Brian Biesemeyer

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Brian Biesemeyer

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Arizona, 1982

Graduate

University of Arizona, 1994

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army Reserve

Years of service

1982 - 2005

Personal

Birthplace

Tucson, Ariz.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Environmental Engineer

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Brian Biesemeyer ran for election to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Maricopa County. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biesemeyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Brian Biesemeyer was born in Tucson, Arizona. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1982 to 2005. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 1982 and a graduate degree from the University of Arizona in 1994. His career experience includes working as an environmental engineer.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Maricopa County, Arizona (2024)

General election

General election for Central Arizona Water Conservation District Maricopa County (5 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Central Arizona Water Conservation District Maricopa County on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Atkins (Nonpartisan)	18.4	916,595
✔		Terry Goddard (Nonpartisan)	18.3	909,199
✔		Heather Macre (Nonpartisan)	17.1	850,478
✔	Submit photo	April Pinger-Tornquist (Nonpartisan)	16.8	833,461
✔	Submit photo	Rudy Fischer (Nonpartisan)	15.0	747,830
		Brian Biesemeyer (Nonpartisan)	14.1	699,827
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	17,076

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,974,466
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Biesemeyer in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Brian Biesemeyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Biesemeyer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a candidate for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board (the district that oversees the Central Arizona Project or CAP), I am dedicated to serving the people and protecting our precious water resources. With over 30 years of experience running and operating water utilities throughout Arizona, I have a proven track record of excellence and a deep commitment to Arizona and our precious water resources. I am driven by the desire to protect Arizona's Colorado River supply and ensure that it is a water supply Central Arizona can count on for our families, businesses and the economic prosperity of all.

I am a second generation native of Arizona and grew up in rural southern Arizona where water's value was undeniable. This instilled in me a lifelong passion for this vital resource. After eight years on active duty as an Army officer, including combat experience in the Middle East, I returned to Arizona.

Through the last 30 years I have been exposed to a wide variety of water and wastewater systems, working for both private and municipal water providers. I have managed water systems from small rural ones of less than 500 connections to as large as the Cities of Peoria and Scottsdale. I believe in citizens involvement in government and started the first citizens water academy in Arizona while at Scottsdale. I would like to use my knowledge, expertise and experience to protect and preserve Central Arizona's access to Colorado River water.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• If elected, I will use my professional water experience to help find water solutions that protect our families, our economy and way of life.

  My priorities will be:

  1. Fighting for and defending Arizona's Colorado River Allocation.

  2. Ensuring the CAP canal operates efficiently and with resiliency.

  3. Ensuring CAP works towards recovering stored groundwater for communities.

  4. Keeping rates and taxes as low as possible while providing water to Central Arizona communities.

  5. Promoting and supporting regional and statewide wide initiatives that help provide water security.
• As the Colorado River remains in a two-decade long drought, Arizona and the six other Colorado River Basin states and the federal government are currently negotiating new drought guidelines to begin in 2027. The CAP needs to first, continue to defend our need for water in these negotiations and emphasize the CAP cuts and water conservation that has occurred to date. The CAP also needs to bring in other water sources into central Arizona via the CAP, these sources include stored groundwater that was recharged into aquifers in prior years for drought. Trillions of gallons of CAP water have been stored and yet, CAP and the Arizona Water Banking Authority have not drilled a single production well to recover this water. Now is that time!
• Arizona needs to develop new water sources and some of that work in currently on going. Some of the promising work is SRP’s Bartlett Dam project that includes the building of a replacement dam on the Verde River. This could potentially provide an additional 100,00 acre-ft of water for Central Arizona. The City of Scottsdale has long been a leader in recycled water use and both Scottsdale and Phoenix are looking at advanced purified recycled water as an additional water source for their communities. Conservation continues to be needed as well. It is only through finding new sources combined with conservation, can we develop drought resistant and sustainable water supplies.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Water and the certainty and security of our public water supplies.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The CAP is the largest surface water provider to central Arizona and as such is critical to the economy and way of life to millions of people. It is important to elect quality leaders to govern this important entity.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A commitment to servant leadership and integrity as well as a willingness to listen to your community. I also believe a willingness to learn.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

A commitment to servant leadership and knowledge of the water industry in Arizona.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The CAWCD board has the responsibility for setting policies and procedures for the Central Arizona Project and Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District. It also has responsibility of approving all intergovernmental agreements. Board members need to be the public stewards for the Central Arizona Project and the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assignation of President Kennedy when I was four years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a utility worker working for my Dad on our southern Arizona ranch - repairing water and septic systems as well as anything else that needed to be done. My first job outside the family was as a a general laborer for a paving company during summers in high school. My first full time job after college was as an Army officer.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The CAWCD board is also the governing board of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishing District (CAGRD). CAGRD replenishes water to offset groundwater pumping for members/communities. CAGRD has become an important part of the water resource structure for Central Arizona and has helped support affordable housing in Central Arizona. As such, its supplies must be secured and managed well. With reduced water supplies to Arizona, CAGRD cannot grow unconstrained and needs limits to protect current and future homeowners. For sustainable groundwater recovery, CAGRD recharge activity must be hydrologically linked to where pumping occurs. Simply put, the recharged water needs to be put in the ground near where the wells that withdraw the water are located. If not, communities who have paid for water to be recharged could find that their wells don't have sufficient water in the future.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not a single Maricopa board member to the CAWCD has experience as a working water professional outside of the legal field. I believe it is important to have at least one of the ten elected board members from Maricopa County have experience in the water industry. This gives balance to the board and in depth knowledge at the board level of what CAP staff actually does on a day to day basis.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Board members need to represent the public and I believe a variety of skills and experience on the board is needed. As I have previously pointed out, a lack of experience in the water industry is currently lacking on the board and is critical for making smart and comprehensive decisions with respect to central Arizona's water supply.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

The CAP is the largest surface water provider to central Arizona and as such is critical to the economy and way of life to millions of people. It is important to elect quality leaders to govern this important entity.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Mayor WJ "Jim" Lane, Mayor of Scottsdale, 2009 - 2021

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

These are essential in any government positions but even more so when an agency such as the CAP collects public funds from taxes and for services rendered (rates for providing water).

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Central Arizona Water Conservation District Maricopa County

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