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DESERT LOCAL NEWS ‘Special Candidates Forum Issue’ September 12, 2009 ©
FOR 24/7 Local News • Go to DesertLocalNews.com ~ US $ 1.95
Desert Hot SpringsCandidates Forum
SPECIAL ISSUE
22 Special Candidates Forum Issue • Desert Local News September 12, 2009
Max Liebermann CEO/Publisher
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Desert Local News65911 7th StreetDHS, CA. 92240
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- This Saturday, September 12, 2009, the
Chamber Of Commerce and Desert Local News invites you to Meet The Candidates at a special town hall forum, at the Carl May Center at 10:00 a.m.
At this forum, members of the public will get a chance to hear a live debate, featuring all of Desert Hot Springs’ candidates who are seeking your vote this coming November 3rd.
Running for mayor are: Incumbent Mayor Yvonne Parks and Russell Betts
Running for City Council are: Incumbent Councilman Scott Matas, Appointed Councilwoman Jan Pye, Terry Scheurer, Robert Bentley and Russ Martin
Running for Mission Springs Water District seats are: Incumbents Randy Duncan and Nancy Wright, opponents Jeff Bowman and Dick Cromwell
Each candidate should provide three questions for the question and answer period in which a one minute response will be allowed. Questions should be relevant and refrain from personal attacks in responses.
The questions for the candidates will be placed in a container to be drawn and read aloud by the moderator. He will begin at one end of the table and progress in order to each candidate. The goal will be to address as many questions as possible. Candidates will stay within the one minute time allocation for responses.
Seating will be determined by drawing of numbers prior to the event. Arrive early to draw for a seating position.
Name cards will be used to provide face and name recognition for each candidate to the public.
An agenda that includes the name of each candidate and the position they are seeking will be provided to the public. Please feel free to bring one handout telling about you and your objectives to be distributed to the public. A table will be in the rear of the room for the candidates
to make available one pamphlet or flyer. It can contain information on both sides andmay be in any format the candidate chooses.
Moderating the event will be Steve Kelly, Radio Personality from 920 KPSI-AM. Televising provided by Palm Springs Television and will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable Channel 17. (123)
The Town Hall Meeting is made possible by the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Max Liebermann, Alex Bias and Leslie Andrews from Desert Local News.
The topics will be hot, so don’t miss it!!!
For more information, contact Connie Taylor at (760) 329-6403, Eric
Pontius at (760) 760-9519 or Alex Bias at (760) 464-4470.
The Carl May Center is located at 11-711 West Drive in the heart of
Desert Hot Springs.
DLN & the Chamber Of Commerce Invites You To Meet The Candidates
Steve Kelly 920 KPSI-AM. Moderator
3Special Candidates Forum Issue • Desert Local News September 12, 2009 3
DLN & the Chamber Of Commerce Invites You To Meet The Candidates
4
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- In 2007, the citizens of
Desert Hot Springs elected their first female mayor. Nearly two years later, Yvonne Parks is seeking reelection. Desert Local News sits down with Mayor Parks and talks about all of the achievements she has made in her city and why she believes she should be elected once more.
“Through my leadership, we’ve built a team. We’ve accomplished a lot in less than two years,” she says.
For starters, at least 37 miles of roads in the city have been repaved. The parks, including Mission Springs, has been renovated. Crime has been reduced by 30 percent and the police force has nearly doubled. “It’s been a great two years, but we’ve had to make a lot of tough decisions. I think it’s just extremely important that we maintain what we have,” Parks explains. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The length of the city council meetings have also shortened, going from all-nighters to nothing lasting more than three and a half hours long. Parks’ leadership was responsible for making the meetings more progressive. Plus, she credits the staff she has worked with (City Manager Rick Daniels,
Police Chief Pat Williams, etc) for the progress that has been made. “We are no longer the city with the worst crime in the Inland Empire,” she states.
Parks wants to see more things achieved for Desert Hot Springs. She adds, “I want to see the downtown revitalized. I want to see the streetscape completed with the halo intersection at Pierson and Palm. I want to see the Boys and Girls club completed, which will be a larger facility. I look forward to seeing an aquatic center for the high school kids. Our Annexation to the I-10 goes before LAFCO on September 24th.”
The image of the city has made a turnaround, says Parks as she further describes how Desert Hot Springs has gone from the laughing stock of the Coachella Valley to becoming a progressive city like all others in the Inland Empire. “I’ve raised the status of our city. They now see Desert Hot Springs with a new eye,” she says. “We have a good working council.”
Parks promises that this will be a clean campaign. “Most of the people have been happy with what I have done as Mayor here,” she states. “I’m very willing to share, and it builds teamwork.”
Yvonne Parks:Hoping For A Second
Time Around As Mayor
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Desert Hot Springs Mayor Yvonne Parks
~ Photo by Bruce Montgomery
Special Edition • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
YVONNE PARKS
Native Southern Californian
Lived in Desert Hot Springs since 1994
Widowed, 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild
Career: 25 years with the State of California, beginning with the Employment Development Department and ending with the California Trade and Commerce Agency working economic development.
Community Involvement:Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club since 1997, President2001-2004Planning Commissioner 1997-1999Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, held an executive office 1999-2004Desert Hot Springs Citizen of the Year 2003Desert Hot Springs VIP about town 2003Vice Chair Planning Commission 2004-2005Member Desert Hot Springs City Council 2005 - 2007Mayor, City of Desert Hot Springs 2007 to present Vice Chairman, CVAG Executive CommitteeMember, Sunline Transit Board of DirectorsMember, Palm Springs Airport CommissionMember Housing Trust CommitteeBoard of Directors and Executive Committee of CVEPMember Regional Economic Blueprint CommitteeMember Hatch Institute Advisory CommitteeMember State Committee on Healthy Eating, Active living Member Executive Committee Riverside County Division of League of California CitiesMember CALIDBoard of Directors Police Activities League
Former member Riverside County Transportation Commission; CVAG Human and community Resources Committee; and CVAG Homeless Committee
5Special Edition • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Russell Betts became active in the Desert Hot Springs community shortly after arriving at the city in 2002. In 2007, he won a seat on the City Council after a campaign where he gained nearly twice the votes of the next highest vote getter. “That got me a seat on our city council,” said Betts. “It’s what you do with the seat afterwards that counts.”
Shortly after the new city council took office each council member was given an assignment to look into problems in the city. Betts was assigned to a sub-committee to look at failing residential streets. Most of the streets had not been paved in over 15 years. Betts said the first question was everyone saying there could not be new streets until the water district installed sewers. “I got together with the water district and decided any streets not going to get sewers in the next two years needed to get paved.”
“That ended up being called a $50 million problem, that’s how much the estimate was to pave all those streets,” he said. “In the end, we settled on resurfacing and checked the plan with private civil engineers.” Using that plan, the city will be done with 37 miles of paving next month.
On his race for mayor, Betts said he and Mayor Yvonne Parks get along very well. He said both of them ran positive campaigns in the last election. “I watched as Yvonne stayed on a positive message. I used the same approach and will this election also. That raised the question why is Betts running for mayor.
“Yvonne and I have some profound differences of direction on key issues,” said Betts. “One of the bigger ones is taxes, specifically the parcel tax. A plan developed last winter placed too high a burden on homeowners, small store owners and our hotels and I objected.” Betts explained that homeowners were going to be asked to pay $240 a year while large land owners were only going to have to pay $4 a year.
