Johne Baird, Rosemary Kamei, Terry Mahurin and Ram Singh answer
questions concerning District 1.
QUESTION:
What do you propose to keep water rates down?
Johne Baird, Rancher
“I don’t think we can keep water rates down. The cost of importing water, electricity and labor all factor in. I will plan wisely, so we can keep the rates down.”
Rosemary Kamei, Incumbent
“Programs and services would need to be reduced to maintain lower water rates. Keeping water rates depressed is a matter of trade-offs in water supply reliability and programs that benefit South County.”
Terry Mahurin, Retired
“I advocate stopping the spending on ‘nice’ but unnecessary items to the core business. I would lower South County imported water cost by getting our legal share of Anderson water (or a credit) for the Llagas sub-basin.”
Ram Singh, Professor
“The Water District has incurred unnecessary expenses. The district has taken over more real estate and buildings than what it needs. To reduce cost, any underutilized building should be leased out – if not outright relinquished.”
QUESTION:
What creative programs would you encourage to promote water conservation in the valley?
Johne Baird
“I don’t believe there has been a problem, but short two-to-three hour morning meetings and evening meetings will get more public input.”
Rosemary Kamei
“Water conservation can be greatly achieved by partnering with local agencies such as the cities, the agricultural community and others by way of incentives.”
Terry Mahurin
“To decrease the supply of water in the valley would imply importing less water from sources such as the San Luis Reservoir where the district has a long-term contract which expires in 2028. We pay for the water whether we use it or not. I support conservation, current district activities in that area, and I’m open to new creative ideas.”
Ram Singh
“Every project should be planned well in advance and notices should be sent out to the public. Transparency is the crux of democracy, and I am strongly committed to it.”
QUESTION:
What kinds of reforms would you bring to the district’s budgeting and operations processes?
Johne Baird
“I don’t know every nook and cranny of the budget. From talking to past board members, there are volumes. I have to dig into the budget.”
Rosemary Kamei
“The district is undergoing a Comprehensive Management Audit and performance evaluations through certification processes of Malcolm Baldridge Excellence Awards and the Santa Clara County Green Business Program.”
Terry Mahurin
“I’ve advocated for the board to establish an on-going financial and audit sub-committee wholly independent of district staff. The district is a large, complicated financial enterprise, and it’s unreasonable to expect individual board members to have this kind of detailed financial expertise.”
Ram Singh
“Every item of the budget must be justified as to its benefits and its necessity. The complete budget must be available to the public to make comments and suggestions.”
QUESTION:
How would you maximize costs and improve the notice of meetings and increase government transparency?
Johne Baird
“Public relations to educate the public. Workshops, field trips, radio, television and schools all get the conservation programs out to the people. We have a tremendous amount of runoff that needs to be captured now.”
Rosemary Kamei
“The district has numerous advisory committees to ensure greater public accountability and involvement. In addition, the Board of Directors will be considering the application of a ‘sunshine ordinance.”
Terry Mahurin
“I strongly support shining a bright light on district finances and in particular making available to the water retailers and rate payers the level of detail regarding expenditures and tangible benefits received.”
Ram Singh
“The public should be encouraged to use low-flow showerheads, low flush toilets and other such practices to reduce the consumption of water. Water conservation can be achieved by using drip irrigation for landscaping and for farming activities and planting of native plant species that need less water to survive. ”
QUESTION:
What would you do to improve existing treatment plants, pipelines and pumping stations and adopt new water-supply technology programs?
Johne Baird
“Keep on top of your treatment plants, pumping stations, pipe lines and tap into the staff.”
Rosemary Kamei
“South County, as of yet, does not have an existing water treatment plant. However, new technology for improving water quality has been successfully achieved in North County water treatment plants through the use of ozone technology. This not only will satisfy future drinking water standards, it will exceed them and be more effective.”
Terry Mahurin
“The treatment plants are just completing major upgrades. As part of the San Felipe Division contract, the district provides the operation and maintenance function on the Santa Clara Conduit and its pumping station. … There will have to be an investment made in expanding water recycling and the associated pipelines.”
Ram Singh
“The district takes water from reservoirs and also purchases water from external sources. The technology for treating this water and making it useful for human consumption is well-known. The board should review and determine the changes required to increase the operational efficiency of plants.”
