League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Barbara (Finerty) Keegan Answers Questions Candidate for Director; Santa Clara Valley Water District; Division 2

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are three top issues facing the Water District and what are some of the solutions that you believe will address the problems?

One of the most pressing issues the Water District faces is the Delta. Over half of our water comes through the Delta and finding a sustainable solution for the long term stability of that water supply is imperative. There is a strong difference of opinion between those who support strengthening the levees and those who want to construct a large-scale conveyance facility. And there is uncertainty about the extent to which either solution can actually "solve" the problem. It is encouraging that recent research conducted by UCLA engineers indicates that the Delta levee systems is not as vulnerable to seismic activity as originally thought.

Another issue that is very important to me is proactive maintenance of our infrastructure. The Water District owns hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of aging assets such as reservoirs, dams, treatment plants, and pipelines and they have not had a coherent infrastructure plan. When I was the Sunnyvale City Engineer, I was one of the leads in developing Sunnyvale's Long Range Infrastructure Plan. We identified all city owned assets and projected the anticipated cost and time-frame to rehabilitate or replace those assets. The Water District needs to do something similar so that they can accurately project future expenditures and how it will impact water rates.

And lastly, the Water District has been criticized in Grand Jury Reports and in the media for excessive spending. The Water District Board needs to be more fiscally conscious and more transparent. I would achieve that by strengthening the District's audit program and by posting all audits so that they are easily accessible to the public. I would also advocate for posting the District's detail budget online.

2. What experience and training do you have which would help the Water District meet its goals?

I am a registered professional engineer with a very strong technical background, and I am also someone who has been active as a community leader. I believe my technical skills are sorely needed on the Water District Board. My thirty years of engineering experience make me uniquely qualified to sit on a Board that has to deal with so many complex technical issues.

Right now I serve on three volunteer Boards and I have already demonstrated the ability to be a collaborative, persuasive and effective Board Member. The Water District needs someone who has the ability to work well with their fellow Board Members. I know I have the interpersonal skills to work effectively with the existing Board and yet also be a strong advocate for meaningful change.

3. How will you balance your constituents' needs and interests with residential, agricultural and business needs of the entire county while safeguarding the environment?

While we are elected by District, it is important to have a regional perspective as well. Streams and creeks cross district boundaries and the decisions made by individual Board Members have county wide implications.

There are areas of agreement that exist between the District's various stakeholders. Residents, the business community and environmentalists all share a common interest in seeing the District deliver timely, cost effective and environmentally sensitive capital projects.

In terms of serving my constituents, I have already been advocating for District 2 residents in my role as a North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association Board Member. I took the lead for our Board in getting the District to include funding for the Upper Guadalupe Improvements in the proposed Safe Clean Water ballot measure. Over 7,000 properties, Highway 87 and the Guadalupe Light Rail will all remain vulnerable to flooding until this important project is completed.

And lastly, underlying all decisions is the importance of considering what is in the best interest of the public.

4. What is your evaluation of the financial condition of the Water District and how would you ensure that maintenance of infrastructure remains a District priority?

The District's funding is not as constrained as many other agencies due to their ability to raise water rates. Unfortunately this has led to a doubling of our water rates over the last ten years with little to show for it.

I think the District's financial situation in terms of their water utility is relatively stable. Unfortunately the funding for flood protection and environmental stewardship functions is vulnerable and had been heavily dependent on parcel tax revenue. The existing Clean Safe Creeks funding ends in a few years and the voters may not approve the current proposed ballot measure. If the new ballot measure is not approved,the District should take immediate steps to develop a staffing transition plan to address future funding realities.

I am a strong advocate for proactive infrastructure maintenance. It is necessary for the District to develop a strategic plan to forecast infrastructure needs, and the timing and cost of infrastructure rehabilitation or replacement. The District needs to deliver infrastructure projects in a timely and cost-effective manner in order to convince the public that their money is being well spent.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Please answer each question in no more than 400 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 11, 2012 12:12
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