King County Local Voters Pamphlet

  Providing clean, safe, affordable drinking water and protecting our sole-source aquifer are my two greatest concerns. Maintaining our treatment facility and our distribution system is essential to achieve both these goals. This requires the constant attention of our staff and well-considered direction by our commissioners.

  I grew up on Vashon helping my father maintain a small water system that provided drinking water for three homes and irrigation for our farm and orchards. My experiences as a child here matured into serving as a consultant for small water systems prior to being asked to complete a retiring commissioner's term at Water District 19.

  While providing clean water at reasonable rates, I plan to continue to protect our aquifer, renew efforts to rehabilitate natural rechargement areas, and initiate a public information program to help Island children understand the issues facing a community that must rely upon a sole-source aquifer.

  Water Experience: Water District 19 Commissioner 1984-1990; Vashon Groundwater Committee 1984-1995.

  Education/Occupation: MBA, two engineering degrees -  UW; 25 years of engineering management and technical experience.

  Water District 19 has been providing good water service for many years. Two issues need attention however: . Rapidly rising costs. . Sustainability of the water resource.

  Since 1990, our water cost has risen 156%; consumer prices only 40%. Hard decisions are needed to bring the cost down. During my 1984-1990 term, costs were successfully controlled using several practical techniques.

  Secondly, we've reached the limit of our water resources on the Island yet we continue to pursue expensive new sources for expansion, despite poor success. This leads to "mining" the aquifer and future shortages and garden watering moratoriums. Sustainability planning is needed.

  The water district has good capable people. My experience can help to generate a serious, cooperative effort to solving these issues.