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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Experience,
Financial Situation,
Collaboration
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What experience or training do you have which would help the District meet its goals?
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Answer from Brian Holtz:
I'm the current President of the board, and have served on the board and various board committees for four years. I also served on the town council's Water Conservation Advisory Committee, and drafted the town's custom alternative to Sacramento's one-size-fits-all AB1881 irrigation regulations. The town council adopted this ordinance.
Answer from Steve Jordan:
I consult to large corporations in clean technology, renewable energy, and pricing. I have worked on utility pricing and alternate sources of supply among other projects.
Answer from Ernest "Ernie" Solomon:
The most valuable experience I have had was serving on the Board with one of the founding members (Dan Alexander) of the District and with several other long serving Board members.
In addition, my extensive experience as an engineering geologist working on infrastructure including water supply systems provides insight on how public and private agencies best serve their constituents.
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2. What is your evaluation of the financial condition of the District?
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Answer from Ernest "Ernie" Solomon:
The District is well managed and is in excellent financial condition.
Answer from Brian Holtz:
The district is in good financial health. Our capital improvement program continues to make our system more efficient and seismically secure. We have switched to more cost-effective health insurance for current employees, and have made sure that we don't have the unfunded liabilities for retirement benefits that afflict so many other CalPERS agencies. Since our SFPUC water supplier is raising wholesale prices to finance its own long-deferred seismic upgrades, we will continue seeking cost savings to minimize how much these price increases are passed through to customers. As an example, I have been the board's leading voice of skepticism about a proposed half-million-dollar project to prepare Quarry Lake as a source of emergency non-potable water.
Answer from Steve Jordan:
The financial condition of PHWD is strong. We have been audited by an independent auditor, an agency of Santa Clara County, (LAFCO), and most recently the Town of Los Altos Hills and found to have adequate revenues and reserves. Further, we have no unfunded pension or retiree liability, in contrast to many government agencies. Our main financial challenge is that our sole supplier, San Francisco, projects significant price increases to fund the capital improvement programs underway to harden the water delivery system against earthquake.
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3. In what ways would you collaborate with other governmental entities and community groups to achieve the District's goals?
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Answer from Steve Jordan:
I will continue to work with neighboring government entities to improve service and limit future price increases. I currently work with three other government entities: with Los Altos Hills to review the cost structure and responsiveness of PHWD, with Los Altos Hills County Fire District to identify funding for fire service related capital projects, and with Santa Clara Valley Water District to explore the feasibility of lower cost water supply.
Answer from Brian Holtz:
The district has been collaborating very well with the Los Altos Hills County Fire District, which has both the responsibility and financial resources to pay for the system upgrades needed to ensure fire-fighting flows are available throughout the district. We also need to work with LAHCFD to make sure residents understand that irrigation is the lowest priority if an earthquake threatens our water supply. We have good working relationships with neighboring water purveyors, and have recently completed intertie projects allowing for water sharing in case of emergency.
Answer from Ernest "Ernie" Solomon:
I support and participate in collaboration with other government entities and community groups to seek to achieve the Districts goals.
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.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