He said that was unfair.“Yvonne’s position is that
because there are not police and fire calls to vacant land that land owners should not have to pay,” said Betts. “We need more police and have to pay for them but large land owners also benefit from a safer community.” Betts said that instead of the issue being decided after the election that he thought the voters should have the ability to decide this election.
On other issues, Betts said he is working on issues he started even before he got onto the city council. One is to make sure developers meet the same standards other cities require. Stalled developments where the city did not get guarantees to finish the project and an apartment complex that was allowed to be built without a building permit are others.
Betts and his wife Meina moved to Desert Hot Springs in 2002. He said they were trying to decide between Desert Hot Springs and LaQuinta. “We saw a great value in the home we purchased and figured Desert Hot Springs would be the next renaissance in the Valley.” He said when he did not see progress he got involved.
“We are starting to see progress. The improvement in public safety is an important one,” he said. “I don’t think there will be any more buildings put up without permits. But we have to remember it is only a start. We have a lot of hard work ahead.”
Betts said he wants to do the same for Palm Drive that he did for the streets, emphasizing he means all of Palm Drive from the city limits. “We have world class spa hotel resorts. We have to carry that standard to the rest of our city.”
For the youth, Betts says a lot progress has been made like a new Boys and Girls club building coming in 2010 and a new little league park. “We’ve made a good start for our kids. But some of our youth are getting into problems and we need a police youth mentoring program.” Overall, Betts says the direction of
the city comes down to identifying the need. “Once you know the objective, the rest is planning and getting it done.”
Betts spent 25 years in a manufacturing business before moving to Desert Hot Springs. He and his wife own and operate Meina’s Hair Salon.
Russell Betts: Betting On A Mayoral Position
By Staff
Desert Hot Springs City Councilman Russell Betts
Photo by Bruce Montgomery
RUSSELL BETTS
Russ grew up in Southern California living in the same home until leaving for Humboldt State University where he studied journalism in the early 1980’s. Out of college, Russ joined a small manufacturing business that later developed a unique new product. The company grew quickly. Russ organized production through rapid sales growth that reached $12 million annual sales. The company sent Russ to Pittsburgh, PA where he set up a new manufacturing facility. Building on that success he was promoted to serve as Director of Operations for all U.S. manufacturing and distribution.While in Pennsylvania, Russ was elected to a local community governing where he served two three-year terms and sat as chairman for three of those years.After fourteen years in Pennsylvania, a new position welcomed Russ with a new company. He joined a Chicago company with worldwide operations. That position led him overseas as general manager for seven years.Russ became deeply involved in the American overseas community. He accepted a position as Consulate Warden for the U.S. State Department overseeing emergency assistance to Americans living overseas.
Russ met his wife, Meina. They dated for three years and then started the process to come to the United States. Two years ago Meina became an American Citizen. She has voted in every election since.In 2002, Russ and his wife moved to Desert Hot Springs. Together they opened a salon in town. They enjoy a successful new business together.Russell Betts was elected to our city council in 2007. He serves our city on the following city and regional commissions:Residential and Secondary Streets Sub-CommitteeEconomic Development Sub-CommitteeDesert Hot Springs Hoteliers Association LiaisonPalm Springs Visitors and Convention Bureau BoardCoachella Valley Association of Government Energy and Environment CommitteeCoachella Valley Association of Governments Community and Human Resources CommitteeIn 2008, Russ was named by the Coachella Valley Association of Government to represent the Coachella Valley on a seven-county Southern California Association of Governments transportation committee.In addition to city and regional boards, Russ also is a board member of the California Desert Coalition and the Coachella Valley Coalition, both working to stop proposed power lines through Desert Hot Springs and the High Desert Communities.
Scott Matas
Born August 13, 1971 in Palm Springs California, grew up in Desert Hot Springs attending Desert Hot Springs Elementary, Julius Corsini Elementary (first 6th grade class). Attended middle school at Nellie Coffman in Cathedral City and freshman year at Palm Springs High School. Transferred to a Palm
Springs Christian High School and became class president and graduated valedictorian.
In December of 1990 I was invited to a recruitment meeting for Desert Hot Springs Volunteer Firefighters Company 37. I have served my city, county and state for the past 18+ years as a volunteer firefighter. I was offered a firefighting job multiple times but for various reasons I did not take them. I was promoted
through the ranks at a rapid pace; Certified Firefighter within 3 years, Engineer in 6 years
and by 10 years I was Lieutenant of the company. I attended and received certificates for over 20 fire related courses. As a volunteer fire company we became a non-profit organization for fundraising purposes. I was elected President after serving on the Board of Directors for 2 years. I served as President for 10 years. During this time I organized multiple fundraisers. From 1995 thru 1998 I organized the DHS Volunteer Firefighters “Toys for Tots” Softball Tournament, collecting over 2500 toys in 4 years. It has been a great experience serving my community in public safety.
In 1992 I began working for United Parcel Service as a part time loader. Became a full time drive in 1998 and optioned my first permanent route in 2000. In 2004 made a decision to leave UPS and purchased The UPS Store franchisee and opened a store in DHS.
I am married with 3 children, one a senior at DHS High School and 2 attending Desert Springs Middle School.
My community involvement:City Council since March 2007, Past Public Safety Commissioner, Past President Food Now, inc., Little League Coach, Sponsor of Little League and AYSO, Chamber of Commerce Member, Desert Hot Springs Rotary Club Member Service Awards:1. 1995 Volunteer of the Year – DHS Volunteer Fire Company 2. Certificates of Appreciation –a. USMC for Collection of Toys during “Toys for Tots” campaigns in 1995, 1996, 1997 & 1998 b. DHS Youth Sportsc. Fitness Center & Boxing Club for coordinating the Volunteer Fire Company with “Embrace the Children” Run/Walk-a-Thon 11/2007d. Elks Club Service as a Volunteer Firefighter – 05/1998 & 10/19993. Mayor’s Community Hero Award 2002 – Presented by Mayor Matt Weyeuker4. Certificate of Recognition – Making Desert Hot Springs a Safer Place - Presented by Assemblywomen Bonnie Garcia – 07/20045. Certificate of Recognition – Exceptional & Selfless acts exhibited as a volunteer firefighter - Presented by Assemblyman John Benoit – 07/2004 6. Certificate of Recognition – Outstanding dedication & tireless commitment to fire and safety in Desert Hot Springs - Presented by Senator Jim Battin7. Mayor’s Inspiration Award 2006 – Presented by Mayor Alex Bias8. Plaque of Appreciation for Parolee Ad-Hoc Committee – Presented by Mayor Parks & the Desert Hot Springs Police Department – 08/20089. Plaque of Appreciation –Riverside County Transportation Commissioner – Presented by Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor/ Chairman of RCTC – 12/2008
6 Special Candidates Forum Issue DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009 DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Desert Hot Springs City Councilman
Scott Matas has been in the city all of his life. He has seen it change and grow during the years. Desert Local News sits down with Matas and talks with him discussing his goals and achievements while being a member of the city council. “We’ve accomplished all of them so far,” he said. “I want to run because I love my city.”
Matas then remembered the old times, seeing all of the changes that have come and gone.
“When I was a small child, this was a one cop town,” he remembers. “If you did something wrong, they would scold you.” He also remembers when there was only one elementary school in town, and he has also seen all three versions of the police department. Not to mention how he has seen a sleepy retirement community turn into a blue-collar working class city. He stated, “It hurts me when people talk badly about Desert Hot Springs.”
