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

My political philosophy is pragmatic and practical. I think this pragmatic approach works and can drive us towards the right solutions. I believe market mechanisms are often efficient and preferable, but governmental regulation and control is needed in some areas. Dozens of long distance phone companies can reach your home, but only one water line will feed in and one sewer line feed away from your house. Particularly on environmental issues like water supply, flood protection, and environmental restoration of our creeks and watersheds, we need responsive, strong, nimble, and also efficient governmental action.

An example of how I use this approach is on the contentious issue of water fluoridation. I approach it as I do climate change, trying to understand the scientific consensus without trying to choose which individual science article that I, a non-expert, think is better. I think the consensus is clear that benefits outweigh what at this time are just vague risks for most people, but those vague risks can't be dismissed. The choice for me is to move forward with fluoridation unless the consensus changes, but at the same time, not to deny some potential of risk. This approach bothers some proponents on either side who have "with us or against us" attitudes, but I think the public will respect my honesty and my empirical approach.

Another example applying this philosophy is regarding Governor Brown's "twin tunnels" proposal for Sacramento Bay-Delta. I am not approaching this with some ideological bias against Southern California - I recognize that our county actually gets 40% of its water from the Bay Delta, and that the biggest water wasters are actually Sacramento and other cities that don't even meter the water they use. Still, the best financial analysis I have seen for our region makes me conclude that the financial risks of the twin tunnels are too high compared to what we can do to make up the water shortfall locally. I am not willing to play politics on this important issue, and I am not in denial that failing to build the tunnels means we lose some water supply. Instead I get us to an answer in opposition to the tunnels and to push forward, expeditiously, on alternative solutions like potable reuse of wastewater. I think this is the philosophy towards water issues that the public wants to see.

As for specific plans I have, please see my website and my other answers here, particularly to the question of the top three issues and also my "Keeping Up the Momentum" position paper. I am working hard and have led on responses to the drought that will bring long-term improvements in our water situation, on increasing environmental protection, and improving the ongoing process of making your voice heard and making sure your money is well-spent.