Candidate for
Board Member; Irvine Ranch Water District

I oppose water and sewer rate increases after 9 consecutive years of increases. Considering the economic times and the Irvine Ranch Water District's enormous surplus of over 1 billion dollars, I believe it is inappropriate to impose further increases on the ratepayers.

I oppose approving any contracts without a minimum of 2 bids. Recently a contract for 8 million dollars ($8,260,651.00) was approved with only 1 bid. I fail to see how this protects the ratepayers. If you can't make a comparative analysis how can you make an informed decision on any bid?

I oppose rubber stamping everything that is put before the Board. In the past two years, every issue which was presented to the Board passed unanimously 100% of the time through September 26, 2010. In other words, everyone agrees on everything all of the time. I find that to be unrealistic.

I oppose the 180 pay raises that were given to employees recently. Out of the 320 employees 180 received raises. In this difficult financial climate I will not support further pay raises.

I oppose the Board of Director's policy of appointing new members to the Board thereby controlling the Board. This circumvents the election process and deprives the ratepayer's of their right to vote thereby eliminating the check and balance power that belongs to the voters. Let the voters decide for themselves who should represent them. That is the American way. Out of the 5 current directors, 4 were originally appointed by their fellow Board Members.

I support term limits of 2 terms (8 years) for Board member of the Irvine Ranch Water District.

I am committed to making the Irvine Ranch Water District more effective, accountable and transparent to the ratepayers. To my way of thinking as an informed ratepayer it is important for you to have information to draw your own conclusions.

I will stand for the ratepayers.

Additional information is available on my web site at http://www.richardebaron.com