Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : ELECTIONS / CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY : Reform Candidate Ousts 13-Year Incumbent

A reform candidate has toppled the president of the powerful Castaic Lake Water Agency board, but two incumbents held onto their positions.

*

Research scientist Randall Pfiester--who said during the campaign that the board didn’t do enough to make the public aware of its actions--won 54.9% of the vote Tuesday to beat 13-year incumbent Mary Spring.

Pfiester, who unsuccessfully campaigned for the City Council in 1992, said he had not expected to win the water board race. Spring was his only opponent.

“I’m surprised,” he said. “I’m not sure if because there were only two people in my race if that was better.”

Pfiester vowed during the campaign to have future construction projects funded by the agency receive public review and approval.

The water board has 11 members, seven of whom are publicly elected and four appointed by water retailers. The agency, created by the California Legislature in 1962, provides retailers with water from the State Water Project.

Incumbents Don Froelich and Richard Green both retained their seats, beating challengers who also called for a more open board. Froelich defeated engineer Mike Kotch and civil engineer Joe Daly. Green won against water resources engineer Peter Kavounas and former Santa Clarita Planning Commissioner Jack Woodrow.

Pfiester suggested that the anti-incumbent votes were split among the challengers in those races.

In a race between first-time candidates, water engineer Richard Balcerzak defeated business manager Paul Belli and will take over the seat held by board member Stephen J. McLean, who decided against running again.

A major contention of reform candidates during the race was that board members need not have direct experience, and should not have direct ties, to the water industry. But Froelich said he saw the results as an endorsement of candidates with industry ties, noting that even those who lost still garnered a few thousand votes.

“I think this shows people want water folks on the board,” said Froelich, the Glendale Water Department manager.

This is the second consecutive Santa Clarita Valley water agencies election in which reform-minded candidates made inroads. Activists Ed Dunn and Lynne Plambeck won seats on the Newhall Water District board in November, 1993.