Of course, Matas has seen the hard times the city has gone through, as they have alternated between having their own police department and having to contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. During the 1990s, when there was only very few deputies on board, crime levels peaked as parolees from the Los Angeles area would seek a home in Desert Hot Springs, because of its affordability and at the time a lacking in police services. Then in 1997, the city stepped in and formed its own police department once more. “It took us many years to find the right police chief, and we finally did with Pat Williams,” Matas said, having been a Public Safety Commissioner for
nearly three years. He then praised the Chief for his efforts in cleaning up the city’s image, with recent sweeps like the Operation Falling Sun phases.
As a volunteer firefighter, Matas has also worked with the County Supervisors to help bring in another fire station in the West side of town, located near the Skyborne Housing Development. “Our master plan says we should have four or five fire stations in our city,” he said. “With stimulus money, we could build a new fire station, and a proposed police and fire substation for 20th and Palm once the annexations go through.”
Next month, the city of Desert Hot Springs will be breaking ground on a new Boys and Girls Club facility. “If we target the youth, create facilities for them, then they wouldn’t walk around the streets and create crime,” Matas added. “They would respect the place. You now will have a state-of-the-art program. Our youth is very important to us.” He also mentioned how there are more kids interested in playing in the local parks than before when the parks were below standards. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and we need the developments,” he concluded.
Overall, Matas believes that the achievements he made in the past two years will play a role in his reelection. “We got the I-10 annexation projects, the fire department and public safety going. I’ve also worked with the transportation and the homeless as well. We need to work on the 62 corridor as well. There is no service station out there between Cabazon and Morongo Valley. We have to brand Cabot’s museum and the city. We’re cleaning up the image. Now let’s bring the tourists back.”
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Scott Matas:A Hometown Boy
Seeking Another Term On The City Council
~Photo by Bruce Montgomery
5DESERT LOCAL NEWS • FEBRUARY 4, 2009 DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009 7
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Jan Pye has been active with the city of
Desert Hot Springs for fourteen years, serving on the City Council from 1999 to 2001 and then serving again after the resignation of Al Schmidt in 2009. Desert Local News sits down with Pye and talks about her big plans to continue the active leadership she has taken part in.
“For me, it always feels good to do the right thing,” she said. “Basically, I’m going to continue to serve as a public servant and get the word out.”
In 2001, Pye took a gamble and ran for mayor against then-incumbent Matt Weyuker but lost. However, she feels this time around more comfortable as simply a council member. “Obtaining my bachelor’s degree and my master’s degree I would not have been able to do if I had remained on the council,” she adds. “I became a much smarter person. And besides, Yvonne (Parks) is doing a good job.”
Pye came to Desert Hot Springs in 1995
from Los Angeles simply because she wanted her daughter to have a better education. “I didn’t want her to be a part of the Los Angeles public school system,” she mentioned. “Palm Springs Unified School District was one of the best and that is why I came here.”
At that time, there was no police department. Immediately, Pye began taking part in the community, to help make things better. “It was nerve wrecking to not get home before dark. It was very good that they began their own Police Department,” Pye said. Originally, she wanted to be a Public Safety Commissioner, but her application ended up being in the pile of City Council appointments, as then-Councilwoman Kathy Smith resigned. She attended the meetings regularly, to make sure things were going right.
Pye agrees that there should be more fire stations. “As you grow, your services need to grow as well. We’re very fortunate that we haven’t had multiple fires going on at the same time,” she mentions.
Like all other candidates, Pye says that a good sized Boys and Girls Club is necessary for the city of Desert Hot Springs. Plus having a movie theater in town would help too. “A large part of our town are under the age of 18. If you have children busy with athletics and arts, you have a great competition against the gangs,” she states. “Plus, having our senior center is good because seniors need to be active. We need to provide more for them.”
Pye believes that Desert Hot Springs will always have the best value in real estate housing. “We need to keep going in order to be ready, so that when the economy turns over, people will seek us as a desirable place to be. People are very nice and I’ve never lived in a city where people were so nice. We need to keep our eyes on the ball and continue our progress.”
Jan Pye: Eyeing On Another Council Term
Jan PyeDHS Candidate for City
Council~Photo By Bruce
Montgomery
©
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Jan Pye
Born Jan Maria Pye in Los Angeles, California in 1952, she came to Desert Hot Springs in 1995. Among her achievements include:
For the City of Desert Hot Springs: ► Appointed Incumbent City Council Member 2009 - Present ► Citizens Financial Committee Member 2007 - Present ► Desert Oasis Healthcare as a Healthcare Analyst 1999 - Present ► Former Public Safety Commissionor 2007 - 2009 ► DHS City Council Member 1991 - 2001 ► Court Appointed House Member ► Former DHS Boys & Girls Club Board Memeber
For The Community: ► Regional Access Project Foundation (RAP)
• Currently Serving As Treasurer. • Past Chairman. • 10+ years. Directorship. ► Palm Springs Cemetery District • Currently Serving Second Term As Chairman. • Past Treasurer. • 5+ years as member. ► DHS Womens Club • 8+ years as member.
Educational Background: ► Keller Graduate School of Management • Master of Accounting & Financial Management 2007 ► DeVry University • Bachelor of Science Business Administration 2005
“There are many things in life you learn and become a part. Most importantly, being specific in choosing the things that supports your character.”:
8 Special Candidates Forum Issue • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
RUSS MARTIN Russ Martin was born in Or-egon but raised in Long Beach California. Upon graduation from Wilson High School, he attended Long Beach City College and Cal State Univer-sity at Long Beach where he studied art.
In 1968, Russ joined the Santa Monica Police Depart-ment and enjoyed at 31 year career working many differ-ent assignments dealing with gangs, narcotics, street crime, robbery-homicide and at-risk youth. At one point, he man-aged the entire Detective Bureau which consisted of 28 investigators. His last assign-ment was to command the police sub-station in down-town Santa Monica. Sgt. Russ Martin retired with state and national recognition for his crime fighting efforts.
Russ married his soul-mate Florence in 2003. They have two lovely daughters: Katie, who graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in ancient history and is now a member of the Santa Monica Fire Department and Jaclyn who is enrolled at College of the Desert studying media communications. They have a dog named Chloe.
Russ moved his family to Des-ert Hot Springs over 3 years ago and serves on the Public Safety Commission. He was appointed to two ad-hoc com-mittees to address “parolee dumping” and improve emer-gency fire services. Russ Martin utilized his police ex-perience working with Chief of Police Pat Williams to screen, hire and promote additional police officers.
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Russ Martin had a four decade long stint
with the Santa Monica Police Department and currently serves on Desert Hot Springs’ Public Safety Commission. Now he’s seeking a City Council seat. Desert Local News sits down with Martin and gets to the facts.
“Chief Williams has done an excellent job in guiding our police department. He’s got the right approach,” Martin states. “He is one of the most capable chiefs that I have encountered.” During the time when he and his wife Florence arrived in town about three years ago, there was turmoil going on in the city. “They let go of six police officers,” he said. “That can never happen again.”
Besides law enforcement and public safety, Martin believes that more could be done about the city’s image improvements. “We’re trying to bring people to Desert Hot Springs because we have a lot to offer,” he said. “We have world class spas. We need to make our city attractive for people to come back and visit us again. We could have dressed up our gateway a long time ago. The
money’s been there. Now we may not have the money to do it.” His goal is to make the city safe first, which includes safer parks, safer shopping centers and schools. He adds, “I want people to say that this is a good place to raise a family.”
