1) Who are you? Tell a little about your background, family, profession and past political experience.
I retired from Pacific Telesis as an engineering manager after 36 years of service in 1988. In 1989, as a member of the CSD Steering Committee, I was appointed to do all of the studies, filings, petitions and presentations to LAFCO and the Board of Supervisors. I did these things and we were approved and ordered to a vote of the residents, which passed with an 83-percent vote. Now we are here with a tidy, frugally run CSD with the powers of water, wastewater, landscaping and the municipal advisory functions. Our rates are among the lowest in the state and our staff and service is second to none.
2) Why are you running for the CSD Board?
I am running again for the CSD Board because I am proud of where we are now. We have come a long way in modernization of our water and wastewater facilities. Our wastewater plant, with its solar drying of the sludge, is state of the art. I believe that a feasibility study needs to be done now for using some of our discharge water for landscaping and agricultural uses instead of discharging it into the river. If we don't come up with some way, we may end up building a very expensive reverse-osmosis system that could raise our rates by 40 percent or better.
3) What do you believe to be the number-one issue facing the community, and what do you think should be done about it?
The number-one issue facing our district is our community center. The developer is responsible for providing the land and half of its associated costs. Over the years, the developer has been able to push this issue out time and time again. Our supervisor is on this now big-time and it is up to us to see that nothing goes wrong.
4) What do you believe is the second most important issue facing the community, and what do you think should be done about it?
The second most important issue facing our district is that of Richardson vs. The Town of Discovery Bay. There are several key things to remember about this issue: Mr. Richardson filed this action himself the CSD Board did not do it. To date, Mr. Richardson has cost the residents of Discovery Bay nearly $100,000 in legal costs. Mr. Richardson wants the CSD Board members to sign an agreement that they have already sworn to when they swear their oath of office. The residents of the town surely don't need to pay $100,000 to have Mr. Richardson do it again.
5) Why should people vote for you? What will you bring to the board?
I feel that I have served the people of Discovery Bay well over the years and I probably have a few years left. If the voters want me, I am here to serve.
6) What are your thoughts on how the CSD dealt with the recent raw sewage spill in the Lakeshore development? What needs to be done differently in the future?
There is far too much hyperbole floating on this to make an educated decision. When the Blue Ribbon Panel has finished its work, we will know all of the facts. It very well may be that the answer lies in doing the sewer and water servicing ourselves and eliminating the contractor.
7) What would you do to address the need for a higher level of police and fire service in Discovery Bay?
We won't know the answer to the police services until our next meeting. Apparently there will be some kind of solution in the works. As to fire services, it's still the same old story. Our district finances were capped at the level of volunteer/paid on call years ago. There is only one way to get more operating money and that is to go to the voters. By rights, the whole thing should have gone to the Consolidated District years ago. Communications, permitting, inspections, training and investigations are all done there now.
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