Georgetown Divide Public Utility District board recalls, California (2018)
| Georgetown Divide Public Utility District recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Jesse Hanschild David Halpin Dane Wadle |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2018 Recalls in California California recall laws Special district recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Lon Uso, Jesse Hanschild, David Halpin, and Dane Wadle from their positions on the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District board in California was launched in January 2018 over the board's decision to raise water rates. Uso said the rate increase was necessary for the survival of the district and the availability of clean water.[1] The recalls did not go to a vote because not enough signatures were submitted.[2]
Recall supporters
A press release issued on January 10, 2018, stated, "The petitioners cite not listening to constituents, misuse of the Proposition 218 process, such as not doing a parcel by parcel evaluation to determine the cost to deliver water to each parcel, misappropriate allocation of resources, and lack of fiscal responsibility, among other allegations," according to the Mountain Democrat.[1]
The press release also quoted a ratepayer who spoke at the board meeting on January 9, 2018:
| “ | I chose to live here and start businesses here because I want to be a part of this community. I recognize the financial needs of my neighbors and price my services and items for sale accordingly. I am concerned that GDPUD did not do the same when they came up with their excessive water rate increases. Our way of life would be greatly changed if it is implemented. Some of my fellow businesses and services might have to close shop. Some of my neighbors might have to move. Some of our farmers might have to stop growing the food we enjoy from the Mountain Market. The Divide will be forever changed![3] | ” |
| —Johanna Friesen[1] | ||
Recall opponents
Below is an excerpt from a statement issued by board President Lon Uso:
| “ |
For the first time in many years, the GDPUD is fiscally sound. We have been depleting reserves just to do the most basic repairs to an aging system as our revenue did not cover the basic cost of operations. Add to that the fact that 60 percent of our $150 million in infrastructure is over 40 years old and at the end of its useful life and you have a recipe for disaster. Our rates have been amongst the lowest in the state and have been maintained artificially low at the cost of our infrastructure. It took a great deal of political courage and of fiscal awareness and responsibility for this board to follow the recommendations of a seasoned consultant and the grand jury, to appropriately raise the rates to ensure the viability of the district and the availability of clean healthy water for the future of the divide.[3] |
” |
| —Lon Uso[1] | ||
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
Recall proponents served the board members notices of intent to circulate a recall petition on January 9, 2018.[1] Each recall needed 1,858 valid signatures in order to make it to the ballot. Signatures were submitted to the county elections department on April 26, 2018. The department announced on April 30, 2018, that not enough valid signatures had been submitted for any of the recalls.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mountain Democrat, "Four GDPUD board members served with recall notice," January 15, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mountain Democrat, "Recall of GDPUD board fails," May 2, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
