TurlockCityNews.com Questionnaire
How do you feel about merit pay for select TID employees?
This is difficult to comment on as I do not have all of the facts yet. I can tell you I am for salary incentives but from what I have gathered so far this is not structured very well.
Would you vote to hold a special election or have the TID Board appoint someone to fill the Director position left vacant by the unfortunate passing of Phil Short and why? If you would have the Board appoint someone, should it be the current Board or the new Board including the two newly elected Directors and why?
If the six board members could work together (4 current and 2 elects) and come to a clear consensus I think that would be the best. I would like to see all of the information on a special election first before I made any decision.
Would you be in favor of changing the TID Board Meeting time from 9:00am to a later time such as 5:30pm so people who work can attend? Why or Why not?
I am not opposed to changing the time of the meeting, we could even rotate them morning then evening.
STANDARD QUESTIONS:
For those of us who don’t know, what is TID and/or what is it about?
Since 1923, TID has been providing safe, affordable and reliable electricity to a growing retail customer base that now numbers in excess of 98,000 residential, farm, business, industrial and municipal accounts in an electric service area that encompasses 662 square-miles in portions of Stanislaus, Merced, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties.
TID provides irrigation water to more than 5,800 growers in a 307 square-mile service area that incorporates 149,500 acres of Central Valley farmland. The District has been delivering irrigation water to growers since completing its gravity-fed water conveyance system of canals and laterals in 1900. The Tuolumne River is the District’s primary source of water, originating at Mt. Lyell in Yosemite National Park. Water for irrigation and hydroletectric power production is kept at Don Pedro Reservoir about 50 miles east of Turlock in the Sierra Nevada foothills near the historic gold rush era town of La Grange
What do you feel the duties of a TID Board Member are?
What made you decide to run for a TID Board of Directors’ position this election?
I am running for this office to enhance T.I.D’s long tradition of supplying affordable and adequate water and power to its farmers and customers in Stanislaus and Merced Counties.
List Top 5 Biographical Highlights:
I own and manager of R.A.M. Farms, Inc., have been President of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, California State Farm Bureau Board Member, President of Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, and on the Turlock Rural Fire Department Board Member
List Top 3 Priorities:
My main goal would be to maintain water and power rights for the residents of the TID by working to relicense Don Pedro. I oppose the practice of selling our water elsewhere. The Turlock Irrigation District’s water and power must be used to benefit our farmers, ratepayers, and residents. The job of TID director is to retain our water rights and keep our water and power costs as low as possible. TID residents must come first. It also makes sense to work with other jurisdictions on regional treatment facilities if our water users and ratepayers can benefit from the agreement.
I would also like to improve the communications between ratepayers, staff and the board in an effort to find the best possible solutions to potential problems and future projects.
We are fortunate in the Turlock Irrigation District to have an ample water supply and renewable energy source in hydro electric power. This allows our agricultural economy to thrive while keeping our rates low. As a local farmer and businessman, I know our water and energy policy will shape the future of TID and provide benefits for generations to come.
What do you feel you have to offer that the other candidate may not?
My 20 years experience as an active farm bureau board member, including President of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Ten years experience as a California State Farm Bureau board member, representing Stanislaus county farmers at the state level. During my tenure in these positions I’ve dealt with water supply and regulatory issues throughout the state.
Do you have anything to add or contribute to the current TID Board of Directors?
What issues do you feel need to be addressed more than they already are? Are there any problems or is there anything that you feel needs to be fixed/ changed concerning TID or TID customers?
I would also like to improve the communications between ratepayers, staff and the board in an effort to find the best possible solutions to potential problems and future projects.
Key Endorsements (up to 5):
Complete List of Endorsements (as of time submitted):
Position Papers (specific views on specific issues) or Candidate Statements (equal to an intro at a debate or a short speech of what you’d like to communicate without being edited):
I feel that water is our most important resource. It is the lifeblood of agriculture and our economy. I have been involved and dedicated to the community and agriculture over the past 25 years. I have experience as past president of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and I am currently serving on California State Farm Bureau Board of Director, representing Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. I served the community as President of Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, and a member of the Turlock Rural Fire Department Board of Directors. The TID’s water and power must be used to benefit our farmers, ratepayers, and residents. I oppose the practice of selling our water elsewhere.
I am a lifelong farmer from Turlock, who has been involved in production agriculture growing oats, almonds, alfalfa, silage corn, black eye beans, watermelons, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. I’m also involved in custom farming and farm management.
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