Kevin Graves
It has been a busy ten months since joining the CSD Board. I was doubly honored when selected to be CSD President.
Much has been done. More needs to be accomplished. Thus far we’ve:
• Balanced our budget. In these tough economic times, we’ve lived within our means and kept our water and sewer rates among the lowest in the Bay Area. We’ve expanded our reserves to more than $3 million.
• Planned for the future by initiating a 10-year plan to evaluate our water and waste water systems.
• Increased responsiveness. With our new general manager and landscape coordinator, the CSD is working hard to improve the community while responding more quickly to your concerns.
• Protected our Delta rights. We successfully fought the outrageous attempts to block our Delta use. Deep water access is fundamental to the quality of life we enjoy in Discovery Bay.
• Advocated for improved public safety. With the new substation opened, we now have two full time officers rather than one. We must do all we can to keep Discovery Bay a safe place to live, work and raise a family.
• Focused on community facilities. Approved the installation of solar lighting, the basketball court at Regatta Park and new ‘Splash Zone’ at Slifer Park.
As a 16 year resident of Discovery Bay, I am also proud to serve in the State Military Reserve. After the sacrifice of our son Joey in Iraq in 2006, we founded a non-profit to benefit other Gold Star families and veterans.
It is an honor to serve you. While still learning in my new role, I believe we’re off to a solid start. I would appreciate your support. My home phone is 925.513.1353 if you have any questions. Thank you.
It has been conclusively verified that a Sacramento based Political Action Committee headed by a well know consultant for housing developers has bestowed cash payments to the CSD election efforts of Kevin Graves and Brian Dawson. In fact it has been confirmed through a document search that 38% of Graves entire election funding has come from this one source and they are also Dawson’s single largest contributor as well as by far the largest contributor to the entire election. This is the same group that provided massive financial backing for the failed developer sponsored Measure F in Brentwood and two years ago this group backed a DB CSD candidate who was defeated after exposure of their support.
Political/special interest money like this only comes into obscure local elections such as this one when there is something specific to be gained by those paying. The local tract housing development business is not exactly doing well and these developers are looking for any advantage they can find (buy). Electing Graves and Dawson will end up costing every resident of this community when these individuals refuse to stand up against looming housing development issues. Developer special interests are not good for the residents of this community.
As an example, early next year conflict will likely arise over whether or not there is water/sewer capacity to serve The Hofmann Company’s 600 vacant lots in The Lakes development. Hoffmann will argue they already paid for the capacity but there is a real issue regarding the Hofmann supplied assumptions and variables used back when the capacity was increased. To deal with this and other existing developer related situations we need CSD directors who are not beholding to anyone. Directors who owe their financial candidacy to special interest groups have the potential to cost every resident of this community cash out of our pockets that should be coming from developers.
As concerned community members we have an opportunity to upgraded our CSD board of directors and to sidestep the very real and dangerous issue of special interest influence…. to do that we need CSD board members who know how to make honest decisions and who can oversee our water/waste treatment & parks-landscaping operations as well as being our voice to the county on ultra-important matters such as roads, land use, housing development and public safety (including the fire stations) without political or special interest motivation. The three candidates who can best serve our needs are Jonathan Silver, Chris Steele & Walter MacVittie.