Jack Ford finds space in San Diego

Jack Ford, son of the former president, will soon make his home in San Diego. The 26-year-old Ford, who first visited San Diego during vacation breaks from Utah State University, where majored in forestry, says he's "slowly realizing his intent" to move here and should purchase a place of his own in the Encinitas area with a few months.

Young Ford now lives with friends in Los Angeles, but he spends at least three nights a week at the Olivenhain home at George Gorton, a professional Republican party fundraiser whom he met while the two were in Washington, D.C. In addition to his plans for a home Ford has a share of the Del Mar-Rancho Santa Fe News-Press, a weekly paper owned by Gorton. Copublisher Ford says he's actively involved with the paper and spends his weekends supervising the News-Press staff. (He's also still "dabbling" with Jann Wenner's Outside magazine, where he serves as "assistant to the publisher.")

The lanky blond has become interested in local politics, too. April 25 he appeared at a fundraiser for Pete Wilson, held at the Rancho Santa Fe home of Frank Warren, and last week he was here to push a June ballot measure which would add $65 million worth of additional park lands to San DIego's existing recreation area. And though he expresses "no preference" when asked about his own political affiliations. Ford is spending most of his time with young Republicans. In addition to Gorton, he's developed a friendship with freshman San Diego city councilman Bill Lowery (who served as Gerald Ford's local advance man for the 1976 presidential campaign) and has had a number of discussions with County Supervisor Roger Hedgecock. "We've had some heated debates and a few agreements," Ford says of his talks with Hedgecock. And the amiable Ford, dressed in corduroy slacks, crew neck sweater, and a baseball cap for his recent press conference, didn't discount the possibility of his own candidacy for local office.