Why I am running for the VVCSD Board

By Charles E. "Charlie" Blair, M.D.

A statement of my background and ideas. This is from my Flier

"2004 completes my tenth year living in Vandenberg Village, and my fourth year serving on our Community Service District Board. When the U.S. Air Force assigned me to Vandenberg AFB in August 1994 as Chief of Surgery, I chose to live in Vandenberg Village because I liked the area. When I retired in July 1999, I chose to remain here. In addition to near-perfect participation in Board activities, I have represented the Village in wider local, county, and statewide venues.

"I am acutely aware of the importance of safe, stable, and sustainable water resources to our quality of life. We all need to work to preserve the integrity and independence of our ground-water supply and maintain water quality at a reasonable cost. In my voting and deliberation, I have consistently advocated water conservation and adequate mitigation in an open and respectful manner. With a strong background in medical and natural sciences and four years of dedicated Board activity, I can effectively continue serving the Village as one of your Directors. I welcome your vote in support of my candidacy for re-election."

Let me elaborate on some of these ideas.

I am a physician and teacher by training and a life-long naturalist by avocation. As a physician, I am acutely aware of the value of safe, reliable water to our overall health. In addition to dedicated service on the Board and in representing the Village in wider contexts, I am in my fourth year of advanced studies at Cal Poly. I will continue to apply my broad scientific background and on-going interests to bear on behalf of my fellow citizens.

In support of The District's "No net increase in consumptive use" policy, I will continue work to keep our water resources under local control, and closely guard their sustainability and quality. I opposed changing our mitigation policy to include wastewater delivered to Lompoc. It is my belief that this water delivered to the Santa Ynez River downstream from the Village only INDIRECTLY affects our groundwater. The cumulative effect of unchecked building could easily overdraft our aquifer, and force us to consider costlier options.

I continue to oppose considering State Water an alternative source for our area!! For very good reasons, voters in our three contiguous water districts twice declined State Water. I understand that it is a far less reliable source than initially promised. With the increasing and changing demands on and allocations of the over-all State water supply, it may not be available when we need it the most.

Water issues are complex. Sound budgeting and management are critical to efficient operation. There are social and political aspects as well as scientific ones. I firmly believe in dealing with these issues in an informed, courteous, yet decisive manner. The Village will be well-served by returning me to the District Board!

Charles Blair, MD, FACS LtCol. USAF, MC, (Ret.) VVCDS Board Member 733-3189 blairce@sbceo.org