Issues 

 

 Water Rate Vigilance!

A top priority is resisting the constant pressure to increase rates. I maintain constant vigilance over OMWD's internal costs and oppose wasteful and unnecessary spending. I demand fiscal control from our water wholesalers, whose costs are passed on to us. As OMWD's appointed member of the San Diego County Water Authority, I have voted against unnecessary projects and advocated pushing down proposed increases. As Chair of the SDCWA imported water committee, I have been at the forefront of developing water transfer sales to increase revenues and reduce our rates.   

 Public Transparency

Promoting transparency and accessibility in public meetings is crucial for fostering trust and accountability in our communities. My OMWD board was one of the few water agencies that did not provide remote access to meetings. I spearheaded the initiation of live-streaming for OMWD Board meetings, enabling remote public participation.

 Manage Our Imported Water Supplies

Despite some wet winters up north, the Colorado River to the east, which we rely on for over 70% of our water, remains in a severe drought. Lake Mead, which supplies our water, is less than 30% full. Fortunately, San Diego County is better positioned than most places to withstand water shortages because of its water conservation efforts, forward-thinking infrastructure such as the Carlsbad Desalination plant, recycling, and water reuse. Nevertheless, we must carefully manage our water resources for long-term reliability. As your director at OMWD and Vice-Chair of the Water Authority's Imported Water Committee, I will continue to look out for your interests.

 Environmentally Responsive

Every decision we make must consider environmental and social impacts. Our decisions must consider environmental sustainability, resilience, and affordability.

        Encourage Access to OMWD's AquaHawk ™ Portal.

With AquaHawk, you can monitor your water use by the hour, reducing your water bill by as much as 15 percent! I have supported OMWD staff with the system rollout and provided access to customer support. Thanks to their efforts, thousands of OMWD customers monitor their water use online. If you haven't yet, here is the link to get you started: http://www.olivenhain.com/mywateruse/: 

Explore Alternative Sources of Water Supply

We do not receive enough rain in San Diego County to meet our local needs. OMWD is exploring the feasibility of locally sourced groundwater from the San Dieguito Valley to reduce reliance on outside sources. The Board will soon make important decisions about whether to go forward with this project. You can learn more about it at https://www.olivenhain.com/your-water-supplies/san-elijosan-dieguito-valley-groundwater-project/.