Almaden Resident

News

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Water Candidates: Rosemary Kamai and Ram Singh, both running for director of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, stand by a control valve at the percolation pond behind the district's headquarters in Almaden Valley.

Two candidates set their sights on Santa Clara Valley Water District

By Monica Heger

With the races for San Jose's mayor and the county's district attorney heating up, another November election that will impact Almaden Valley has taken a back seat--two candidates will be on the ballot to represent the community as director of District 1 for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Incumbent Rosemary Kamei and newcomer Ram Singh are making a run for the position. Whoever fills the seat will be charged with helping set water supply and flood protection policies for the district, headquartered in Almaden Valley.

The passage of Assembly Bill 2435 last month will give the elected board members more fiscal control and accountability over the district. Under the new law, the district has discretion over budgetary decisions to deal with an emergency. Before the bill's passage, county supervisors had shared control.

The water district is responsible for stewardship of five watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, and more than 800 miles of streams and groundwater basins. It annually provides about 358,600 gallons of water--or enough to fill more than one football field a foot deep--to 13 local retailers.

Rosemary Kamei

Kamei, who has served on the board since 1993, said she hopes to be re-elected so she can see the fruition of the water resources protection collaborative, which looks at the effect of development along creeks and streams.

Through the collaborative, the water district works closely with the city when a developer applies for a permit near a creek or stream to help ensure the development has little effect on the water. Currently, a permit is needed from the water district for any development within 50 feet of a creek or stream.

While on the board, Kamei has seen the formation of educational programs and a change in attitude toward environmental issues. Stewardship of the environment has become one of the district's goals, she said.

Another of Kamei's goals is to keep working with the community to educate residents about water quality and environmental issues.

Prior to serving on the board, Kamei was on the planning commission in Morgan Hill. She is also the vice president of development at Planned Parenthood Mar Monte in San Jose. She formerly owned her own business as a flower grower and wholesaler in Morgan Hill. She has a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in urban regional planning.

Ram Singh

Ram Singh is running because he wants to bring change to the water district. Singh believes the water district has not been efficient and he believes the board needs someone with experience in water management. Singh has a Ph.D. in civil engineering and teaches water resources engineering at San Jose State University.

"Thirteen years ago, more than half the board members were engineers. Today, none of them are," Singh said. "Some scientist representation is necessary to understand the issues."

Singh said some of the major environmental issues the water district is facing are the destruction of riparian habitats and litter along the creeks.

"The water district doesn't plan properly and is doing environmental and ecological damage," Singh said.

Singh said he wants to reduce spending within the water district.

"They want to build a Taj Mahal for their office," Singh said.

If elected, he would control the increasing number of employees to enhance efficiency and productivity. Singh said his frustration with an increasing water bill also led him to run for the position.

"There is no justification for water costs going up in the valley," Singh said.

Both Singh and Kamei will participate in a candidate debate at the Almaden Valley Community Association's Oct. 16 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Almaden Library and Community Center at 6445 Camden Ave.

For more information about the candidates visit http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/ 11/07/ca/scl/special_district.html.

For more information about the water district, visit www.valleywater.org.