High taxes are not the way to bring in revenue, as Martin pointed out. However, he did support Measure A (which raised utility taxes by two percent) because it was needed at the time. “Everybody needs to pay their fair share, and I will never support a parcel tax increase for residential homeowners and apartment owners. They are already paying their fair share,” he said. “As a general rule, I’m not in favor of increasing taxes to hire law enforcement. I’m in favor of balancing the tax rates.”
Martin felt that the city spent too much money buying properties left and right, like the Jewish Center for example. “They were advised by two city managers not to, but they went ahead and did so,” he mentioned. However, with that properties the city did buy, Martin feels that a lot of
potential could be done to improve their images. “Now that we own those sites, we cannot let them sit there like that,” he says.
The arts are one area Martin would like to see happen in Desert Hot Springs. “We need to showcase the young people and their talents in our community. I was involved in art growing up,” he said. “My interest in art led to a career in law enforcement indirectly. It kept me from doing anything wrong.” Martin feels that focusing on the athletics is also important, but there are a lot more areas to cover. “There are a lot of young people who can write, sculpt, play music. We need to have a venue for them, and one of those buildings in the downtown could be used for that purpose,” he says, suggesting a place similar to Ignition Coffee Lounge in Palm Springs, where a lot of young artists hang out.
Martin will be willing to work with all other city council members if elected. He adds, “In this campaign, there are no villains. I like every one of the city council members. There needs to be some issues addressed with their interaction, but I can get along with everyone.”
Russ Martin:A Retired Law Enforcement Officer Seeking A City Council Seat
Russ Martin candidate for DHS City Council
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
©
About Me: 1ST RUNNER-UP BY 15 VOTES IN 2007 DHS CITY COUNCIL RACE with The Desert Sun Endorsement. Naval-Air Veteran, Former Financial Analyst, Computer Consultant, and Association Board President. Current local area Business Owner of Homeowner Association Management Firm and Retail Showroom.Raised family in Coachella Valley as a resident for over 22 years. Currently serving Desert Hot Springs as Public Safety Commissioner. Also served as Sidewalk Task Force Chairman and Economic Development Coordinator. Served Palm Desert City as Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman. Additionally served as Chairman for the Committees of Roads & Transportation, Arts & Culture, Schools & Education, and Recreation. Committee member of the 2010 Future Strategic Plan. Desert Hot Springs needs: A. TRANSPARENCY! 1. Post minutes of all Committees, Commissions & Council online within 72 hours. 2. Post all agendas online at least one week in advance to allow proper review & preparation. 3. Hold Public meetings at 6-PM so working people can attend. 4. Conduct Council replacement interviews of all candidates at a Public hearing and not in closed sessions. B. EFFICIENCY! 1. Send one person Vs multiple people to forums. 2. Stop micro-managing! Allow council members to serve as liaisons only, without assuming committee chairman positions or voting on citizen committees. 3. Stop conflicts of interest! Allow citizen committees to make their own recommendations. 4. Have all DHS citizen committees send their recommendations to a Commission for their endorsement ornon-endorsement, prio to sending to the Council for their decision. C. ACCOUNTABILITY! 1. For not supporting the Multi-Species Plan, not approving new businesses, not keeping old businesses, and not inspecting the Jewish Temple building before the city purchase resulting in a $1,500,000.00 loss. 2. Improved Code of Conduct needs to be adopted for all City employees, committees, commissions, & council. 3. Campaign promises must be kept in a timely manner such as the Updated General Plan, Master Park Plan, Downtown Redevelopment, Health Care Facility and Satellite COD Campus. 4. Council positions are supposed to be elected positions and not political appointments. Voters choice of qualified candidate(s) should not have been ignored to fill the 2009 vacated council seat.
TOP PRIORITY IS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASAP.
9DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- For years, Terry Scheurer was
a community leader in the city of Palm Desert, bringing out quite a lot of progress. Now, as a Desert Hot Springs resident, he wishes to do the same. Desert Local News sits down with Schuerer and discusses the things and the issues that the city needs most.
“Palm Desert is a successful city. They do things the right way, and I’d like to see Desert Hot Springs do the same,” Scheurer said. “The city has a lot of positive things going for them.” Currently, Scheurer sits on the city’s Public Safety Commission. During a ten-year-period, he was the chair of Palm Desert’s Parks and Recreation Commission, Education commission and was quite vocal in participating in their city council meetings.
Transparency, Efficiency and Accountability are the three highlights of Scheurer’s campaign. For starters, he believes that all of the city’s meetings, including the Public Safety Commission and the Planning Commission should all have their minutes posted within 72 hours. And having the meetings start at 5 p.m. doesn’t seem like a good idea, he added. “I believe that the meetings should start at 6:00 so that working people could attend the city council meeting,” he said. “These are changes that need to be made.”
As Public Safety Commissioner, Scheurer believed that Measure A, the 7% utility tax was necessary to fund four new police officers. “We’re still short officers. We need to have 39. I’m happy to serve on the commission,” he said. “I think the parcel tax should be adjusted so that it can be affordable.” However, the tax is only good for another ten years. “By that time, the city will be more profitable,” he added.
Scheurer supported the new Homeless Shelter center in North Palm Springs, but realizes that the city cannot afford to support it at this time. “We need to watch our pennies literally,” he says, stating how the city needs to tighten up on their spending. “It’s costly to send all five members to Las Vegas when they only
need to send one,” he stated. Scheurer believes that the city is
driving businesses away, describing how some businesses (like Revivals Thrift Store) have left and how some refuse to set up shop here. “We need those businesses and a better plan of development. But it’s not happening,” he said. The annexation proposals to the I-10 Freeway are necessary for the city’s growth and prosperity. “That should be the common dividing line. That makes sense,” he continued. “We need businesses to open up near the freeway and on the 62 highway.”
Preserving the city’s water is important as well to Scheurer. “We need to protect our prize-winning water,” he said. “Whosever on the Water District board needs to act fast by getting the city sewered.”
Finally, the city council should adopt a code of conduct, which Scheurer believes must be done. “They are all good people, but they have made some bad decisions,” he stated. “City Officials should adhere to a certain way, and we have to be accountable.”
Terry Scheurer: A Candidate Fighting for Transparency, Efficiency and Accountability
Terry Scheurer candidate for DHS City Council
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
©
C DESERT HOT SPRINGS September 12, 200910
C DESERT HOT SPRINGS September 12, 2009 11Candidates Special Forum Issue • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Local businessman Robert Bentley has
once again thrown his hat into the ring of contenders for a Desert Hot Springs City Council position. This time, he believes that the city needs him.
“They need someone who understands business, and I am the one lower taxes candidate. They’ve been on a borrowing spree for a year and a half now,” he said.
In the past, Bentley served as a Public Safety Commissioner and he also has legal education. He feels that the Measure A Tax Increase was not sufficient enough for the
city’s Police Department. “This city wants
to do things that are not consistent with the way government functions. They want to continuously avoid those issues and want to spend more time with buying properties,” he added. “The object here is limited government. This will lead to a balanced budget.”
Bentley believes that all of the other candidates believe in excessive taxes and wasteful spending. Yet, he also believes that he could work with anybody on the council. “My chances are excellent,” he said, remembering how his 2007 mayoral campaign gave him more votes than incumbent Mayor Alex Bias.
Having grown up in Desert Hot Springs, Bentley is a strong advocate for the youth. “What the parents and the kids want, I am fully in support of,” he said. “I see the problems that kids faced, like not having much to do around here. I want to make an effort to go out and talk to the youth.” He also believes that being a hero in the community is a positive thing.
