What's So Great about Richard Schwartz (and other problems)

By Richard A. Schwartz

I am NOT a Politician (and other issues)

Professional engineer-manager with 30+ years in aerospace/defense industry. I will bring common industrial practices into the West Basin Municipal Water District operations where those practices are deficient. See the bullet in the Kwan affair below.

No political ambitions or agenda. I have had the same consistent political philosophy and been registered with the same party for 20 years. I have never run for office. My only ambition is to bring good management to the West Basin Municipal Water District.

I am running a zero budget campaign When one receives political contributions and endorsements, the contributors and endorsers expect something in return. This is not going to happen in my case because I have no contributors and endorsers. If you despise the ability of candidates to buy their way into office, you should vote for Schwartz! (Of course, I expect to be defeated, but who knows?)

I since filing my candidacy, I have received numerous solicitations for endorsement for money. One local newpaper asked my position on the issues, and then reminded me that they would be delighted to run my advertisements (for a fee, of course). Publishers of slate cards have offered to include me among the endorsees of organizations with noble sounding names-- for a fee. They don't care at all about my political views or background; they just want money.

I urge the voters to reject any candidate who is endorsed on a slate card.

A word on the Easy Reader attack on Director Kwan. I know how to control directors expenses so that (1) Directors will not abuse their expense accounts, and (2) Directors will not be able to smear each other in the press for abusing their expense accounts. It is very simple: when a Director must travel on West Basin Water District Business, the trip must be pre-approved by a subcommittee of the Board of Directors as in any normal industrial company! You do not leave your job, take a trip, and then bill it to your employer without his approval, so why should a water district Director do this? Pre-approval requires that

1.the travel must be for Water District business, not for some other agency.

2. there is no way to conduct this business without traveling.

3. itenerary and accomodations to be arranged by the water district staff to no greater degree of luxury than an ordinary district employee would have.

4. the benefit to the district shall be greater than the cost of travel.

I think that educational expense compensation for Directors should be according to the same policy as for any other industrial employee. When I worked at Northrop, for example, the computer science classes I took at UCLA were pre-approved by my management. At the end of each course, I brought the report card and receipts to management and received payment. I think that classes in water management, environmental engineering, and pollution control are appropriate for water district directors who want to educate themselves. Music lessons (which I am now taking) are not! As with Director's travel expenses, approval would be by a subcommittee of the Board of Directors.

If you have read this far, you know more about the West Basin Municpal Water District and the election process than 99.9% of the voters. You also know more about me than you know about any of the other candidates. Thank you for caring. Next Tuesday, you will decide. Please do it right.