Candidate for
Director; Contra Costa County Water District; Division 2

I have never held a policital office other than the one I now occupy and do not intend to seek any other office. My political philosophy is really very simple, act with integrity, honesty and fairness. I do not have a political agenda nor do I have a personal agenda, my agenda is to enact good public policies that benefit CCDW ratepayers and protect and enhance the environment.

A water district is not like a city council, board of supervisors, or other similar political body. The decisions that have to be made need to reflect a more business like atmosphere.

The policies established by a Board for operating a Water District should be based on sound business principles so that ratepayers receive good quality water at a high level of service at the lowest cost possible. A Board member must insure that the operations of the District are conducted in an environmentaly sensitive manner. Politics should have very little or no impact in establishing these policies.

I was elected as a reform candidate in 1993. I ran for this office because of the abuses that were taking place at the District. Prior to my election, the Board and the District were the subject of Grand Jury investigations; an Ex-General Manager and an Ex-Board President were under contract as $100 an hour consultants. They were paid over $150,000. Board members took a trip to New York to attend the opening of bids on a bond issue, they stayed at expensive hotels and had expensive meals. The District paid for a poll of a political race in East County in which a Board member's wife was running. A Board member took a trip to Europe to "look at water systems" at District expense. Board members received and accepted gifts from financial consultants. The Board and the District were severely critized for these and other activities. When I became a Board Member I helped stop all of those activities. The District now participates in the opening of bids for bond issues via telephone conference calls. I have never accepted a gift from a consultant or any other group. The only trips I take are strictly for District business purposes.

During my term in office I have worked hard to restore the integrity of the Board and the District. CCWD is now well regarded, not only in this community, but is recognized as an innovative water industry leader throughout the state. The District has made significant progress and improvements during my nine years on the Board. My purpose in seeking re-election is to keep the District on its' present course of continuous progress and improvement.