-class symphony orchestra, and especially in the wintertime, its a great place to make phone calls to your friends on the East Coast.

Dr. Brian Issell
Scripps Healths new vice president of clinical research may never accomplish what many consider the impossible dream of coming up with a cure for cancer, but hes sure trying. Hes charged with developing research programs to expand access to clinical research for physicians and patients throughout the Scripps system. Clinical research is the source of all healthcare advances, he says. Issell comes to Scripps with an enviable pedigree: When he was head of the clinical trials unit at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii, the facility won a prestigious National Cancer Institute designation as a cancer center.

Duncan Hunter
A member of the House of Representatives representing San Diego's 52nd District, Hunter has right-wing political leanings that never take us by surprise. No one was shocked to hear the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee call for a plan to build a triple-mega wall along the Mexico border. But he did catch us off guard with an announcement late last year that he was considering a run for president in 2008. Any race will surely be dogged by Hunter's ties to now-jailed former Congressman Randy Cunningham, and a recent charge that Hunter underpaid his home taxes.

Josh Johnson
Win streaks that span multiple seasons and sold-out home games at Torero Stadium are not the norm at the University of San Diego. The arrival of football coach Jim Harbaugh was the first step toward changing that; the second was the outstanding play of non-scholarship junior quarterback Josh Johnson. He passed for more than 3,500 yards and threw or ran for 40 touchdowns in the regular season. Some think Johnson will be the next great mid-major quarterback in the NFL, but the junior has vowed hell return for his senior season.

Tracy Jarman
After joining the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department in 1984, Jarman rose through the ranks. In 2006, she was planning to retirethen Jeff Bowman unexpectedly resigned as fire chief. She won the post in June, making her the first female fire chief in the city of San Diego. Shes one of just two dozen women across the country in such a post. Only San Franciscos female chief oversees a bigger budget and staff than San Diegos $160 million and nearly 1,000 firefighters, 85 emergency medical services personnel, 124 lifeguards and 121 civilians.

Norma Johnson
The new director of San Diego's Head Start program came here in May from Sacramento, where she held a similar post and earned high accolades for her passion and leadership. Project Head Start is a federally funded program that seeks to help kids from low-income families break out of the cycle of poverty and stresses the parents role as the childs primary educator. For 2007, Johnsons goal is simple: Boost funding so the local chapter can serve even more than the 10,000 families now enrolled in the program. Our children and families deserve the best, she says.

Jimmie Johnson
Finally. After two years in a row finishing as the bridesmaid, El Cajons fastest man behind the wheel finally won the NASCAR Nextel Cup title, car racings equivalent of the Super Bowl. In six years on the NASCAR circuit, 31-year-old Johnsonwho started racing 50cc motorcycles at 4has always finished in the top 10. Now hes a championin addition to being an XM satellite radio host and landing on People Magazines Sexiest Men in the Fast Lane list.

Arturo Kassel
The young restaurateur is shaking up the fine-dining scene since his purchase of Fresh Seafood Restaurant & Bar in La Jolla this past summer. Kassels packed a lot of industry experience into his 26 years, earning a hospitality management degree in Switzerland and training at the French Culinary Institute in New York, where he also managed four of the citys hottest eateries: Kittichai, Ocean Grill, Blue Water Grill and Isabellas. Thirty-twoyear- old executive chef Ryan Johnston heads up Freshs revamped kitchen. While we take our food and wine seriously, we dont take ourselves too seriously, says Kassel. We love what we do, we love to have fun, and it shows.

Gavin Kaysen
Dubbed San Diegos young culinary wonder, Kaysen represents the United States at the prestigious Bocuse dOr international competition in France later this month. A graduate of the New England Culinary Academy, he trained under some of the worlds best chefs in Europe and Napa Valley before accepting the chef de cuisine gig at Rancho Bernardo Inns El Bizcocho. He hopes to become the first American to make the top three at Bocuse dOr.

Floyd Landis
The exuberance that greeted his win in the 2006 Tour de France was quickly tempered by accusations Landis had been illegally doping during the epic bicycle race. The 31-yearold Murrieta resident loudly denied the charges. In September, Landis underwent hip-replacement surgery and within days was back on a training regimen. He has stated his intention to race in the 2007 Tour. It remains to be seen whether physical readiness or the final process of officially stripping his 2006 title will stand in the way.

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