Candidate for
Director; Santa Clara Valley Water District; Division 7

My name is Gary Kremen and I am running to represent the communities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Alamaden Valley on the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors.

With the current drought plaguing California, it is vital that those managing our water services do so efficiently, thoughtfully, and with educated leadership. I believe I am fully qualified to ensure the Santa Clara Valley Water District operates to serve the residents of Santa Clara County, not special interests. At the same time, as someone who has started numerous businesses that have employed hundreds of people, I understand budgets and finances.

As an environmentalist at heart, my campaign (and background in sustainability) is driven by my concern for community. I am an avid outdoors person, a lifetime member of the Sierra Club in addition to supporting a number of environmental organizations. Most importantly, I have two children, 2 and 4, who, like me, both love the water.

I am a longtime resident of Santa Clara County (having first moved here in 1987). I have been deeply involved in our local community, including serving as President of the Board of Directors of Purissima Hill Water District. This elected position is for a non-profit water district serving the Los Altos Hills area and parts of unincorporated Santa Clara County. I was the Secretary of the Water Conservation Committee for Los Altos Hills. California State Controller John Chiang recently appointed me to Proposition 39, California Clean Energy Jobs Act Citizen's Oversight Board. The Citizen Oversight Board is monitoring the $650 million of energy efficiency improvements to our schools and public building that was approved by the Voters in 2012. I am a long-time volunteer, judge and mentor at the leading Bay Area water non-profit, Imagine H2O.

Education and sustainability have been dedicated passions for me. I teach a graduate level course at Northwestern University on energy policy, am a member of the Foundation Board of University of California at Merced and am an advisor, grant proposal evaluator and judge at Stanford's TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy.

I am a clean technology engineer with more than 30 years experience starting companies that change people lives. I am the Chairman of the county's leading water conservation company, WaterSmart Software. WaterSmart produces the Home Water Report, inserted into the bills in the City of Palo Alto, parts of Mountain View and more than 20 other cities. That Home Water Report helps water users save on average of 5% of their water usage by giving personal, easy-to-follow recommendations. I am deeply involved in other water conservation, leak detection, water recycling and water reuse.

I am focused in the green economy including founding the largest residential solar financing company in the U.S. as well as being a thought leader in other solar energy efforts, energy efficiency and general sustainability. By founding and growing Clean Power Finance, from startup to more than 200 employees, I helped make residential solar more affordable. Coming from a background as an engineer and advisor to several startup solar, water, energy management and general sustainability firms, I recognize clean technology innovation can be used to tackle issues affecting our district such as drought and water management.

I will use the work ethic, passion and financial management that led me to start several successful companies including Match.com (I am responsible for over 1,000,000 babies) and Clean Power Finance (over 200 local high paying jobs).

Please browse my website to learn about the issues at hand, my past experience, and my priorities I want to address when elected. Additionally, you will find information on joining our campaign as a volunteer as well as information for donating to the campaign. I plan to work hard for your vote and be your voice for this district. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss my campaign and issues in our district at your pleasure.

Thank you for your consideration.