More jobs could be created by lowering the business license fees, as Bentley described. “They raised them from $45 to $225,” he stated. “They make it so difficult with all that red tape here in Desert Hot Springs. All sorts of people want to do business here and when they see how high the fees are, they may not try out their ideas.”
Bentley’s website is available to the public at HYPERLINK “http://www.electbentley.com” www.electbentley.com
Robert Bentley: BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Why DHS Needs Him
Robert Bentley, Candidate for City Council of Desert Hot Springs 2009
Robert Bentley
I am a 32 year resident of Desert Hot Springs, my parents and grandparents lived here. I love Desert Hot Springs with all my heart. I am committed to actually improving Desert Hot Springs, not just our image.
I am a former Police Commissioner, a graduate of Northwestern California University School of Law, an Expert Rating Certified Professional in Economics and in Business Finance.
My Certificates of Achievement include being a member of the American Legion and the International High IQ society. I am a disabled cold war veteran and have a Cold War Certificate of Recognition.
Click for details
$240 vs. $4.72That’s simply not fair!
12 MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Dick Cromwell, a former Desert Hot
Springs City Councilman and nationally-recognized pioneer in the use of alternate fuels, has taken out papers for the Mission Springs Water District Board of Directors, one of two district openings on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Cromwell, a long-time Desert Hot
Springs resident, has attended MSWD board meetings for more than two years. Concerned the district is not doing enough to protect its award-winning water is the primary reason Cromwell decided to run.
“Our water is our city’s priceless brand.
It is the primary reason people live and visit here,” Cromwell stated.” Yet, it has been too easy to look the other way as the population grows and septic tanks age and are poorly maintained. It’s time to get serious about protecting our water with more than lip service.”
Cromwell outlined a three-point plan:
Completely sewer the city. Improve residential and commercial septic tank maintenance in the interim through
partnerships with MSWD, the City and the private sector. Move the Horton Sewer Treatment Plant to a new location that cannot encroach on residents and visitors.
Cromwell understands these are costly
projects that cannot be borne by the city’s residential and business community. His plans depend largely on federal grants and his experience as a consultant familiar with the inner-workings of Sacramento and the nation’s capitol.
In the case of the Assessment District
12 passed in 2004 to provide some 12,000 sewer hook ups, the property owner was to pay the first $4,100 with MSWD paying the balance. Cromwell notes that he believes MSWD is obligated to find the money to pay its share of the approximately 6,000 District 12 properties that have still not been hooked up.
“Our needs are exactly where grant
money should be spent. Without these improvements, the community one day could find itself in the same position as the Cathedral City Cove where the state gave the residents a deadline to get rid of septic
tanks or abandon their homes. Development of these plans and
implementing them will take expertise, connections, patience and, above all, leadership, he said. “I love this city and it deserves a major effort to protect its future,” Cromwell noted.
Cromwell is founder of the Coachella
Valley Clean Cities Region and co-developer, in partnership with COD, of a CNG training program that is in use worldwide. The training program later was the basis for the nation’s first community college curriculum for hydrogen fuel cells. Cromwell is a former SunLine Transit Agency general manager, City of Desert Hot Springs Planning Commissioner and Palm Springs Unified School District Board member, serving one year as district president. Cromwell has received many awards for his innovative technological leadership. He is a consultant to the clean energy transportation industry and has also served as a consultant to the City of Desert Hot Springs.
Cromwell Seeks Mission Springs Water Board Seat
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
©
13MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Dick Cromwell, a former Desert Hot
Springs City Councilman and nationally-recognized pioneer in the use of alternate fuels, has taken out papers for the Mission Springs Water District Board of Directors, one of two district openings on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Cromwell, a long-time Desert Hot
Springs resident, has attended MSWD board meetings for more than two years. Concerned the district is not doing enough to protect its award-winning water is the primary reason Cromwell decided to run.
“Our water is our city’s priceless brand.
It is the primary reason people live and visit here,” Cromwell stated.” Yet, it has been too easy to look the other way as the population grows and septic tanks age and are poorly maintained. It’s time to get serious about protecting our water with more than lip service.”
Cromwell outlined a three-point plan:
Completely sewer the city. Improve residential and commercial septic tank maintenance in the interim through
partnerships with MSWD, the City and the private sector. Move the Horton Sewer Treatment Plant to a new location that cannot encroach on residents and visitors.
Cromwell understands these are costly
projects that cannot be borne by the city’s residential and business community. His plans depend largely on federal grants and his experience as a consultant familiar with the inner-workings of Sacramento and the nation’s capitol.
In the case of the Assessment District
12 passed in 2004 to provide some 12,000 sewer hook ups, the property owner was to pay the first $4,100 with MSWD paying the balance. Cromwell notes that he believes MSWD is obligated to find the money to pay its share of the approximately 6,000 District 12 properties that have still not been hooked up.
“Our needs are exactly where grant
money should be spent. Without these improvements, the community one day could find itself in the same position as the Cathedral City Cove where the state gave the residents a deadline to get rid of septic
tanks or abandon their homes. Development of these plans and
implementing them will take expertise, connections, patience and, above all, leadership, he said. “I love this city and it deserves a major effort to protect its future,” Cromwell noted.
Cromwell is founder of the Coachella
Valley Clean Cities Region and co-developer, in partnership with COD, of a CNG training program that is in use worldwide. The training program later was the basis for the nation’s first community college curriculum for hydrogen fuel cells. Cromwell is a former SunLine Transit Agency general manager, City of Desert Hot Springs Planning Commissioner and Palm Springs Unified School District Board member, serving one year as district president. Cromwell has received many awards for his innovative technological leadership. He is a consultant to the clean energy transportation industry and has also served as a consultant to the City of Desert Hot Springs.
Cromwell Seeks Mission Springs Water Board Seat
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
©
RICHARD CROMWELL III
Objective: To remove barriers to the implementation of clean energy, clean transportation, healthcare and sustainable communities
Career highlights include serving as general manager and CEO of SunLine Transit Agency, advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program, advisory board member of Clean Energy Fuels, Inc., as an elected member of the Palm Springs Unified School District, the City of Desert Hot Springs City Council and Planning Commission and as founding member and secretary of The Desert Legal Foundation
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
President/CEO August 2003 – Present Cromwell and Associates, Inc.
Consultant to the clean energy, clean transportation industries. Responsibilities include project development/ coordination on infrastructure development/expansion, clean fuels fleets and programs, education, advocacy. Currently a member of the board of directors of California Hydrogen Business Council, a member of the CalACT Legislative Committee, and co-coordinator of the Coachella Valley Clean Cities Region.
Recent clients include or have included the City of Desert Hot Springs, Desert Hot Springs, CA; City of Palm Desert, Palm Desert, CA; Clean Energy, Seal Beach, CA; The Energy Coalition, Irvine, CA; San Diego Superior Court, San Diego, CA; U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program.
General Manager and CEO 1991-2003SunLine Transit Agency
Responsible for all operations of SunLine Transit Agency, SunLine Services Group and Community Partnerships of the Desert, as well as the Coachella Valley Clean Cities Coalition. SunLine employed approximately 270 people; over 55% were union members. Accomplishments becoming the first public transit agency in the U.S. to convert its diesel fleet overnight to compressed natural gas, forming a
public private partnership with T. Boone Pickets and the Pickens Fueling Corp. that became Clean Energy Fuels, developing the region’s first seven public CNG and first liquefied natural gas (LNG) station; forming the multiple award-winning Coachella Valley Clean Cities Coalition, enabling the conversion of nearly 1,000 vehicles in the Coachella Valley to natural gas, developing the nation’s first community college curriculum for natural gas and hydrogen, implemented the first regional street sweeping service with CNG-powered vacuum operated PM10-reducing street sweepers; road tested dozens of cutting edge clean transportation products for leading manufacturers, partnered with the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and others to commercialize hydrogen technologies, opened the nation’s first public access Hydrogen and Hythane® fueling stations, participated in multiple high-level transit/clean air councils and committees at the regional, state and national levels.
