LOCAL ELECTIONS : SPECIAL DISTRICTS : Water Board Races Not So Dry This Year

More than 30 candidates are vying for 23 seats in eight water district elections in what observers say are typically low-key races.

Members of water district boards play a key role in setting district budgets and policy as well as setting water rates--particularly important this election year because of the continuing drought. Many of the candidates agree that conservation, water quality and strong service top the list of issues in the Nov. 6 elections.

In addition to the water district races, more than 30 candidates are running for seats in three sanitary districts, two community services districts and one park and recreation district.

John Withers, an appointed incumbent in the Irvine Ranch Water District, said the problem that has caused the drought is not a lack of water but the inability to get abundant water to those who need it.

“It’s a distribution problem,” said Withers, 34, a senior vice president for residential development at Hopkins Development Co. “You have to educate people. Tell the people in the north that we’re not just wasting it down here, that we really need it. And educate the people in the south to be a water steward. I think getting the conversation started is the first step.”

Also running for three seats on the Irvine Ranch Water District board are incumbents Peer Swan and Ray Auerbach and water scientist Charles McGee.

Though many candidates are taking a low-key approach to their campaigns, some are out stumping for votes.

Henry Halminski, an incumbent in the Capistrano Beach County Water District, said he plans to call all his neighbors to make sure they get out to vote for him.

Water engineer Ray Benedicktus, 70, said he is seeking election to the Capistrano Beach County board so that he can help the district develop storage facilities to keep water on hand at all times.

“If we lost a pipeline down here during an earthquake, we’d really be in a lot of trouble,” he said, asserting that the district’s storage capacity is severely insufficient.

Also running for two seats on that district’s board are incumbent Ken Lawrence and retired businesswoman Martha Rottman.

Jacqueline Ludlum, an appointed incumbent in the South Coast Water District, said that although she doesn’t plan to do much campaigning, she hopes her constituents remember the work she has done in her last six months on the board. She said she does recognize, however, that the drought has added emphasis to her job.

“Water is important politically as well as necessary in a drought,” said Ludlum, a retired Los Angeles Unified School District administrative supervisor. “When everybody needs it and everybody wants it, it becomes very important. Of course, the major issues in water are conservation, reclamation and setting an example through our leadership so that people get the message.”

Executive assistant Susan Hinman and incumbent P. Norman Anderson and appointed incumbent John Rayment also are running for three seats in the South Coast Water District, which serves about 6,500 people in the area south of Laguna Beach.

The candidates in other water district races are:

* East Orange County Water District--Retired construction superintendent Paul Fletcher, appointed incumbent Gary Veeh and incumbent Richard Barrett and incumbent Ralph Provost are running for three seats.

* El Toro Water District--Incumbent Gilbert Nelson, water reclamation consultant Robert Hanson, appointed incumbent Ron Kennedy and incumbent William Semple are running for three seats.

* Trabuco Canyon Water District--Engineer D. Rea Williams, graphic designer Ron Lana, computer executive Phillip Shipp, incumbent Ted Storm, incumbent Craig Baker and cement contractor Sam Porter are running for three seats.

* Tri-Cities Municipal Water District--Incumbent Craig Strickland, Realtor Jennifer Blake, incumbent Art Holmes, local businessman Bill Mecham, incumbent Jim Lawson and commercial construction executive Edward Kweskin are running for three seats.

* Yorba Linda Water District--Incumbent Sterling Fox, businessman Charles Howe, retired engineering manager Carl Scanlin and incumbent Paul Armstrong are running for three seats.

The candidates in six other special districts elections are:

* Costa Mesa Sanitary District--Incumbent Jim Wahner, incumbent Ormy Crank, retired executive Nathan Reade and incumbent Harry Green are running for three full terms; appointed incumbent James Ferryman, consensus planner Franklin Cole and mechanical engineer Dick Sherrick are running for two unexpired terms.

* Midway City Sanitary District--Executive secretary Arlene Wozniak, real estate broker Kent Credit, incumbent Anthony Nelson Jr., manager Margie Rice and incumbent James Evans are running for three seats.

* Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation District--Park technician Robert Wilberg, businessman Ed Conway, appointed incumbent Evelyn Rapozo, civil engineering major Douglas Erdman, incumbent Ward Brady and incumbent Lynn Muir are running for three seats.

* Capistrano Beach Sanitary District--Incumbent Jim Forrester, incumbent Lawrence Montoya and district attorney administrator Bill Morison are running for two seats.

* Capistrano Bay Community Services District--Incumbent Basil Rose, attorney Sheila Bullock, incumbent Jack Tarr, incumbent William McConnell, retired educator Karen Miller and retired businesswoman Jane Pryke are running for three seats.

* Rossmoor Community Services District--Community volunteer Margaretha (Margrit) Kendrick, attorney/management consultant Joel Rattner, incumbent Joyce Bloom, retired aircraft planner James Bailey and businessman Steven Brody are running for two seats.