"We need to take control of our own destiny," says Don Sammis,founding board member of the pro-cityhood Rancho Santa FePreservation. The group was created earlier this year and since hasreceived about 200 requests from Rancho Santa Fe's 5,000 residentsabout forming their own city.

Sammis and some other leaders of the group late last week heldtheir first full-scale town meeting to discuss issues, recruit moresupporters and raise money. The Rancho Santa Fe Association--thehomeowners group that represents residents of the 10-mile-squarecommunity--hasn't taken a position yet on the cityhood drive.

Rancho Santa Fe is one of Southern California's richestenclaves. Its residents range from descendants of San Diego'sold-line banking families to "thirtysomethings" who've madehundreds of millions over the past two years from the county'sbooming high-tech and biotech industries.