Assistant General Manager 1991 – 2003SunLine Transit Agency
Retail Store Management 1962-1984Walker Scott Department Store
Walker Scott Department Store, Vice President and Store Manager; Anita of Denmark Cosmetics, Vice President Operations; Harris Department Store, General Manager and Assistant to the President and CEO, in Hemet, San Bernardino, Indio and Palm Springs, California.
AWARDS - PERSONAL2003 American Lung Association of California Clean Air Award, 2000 California TransportationFoundation TRANNY Award
AWARDS – AGENCY, WHILE GENERAL MANAGER OF SUNLINE2002 Senator Barbara Boxer’s Conservation Champion Award 2001 Best Public Sector Fleet, Natural Gas Magazine Readers’ Poll 2000 California Transit Association Innovative Transit Award for Hydrogen Project, Desert Business Achievement Award for Most Entrepreneurial, Creative Public Agency1999 Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition’s, Annual Achievement Award, SCAQMD’s Promotion of Good Environmental
Stewardship Award, Governor’s Award for Environmental and Economic Leadership1997 FTA Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Public Service1996 U.S. Department of Energy Special Recognition Award for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy1995 California Association of Local Economic Developers, Grand Prize Award of Excellence for New Technology Fuels Jobs and Partnerships, South Coast Air Quality Management District Innovative Transportation Project1994 California Community Colleges Exemplary Leadership in Partnership Activities
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE - PASTBoard Member, California Natural Gas Vehicle CoalitionBoard Member, Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition Founding Member and Chair, Alternative Fuels Committee, American Public Transportation Assn.Member, Gas Research Institute Transit Users Group Board Member, National Hydrogen Association Advisory Board Member, NGV EchogramsAdvisory Board Member, ENRG (formerly Pickens Fuel Corp)
LOCAL LEADERSHIP – PASTFounding Member, Coachella Valley Clean Cities CoalitionCo-founder, Desert Legal FoundationBoard Member, Mission Springs Water DistrictCity Council Member, City of Desert Hot SpringsPlanning Commissioner, City of Desert Hot SpringsCultural Committee Chairman, City of Desert Hot SpringsPresident and Board Member, Palm Springs Unified School District Chairman, Regional Access ProjectBoard Member, Palm Springs Chamber of CommerceBoard Member, Indio Chamber of CommerceBoard Member and President, Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau
PRESENTATIONSPresented many times at APTA Bus and Paratransit conferences, NGV, hydrogen, DOE and DOT conferences, before the Senate Energy Committee, California Delegation etc.
14 15MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Randy Duncan has been serving on
the Mission Springs Water District Board since his initial appointment in 2005. Desert Local News sits down with Duncan and talks about the accomplishments he and the district have made for the city of Desert Hot Springs.
“I want to finish the projects I have started and pushing the district further in the right direction,” said Duncan. “I believe that the district is doing a great job. I don’t understand how my opponents could say that we’re not since one of them has not been to a meeting in over two years.” He says that if they attended the meetings, they would understand how they function, especially when it comes to the issues of sewers. To date, half the city is sewered.
“The goal is to get the entire city
sewered, provided that the district pays its portion and that there is some federal participation,” he adds. “Until there is a grant, we can’t go forward with the sewers. Otherwise, it will be expensive to the consumers.” Fresh drinking water and sewers go hand in hand, Duncan pointed out. “We have one source of fresh water, which is the Mission Creek. We must not contaminate that water.”
Breaking even financially is also a primary goal for the MSWD, according to Duncan. “We are not here to make a profit,” he made clearly, stating how the costs of electricity for pumping water and gasoline costs have risen. “As those costs go up, so do our rates,” he added.
The Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant is also a hot topic on Duncan’s agenda. “Cromwell wants to move it right
now, but it will cost us $50 million. Rates would skyrocket,” he said.
During Duncan’s time spent on the MSWD board, there have been several awards given to the water. “We’ve come in with the gold medal several times. We’ve recently received bronze and silver medals for our water,” he mentioned.
Overall, Duncan wishes to be reelected to finish the work he’s done. “I’ve gone to Washington, DC three times to help get $35 million authorized. I’ve been instrumental in the district so far.”
During the last election, Duncan and fellow board member Nancy Wright ran unopposed.
MSWD Director Randy Duncan
Randy Duncan: Making sure MSWD is
on the Right TrackBY LESLIE ANDREWS
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- For the past 20 years, Nancy Wright has
served with the Mission Springs Water District as a board member and currently sits as the President of the Board. Desert Local News speaks to Wright and talk about her past achievements and future goals for the district if reelected.
Providing safe, clean, reliable and cost efficient water has been one of Wright’s goals and through her leadership, MSWD has won many awards. “Let’s say that mother nature is responsible for some of this,” she said. “We have won a lot of taste tests.”
Sewers have been an issue in Desert Hot Springs as early as the 1970s, Wright mentioned. “So far, we’ve had $20 million set aside for sewers, and now we have $35 million that we’re working on getting,” she said. When she first came on board, the town was only a third sewered. “The government works very slow, but I think we’ve done very well,” she adds. “It’s very important, but they’re very expensive and costly. If property owners were willing to pay $20,000, we would have gotten it done sooner, but that’s not feasible.”
Wright brought up the fact that the city of Yucca Valley has no sewer system whatsoever and that their septic tanks have already begun seeping into their groundwater. “Fortunately, none of our wells have been contaminated, but there could be,” she continued. “This ‘hurry, hurry’ thing is all campaign from the other guys.”
The Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant has received almost $500,000 in grants for a design, and it will be a very state-of-the-art expansion, as Wright emphasized. “This new expansion will not have any problems,” she said. “There is technology that could make these plants compatible with residential areas. It will be a three million gallon per day plant.” Getting this money is one of Wright’s achievements through her leadership.
According to her website, HYPERLINK “http://www.votewright4water.com” www.votewright4water.com, Wright is an advocate for having the lowest possible water rates, despite recent hikes. “Ongoing maintenance
programs, emergency back up water supplies and protection of our hot and cold groundwater basins are some of my priorities,” Wright stated.
Wright has also served seven years on the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and represents MSWD on the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee. She is also a board member of: LAFCO, The Groundwater Foundation, Colorado River Citizens Forum, and Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club. She is also a recipient of the Palm Springs Unified School District’s Shiny Apple Award. Wright lives in the Painted Hills area of Whitewater.
MSWD President Nancy Wright
Nancy WrightTwenty Years of Service with
MSWD and Counting
©
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Randy Duncan
About Me:
I am 48 years old, and my wife and I have lived in Desert Hot Springs for nearly 22 years, raising our 2 children here. I graduated High Hchool and Marine Corps boot camp at the age of 17. I served 10 years in the Marines,
making the rank of Sergeant and received an Honorable Discharge in 1988.
