Editor:

On Sept. 23, the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce held a local Business Expo in the Lakeview Shopping Center. The real treat, though, were the presentations by the four candidates running for the two open Discovery Bay CSD Board seats.

Giving candidates five minutes to say whatever they want can be revealing, and it sure was. Bob Doran kicked off the event with a long rambling and semi-coherent presentation that was entirely about the past not about issues we face today, not about the recent sewage spills or community unhappiness with the board or the very expensive lawsuit sucking money from the community's coffers.

He rambled on about things more than 10 years in the past. At one point, a long-term, well-informed resident leaned over to me and said, You know, Bob is a very nice man who has spent more hours volunteering for this community than almost anyone else, but sometimes it's time to step aside.

The next candidate, Jennifer Finetti, was very professional but focused on how she would work toward a better relationship with the school board versus how she would deal with today's pressing issues.

Ray Tetreault, an active community volunteer and past CSD treasurer, spoke to his experience and how he would make himself available, listen and be accountable to the residents.

Mark Simon pulled no punches, addressing the lawsuit, the sewage spill and the real issues we read and hear about every day. I was impressed.

So, Bob Doran, thank you for your many years of voluntary service, but the best thing you can now do is step aside, withdraw your candidacy and make room for a new volunteer. Bob, join a committee or find other ways to be helpful.

Jennifer, thank you for running; in normal times I might vote for you. But given the lack of accountably and poor performance of the CSD, it's time to shake up some things, time to eliminate the group think, time to have better listeners and board members who will provide fair and honest representation of the residents' views. For me, the choice on this November ballot is easy: Ray Tetreault and Mark Simon are the only real choices.

Bill Klipp

Discovery Bay