Most of us don’t think about where our water comes from until the tap sputters or the bill goes up. That is why the Foothill Municipal Water District race for Division 4 deserves a closer look. FMWD sits between the Metropolitan Water District and our local retail agencies. The four agencies serving Division 4 rely on FMWD for imported water, so FMWD’s decisions on supply, infrastructure, and rates show up directly in our reliability and on our bills.
I’ve spent my career at Roscoe Moss Company working on water well infrastructure, and the last 15 years, including two terms as president, serving the Groundwater Resources Association of California. That work has taught me water decisions are complicated, and they last for decades. Public agencies have no shareholders to absorb bad investments, leaving ratepayers to shoulder every cent. My professional belief is that major decisions are quickly upcoming, including rising imported water costs, aging infrastructure, and the need to be ready for the next drought or wildfire. That’s when background matters most, and Division 4 needs a ratepayer advocate who can actually weigh those commitments.
I’ve known Amy Chen from my legislative work in Sacramento, and I truly believe she is that advocate. Her 40 years on both the technical and policy sides of water will ensure big investments are justified before ratepayers are asked to pay for them. Further, while relationships matter on this board, the right ones matter most. FMWD’s influence depends on knowing the people and processes at MWD, in Sacramento, and across the region’s water agencies.
Amy has spent four decades building exactly those relationships and I have witnessed firsthand how she interacts with many of those important individuals. She has instilled the maximum amount of confidence in me that she is the right person for this position.
Now, our ballots are here. Please join me, a 40-year resident of La Cañada, and an 18-year water professional, in voting for Amy Chen, Water Policy Engineer, for Foothill Municipal Water District, Division 4, by Nov. 3.
R.T. Van Valer
La Cañada Flintridge