I moved here to Desert Hot Springs in 1988, opened my first small business, and quickly grew fond of DHS. I have served our town as a 2 term President of the Rotary Club, volunteered as an AYSO soccer coach, been a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club, served as a Planning
Commissioner, and a Treasurer/Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
My true passion has been serving as a Director for the Mission Springs Water District, and have served 1 year as President of the Board. I am the Owner/Broker of Desert Investment Group, a financial planning and stock brokerage firm and hold multiple licenses and qualifications in the financial industry.
NANCY WRIGHT
I have lived in Painted Hills for about 36 years. My husband, Pete, and I met, married, and raised our two children here. During that time we’ve owned and operated a local General Contracting company. I was a Little League mom and board member, the PTG treasurer for DHS Elementary, and the first PTG president for Desert Springs Middle School for its first five years. I am a past president of the DHS Women’s Club, a member since 1987, and a current member of the board.
I have been working for you for the past 20 years. Some of my accomplishments are maintaining and enhancing our water and sewer system by upgrading the water
distribution system, adding water lines, increasing well capacity, drilling new wells, and installing new reservoirs. During my tenure MSWD completed two expansions of the Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant and we are in the design phase of a third expansion. A Disaster Preparedness Plan, Water Master Plan, Sewer Master Plan, Urban Water Master Plan, and an up-to-date Development Manual and Employee Handbook and Policies Manual have all been approved and put in place. All this adds up to more cost efficient water and sewer services.
As President, I have led the way for MSWD and the other water agencies in the Coachella Valley (City of Coachella, Indio Water Authority, Coachella Valley Water District, and Desert Water Agency) to work together on an Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan. This plan is vital to the management, sustainability and reliability of our water resource. This will give MSWD a voice in the decision making process concerning the management of our water supply.
Nancy S. Wright is the current President of the MSWD Board. She has served seven years on the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and represents MSWD on the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee. She is also a board member of: LAFCO, The Groundwater Foundation, Colorado River Citizens Forum, and Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club. She’s also a recipient of the Palm Springs Unified School District’s Shiny Apple Award.
©
14 15MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Randy Duncan has been serving on
the Mission Springs Water District Board since his initial appointment in 2005. Desert Local News sits down with Duncan and talks about the accomplishments he and the district have made for the city of Desert Hot Springs.
“I want to finish the projects I have started and pushing the district further in the right direction,” said Duncan. “I believe that the district is doing a great job. I don’t understand how my opponents could say that we’re not since one of them has not been to a meeting in over two years.” He says that if they attended the meetings, they would understand how they function, especially when it comes to the issues of sewers. To date, half the city is sewered.
“The goal is to get the entire city
sewered, provided that the district pays its portion and that there is some federal participation,” he adds. “Until there is a grant, we can’t go forward with the sewers. Otherwise, it will be expensive to the consumers.” Fresh drinking water and sewers go hand in hand, Duncan pointed out. “We have one source of fresh water, which is the Mission Creek. We must not contaminate that water.”
Breaking even financially is also a primary goal for the MSWD, according to Duncan. “We are not here to make a profit,” he made clearly, stating how the costs of electricity for pumping water and gasoline costs have risen. “As those costs go up, so do our rates,” he added.
The Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant is also a hot topic on Duncan’s agenda. “Cromwell wants to move it right
now, but it will cost us $50 million. Rates would skyrocket,” he said.
During Duncan’s time spent on the MSWD board, there have been several awards given to the water. “We’ve come in with the gold medal several times. We’ve recently received bronze and silver medals for our water,” he mentioned.
Overall, Duncan wishes to be reelected to finish the work he’s done. “I’ve gone to Washington, DC three times to help get $35 million authorized. I’ve been instrumental in the district so far.”
During the last election, Duncan and fellow board member Nancy Wright ran unopposed.
MSWD Director Randy Duncan
Randy Duncan: Making sure MSWD is
on the Right TrackBY LESLIE ANDREWS
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- For the past 20 years, Nancy Wright has
served with the Mission Springs Water District as a board member and currently sits as the President of the Board. Desert Local News speaks to Wright and talk about her past achievements and future goals for the district if reelected.
Providing safe, clean, reliable and cost efficient water has been one of Wright’s goals and through her leadership, MSWD has won many awards. “Let’s say that mother nature is responsible for some of this,” she said. “We have won a lot of taste tests.”
Sewers have been an issue in Desert Hot Springs as early as the 1970s, Wright mentioned. “So far, we’ve had $20 million set aside for sewers, and now we have $35 million that we’re working on getting,” she said. When she first came on board, the town was only a third sewered. “The government works very slow, but I think we’ve done very well,” she adds. “It’s very important, but they’re very expensive and costly. If property owners were willing to pay $20,000, we would have gotten it done sooner, but that’s not feasible.”
Wright brought up the fact that the city of Yucca Valley has no sewer system whatsoever and that their septic tanks have already begun seeping into their groundwater. “Fortunately, none of our wells have been contaminated, but there could be,” she continued. “This ‘hurry, hurry’ thing is all campaign from the other guys.”
The Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant has received almost $500,000 in grants for a design, and it will be a very state-of-the-art expansion, as Wright emphasized. “This new expansion will not have any problems,” she said. “There is technology that could make these plants compatible with residential areas. It will be a three million gallon per day plant.” Getting this money is one of Wright’s achievements through her leadership.
According to her website, HYPERLINK “http://www.votewright4water.com” www.votewright4water.com, Wright is an advocate for having the lowest possible water rates, despite recent hikes. “Ongoing maintenance
programs, emergency back up water supplies and protection of our hot and cold groundwater basins are some of my priorities,” Wright stated.
Wright has also served seven years on the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and represents MSWD on the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee. She is also a board member of: LAFCO, The Groundwater Foundation, Colorado River Citizens Forum, and Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club. She is also a recipient of the Palm Springs Unified School District’s Shiny Apple Award. Wright lives in the Painted Hills area of Whitewater.
MSWD President Nancy Wright
Nancy WrightTwenty Years of Service with
MSWD and Counting
©
BY LESLIE ANDREWS
Randy Duncan
About Me:
I am 48 years old, and my wife and I have lived in Desert Hot Springs for nearly 22 years, raising our 2 children here. I graduated High Hchool and Marine Corps boot camp at the age of 17. I served 10 years in the Marines,
making the rank of Sergeant and received an Honorable Discharge in 1988.
I moved here to Desert Hot Springs in 1988, opened my first small business, and quickly grew fond of DHS. I have served our town as a 2 term President of the Rotary Club, volunteered as an AYSO soccer coach, been a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club, served as a Planning
Commissioner, and a Treasurer/Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
My true passion has been serving as a Director for the Mission Springs Water District, and have served 1 year as President of the Board. I am the Owner/Broker of Desert Investment Group, a financial planning and stock brokerage firm and hold multiple licenses and qualifications in the financial industry.
NANCY WRIGHT
I have lived in Painted Hills for about 36 years. My husband, Pete, and I met, married, and raised our two children here. During that time we’ve owned and operated a local General Contracting company. I was a Little League mom and board member, the PTG treasurer for DHS Elementary, and the first PTG president for Desert Springs Middle School for its first five years. I am a past president of the DHS Women’s Club, a member since 1987, and a current member of the board.
I have been working for you for the past 20 years. Some of my accomplishments are maintaining and enhancing our water and sewer system by upgrading the water
distribution system, adding water lines, increasing well capacity, drilling new wells, and installing new reservoirs. During my tenure MSWD completed two expansions of the Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant and we are in the design phase of a third expansion. A Disaster Preparedness Plan, Water Master Plan, Sewer Master Plan, Urban Water Master Plan, and an up-to-date Development Manual and Employee Handbook and Policies Manual have all been approved and put in place. All this adds up to more cost efficient water and sewer services.
