Carpinteria Valley Water District

By Matthew Thurmond Roberts

Lower rates through the sale of state water, keeping our water supply safe, reliable and healthful, and work toward greater sustainability.

Carpinteria water bills are too high. We must pay for the expensive State Water Project and comply with new Federally mandated drinking water quality laws. We cannot ignore federal Law, but we can lower our water bills by selling State Water entitlements.

Selling unneeded State Water is my top priority. This will lower everyone's water bill significantly. State Water costs ratepayers $3,000,000.00 annually for water rarely used. Recent studies prove that Carpinteria could sell half its State water allotment and still have an adequate supply even in a severe drought.

The Federal Government recently imposed stringent drinking water quality standards that take full effect in 2012. Compliance required costly renovations to Carpinteria's 1950s era water system. Eliminating carcinogens in our water supply is expensive but essential.

Over the past two years, I initiated reductions in water rates and initiated televising District meetings. Those actions were implemented. I listen to you and work hard to make Carpinteria the best it can be.

Carpinteria has been on the forefront and served as the battlefront for the environmental movement since 1969. The Community has shown amazing resolve preserving the Carpinteria Bluffs, restoring the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park, working to restore Steelhead in the Carpinteria Creek and doing habitat restorations in Tar Pits Park.

In his book, Wonders of the Sea, Volume Two, author, conservationist and photographer Mr. Marc Shargel looks at our regions near shore ocean resources. I am proud to say I am quoted as saying "Environmental stewardship of our resources is our best chance for economic vitality." When Mr. Shargel interviewed me, I was explaining what I believe represents Carpinteria's best interests. We need decision makers who understand that our local area is enormously blessed and that we need to preserve it. I think sustainability is the most profound way to do so. In the position of community leadership I can change our practices to those that embrace sustainability. I know Carpinteria can be a model for intelligent and sustainable water use. In this, the CVWD should play an active, indeed leading role.

As I promote the protection of open space and work to enhance environmental appreciation, I also like to illustrate this point by saying, sometimes in defense of a new park project's cost, that an accountant may say a project is expensive, but an economist will say the value it brings in quality of life, heath and welfare, environmental enhancement and the community identity will far exceed the expense.

I fully believe in an open, honest, ethical, and empathic government. I believe it is an elected official's duty to listen, to have the skills to understand the technical issues and the courage to make difficult decisions. I believe in asking and answering stupid questions. I am not afraid to say "I don't know, but I will try to find the answer and get back to you." Most bad decisions are from the ill informed, and most good ones are from those who ask the right questions and who are willing to do the work necessary to find the answers. I think I have a proven track record and am an effective leader.