Robert Stockton also joins Western’s Board
Riverside, Calif. – Western Municipal Water District Board incumbents, Director Brenda Dennstedt, Division 3, and Director Tom Evans, Division 2, were re-elected to the board Nov. 4. This marks the third four-year term for both of the veteran board members who have served on the board since 2007.
“I’m honored to continue to represent Western customers and ensure that our District is using ratepayer funds prudently and on projects that will generate a local supply of water in years to come,” said current Board President Dennstedt. “My goal for this next term in office is to continue driving these projects forward as well as inspiring the next generation of water workers with education programs.”
Director Dennstedt’s Division 3 includes properties located south of Lake Mathews Drive in Riverside and West of the 215 Freeway and the cities of Temecula, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Murrieta.
“We must keep customers as our primary focus. As the drought continues to worsen, my top priority is to carry on Western’s commitment to local, reliable water projects and water efficiency,” said Director Evans. “Equally as crucial is maintaining partnerships with regional agencies to keep these water projects moving forward for our region.”
Director Evans represents a portion of the city of Riverside located south of Highway 91 and encompasses all of March Air Reserve Base. Areas in Division 2 also include a portion of Lake Mathews, Woodcrest, Mission Grove and Orangecrest. He will also continue to serve in the vital role as Western’s representative on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors of which Western is one of Metropolitan’s 26 member agencies.
In addition to the Directors Evans and Dennstedt’s re-election, Bob Stockton, the sole candidate for Division 1, takes over former Director Field’s seat. Field retired from the board in September.
Mr. Stockton noted that he was looking forward to focusing on building relationships with local, state and federal stakeholders in order to get the word out about water, the drought and the importance of a local water supply during his first term on Western’s board. “I represent the ratepayers in my District, and they want to see transparent government with attention to bringing water-reliability projects to our region that not only provide them a direct benefit but also demonstrate a good use of public funds.”
Division 1 includes a portion of the city of Riverside located north of Highway 91 extending to the San Bernardino County line.
During the past election, Prop. 1, the statewide water bond, was also approved by voters and will dedicate $7.5 billion in funding to help secure water supplies and protect the state against future droughts. Western will likely see some direct benefits from the bond, including possible funding for dams/groundwater storage, such as the Riverside North Aquifer Storage and Recovery project in which stormwater will be captured and recharged; water recycling (including desalination); watershed restoration and habitat protection as part of the Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan; and groundwater cleanup.
“It’s clear that California sees the importance in investing in the future for safe, reliable water,” explained Evans. “We’re already committed to increasing and expanding our local water supply projects, and funds from Prop. 1 will help the region build on upon that commitment.”
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
