Election 2016: Mesa Water District candidates’ backgrounds vary
The race for the Mesa Water District board is garnering more attention than usual this year as the agency is considering merging with the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
Despite the drama, only two candidates are running for one contested seat — an incumbent and one challenger.
The candidates are vying to represent the district’s Division 2, which covers Mesa Verde, the Upper and Lower Birds neighborhoods and a small slice of the Westside.
Only registered voters who live within the boundaries of that division can vote in the election. A map of the division’s borders can be found at MesaWater.org.
The Orange County registrar of voters office canceled two other Mesa Water division races after no one signed on to run against the incumbents. Those board members — Fred Bockmiller and Ethan Temianka — will serve additional four-year terms.
Hanging over this year’s race is Measure TT, a non-binding measure that asks voters whether Mesa Water should pursue merging with the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, which provides sewer and curbside trash collection service.
Mesa Water officials and supporters have said the measure will provide an idea of how much support there is for consolidating the two agencies, which they say could save ratepayers substantial amounts of money.
Critics, though, have dismissed the measure as a political ploy and said Mesa Water should have done more to work with the sanitary district before placing the measure on the ballot.
Mesa Water provides service to about 110,000 people in Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and sections of unincorporated Orange County, including John Wayne Airport.
This year’s Division 2 candidates are:
James Fisler
Age: 65
Professional occupation: Real estate broker, mortgage loan officer
Education: 262 units of undergraduate education at UC Irvine
Time lived in Costa Mesa: 46 years, Mesa Verde resident
Previous public service: Current director and immediate past president of Mesa Water District; former Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation commissioner and former Costa Mesa planning commissioner; former member of the Costa Mesa Senior Center board of directors; former board member of Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries; former member of the Residential Redevelopment Committee; graduate of Citizens Police Academy; multiyear participant in the Neighbors for Neighbors program; current chairman of the Costa Mesa Finance Advisory Committee; Orange County LAFCO commissioner; current member of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce board of directors; first vice president of independent special districts of Orange County; Government Committee of the Assn. of California Water Agencies.
Immediate family: Single
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Continue our master plan for the refurbishment, replacement and improvement of our public infrastructure so our sound water delivery system remains strong for future generations. This is part of our strategic plan and asset management program and a priority of the board and is well-funded through the capital improvement portion of our water bill.
2. Continue to ensure we can provide pure, plentiful, affordable and reliable water to our community today and for generations to come. This is the key to your economic liberty and our economic growth and the health of our community. We are the only water district able to meet 100% of demand through local wells — no imported water is needed because of long-range vision and planning.
3. Continue to use my knowledge, vision and experience as an advocate for the ratepayers of the Mesa Water District. Additionally, continue my “commitment to the community” program — participation in multiple public outreach events which allows me to learn the priorities, concerns and ideas of our ratepayers and helps me evolve as a director for the people who own the Mesa Water District: the ratepayers.
Alex Reich
Age: 44
Professional occupation: Software engineer, architect and programmer
Education: Graduate of San Clemente High School, attended Orange Coast College, debate and forensics champion
Time lived in Costa Mesa: On and off since 1991, Mesa Verde resident
Previous public service: 1997-98, president of the nonprofit Orange County Visual Basic Group; 1999-2000, founded Triangle .NET User Group
Immediate family members: Spouse, three children
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Reduce future rate increases.
2. Provide board leadership in the ever-increasing instrumentation, modeling, budgeting, planning and office software programs to reduce time and cost for our water utility.
3. Bring civility, transparency and trust to Mesa Water.
Twitter: @LukeMMoney