As President, I have led the way for MSWD and the other water agencies in the Coachella Valley (City of Coachella, Indio Water Authority, Coachella Valley Water District, and Desert Water Agency) to work together on an Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan. This plan is vital to the management, sustainability and reliability of our water resource. This will give MSWD a voice in the decision making process concerning the management of our water supply.
Nancy S. Wright is the current President of the MSWD Board. She has served seven years on the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and represents MSWD on the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee. She is also a board member of: LAFCO, The Groundwater Foundation, Colorado River Citizens Forum, and Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club. She’s also a recipient of the Palm Springs Unified School District’s Shiny Apple Award.
©
MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 200916
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA-
For six years, Jeff Bowman has led a successful hotel business in Desert Hot Springs and has been an active leader in his community. Desert Local News sits down with Bowman and discusses his plans to seek a seat with the Mission Springs Water District.
Bowman, owner of the Living Waters Spa hotel, states that the MSWD has not lived up to their promises when it comes to creating sewers and wells throughout the city. “I feel strongly that the board needs to meet the needs of the community,” he says. “I feel that the MSWD has let us down in terms of sewers and water production.” Bowman goes on to say that a full-city sewer system was promised by the year 2005, but so far, slightly less than half of the city has been sewered.
Bowman has been studying the way the district works by recently taking tours of some of their activities, such as water production. “As of right now, they have only put in one new well,” he said. “They promised to have five new wells by 2010. We’re four wells behind.” He goes on to say that one well has uranium in it, which is located near the Mission Lakes Country Club. So far, nearly a half million dollars have been spent to clean that well.
Financially, Bowman adds that the district has been burning through their reserve money, due to a $3.5 million deficit. “These problems could have been avoided if they were proactive and planned,” he states. “The district has served the community well since its existence, but during the last couple of years, they have not. They need new faces on the board.” Bowman objected to a recent major increase in water rates, saying that gradual increases could
have been done instead. “I think it’s wrong that they did it in one big chunk like that. It’s a huge infrastructure that has to be developed.”
Bowman brings to his campaign years of experience in serving the public, volunteering his time to make Desert Hot Springs a better place. Currently, he serves as the chair of the city’s Public Safety Commission. He and his wife Judy have been honored with “Businesspersons of the Year” in 2006, and their hotel is top-rated.
When the Bowmans came to town, the city council had a lot of issues at the time. Bowman feels that the current council is the most progressive one so far. Both he and many others believe that they are moving the city forward. “Now’s the time to prepare for the next big wave in the city,” Bowman continues. “I’m a make-it-happen kind of guy and the Water District is a great place for me to apply.”
Jeff Bowman: Hoping For Change at MSWDBY LESLIE ANDREWS
Jeff Bowman candidate for MSWD director seat
Jeff Bowman
Prior to moving to Desert Hot Springs in 2003, Jeff has had a varied career with several common threads – people, technology, and customer focus.
He spent 15 years in the computer field with senior positions at Toshiba America Computer Systems Division. First he was the Director of Product Support which was responsible for nationwide customer support. His department received over 66,000 customer contacts per month and a fiscal responsibility for $4.6M+ annual budget. He then held the title of Senior
Group Manager in Toshiba America’s Engineering Division. He had oversight of three major division departments: Computer network (IT) support and development; Accessories design and manufacture; and 3rd Party vendor relations.
Jeff also has a Masters Degree in Theology and has served a combined 17 years as Senior Pastor in 4 non-denominational community churches.
Jeff and his wife Judy became interested in massage following Judy’s battle with Breast Cancer in 1992, resulting in becoming Licensed Massage Therapists. Jeff was certified by the State of California
Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education to teach:
Business Administration/Management
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations.
EthicsMassage Therapy / Therapeutic
MassageIn 2003 Jeff and Judy decided to
create Living Waters Spa – A European Style Clothing Optional Spa in Desert Hot Springs. They purchased a run-down “spa-tel” named Kismet Lodge and poured their resources and people skills into developing Living Waters Spa, a day and stay spa where people can get in touch with life like they do at the spas in Europe. The spa has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Ellen Degeneres / AOL.com and others. Currently the Spa is top ranked in the State according to TripAdvisor.com and has garnered both national and international acclaim.
Highlights:Jeff chairs the Public Safety
Commission for Desert Hot Springs and has served on the commission since February 2004.
He is the President and Webmaster of the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society.
He is on the Hospitality Industry and Business Council (HIBC) committee that oversees the Palm Spring Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA).
He is currently on the Fire and Emergency Services Ad-hoc Committee for the City of Desert Hot Springs.
He has served on the Parole Ad-hoc Committee at the request of DHS Police Chief Pat Williams.
He has served on the Advisory Board for Kaplan (Maric) College, Palm Springs.
For almost 4 years (2005-2008) he was a Commissioner on the Palm Springs Airport Commission representing Desert Hot Springs.
In 2006 he and his wife Judy were Desert Hot Springs “Business Persons of the Year.”
MSWD ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009 17
18 DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
19DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
All services will be held at: Mission Lakes Country Club, 8484 Clubhouse Blvd, DHS
Drive through the complex to the Club House
Rosh HaShanah Services Friday, September 18 7:00pm Rosh HaShanah Services Saturday, September 19 10:00am Kol Nidre Services Sunday, September 27 7:00pm Yom Kippur Services Monday, September 28 10:00am
Discussion groups at 1:00 Yizkor at 4:00 Nilah at 4:30
BREAKFAST served after services No charge for residents of DHS – non-residents $20
Jewish Family Service of the Desert presents these services to the Jewish Residents of Desert Hot Springs as part of a financial
allocation from Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and the Desert Area.
For more information, please call 760-325-4088
No charge for services to residents of DHS non-residents $30
HIGH HOLIDAYS DESERT HOT SPRINGS
May - September 2009
Shipping Overnight
2 Day 3 Day
Ground International
Printing
Business Cards New ~ Banners
New ~ Magnet Signs New ~ Color Posters
Brochures Letterhead
Newsletters Envelopes
Folding Hole Punching NCR Printing
Fliers Name Tags
Vinyl Lettering
Copying Black & White
Color Folding
Hole Punching Stapling
Collating Booklet
Mailboxes
Personal Business
Corporate Virtual
Mail Forwarding Physical Address
Mail Check ™
Fax
Packing
Notary
Office for Monthly Rent - $375.00 per month
Fully Furnished includes Electric and DSL
Office w/ Reception area for Monthly Rent
Fully Furnished includes Electric and DSL -
$550.00 per month
Office for Hourly Rent - $15.00 per hour
Need to have a meeting and no space, rent per hour a professional office
Conference Room for Rent - $20.00 per hour
includes seating for 8 to 15 comfortably, PowerPoint & DVD
capabilities, white board, coffee machine, snack table
Located in the VONS Shopping Center 14080 Palm Drive Ste D Desert Hot Springs Phone (760) 329-2309 Fax (760) 329-2939 [email protected]
Private Mailbox Rentals 24 Hour Access ~ Personal - Business - Corporate ~ Mail For-
warding 3 month, 6 Month & 12 Month Agreements Available
Personal Size 3 Months $39.00 per Month
6 Months $72.00 per Month - 1 Month Free* 3 Months $132.00 per Month - 2 Months Free*
Free Months added to end of contract, only available on initial set up
Business and Corporate Size Pricing Available Upon Request
New Services
20 DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 12, 2009
