When the Joshua Basin Water District converted from “at large” to district- based elections under a state mandate the agency’s service area was split into five divisions. And while board seats in three of those divisions come up for election this year, only Division 5 will appear on the November 3 ballot since it is the only contested race with three candidates vying for the seat. Reporter Mike Lipsitz has more on this race…
Joshua Basin Water District’s Division 5 encompasses the Monument Manor and Joshua Highlands areas of Joshua Tree. The incumbent and board president, Robert Johnson, is defending his seat against challengers Paul Franklin Coate and Stacy Doolittle. Johnson, a retired U.S. Army colonel, has served on the board for eight years and is chair of the District’s Finance Committee. Challenger Coate comes with a 40-year career history in water and wastewater treatment; he previously served as a director for the district but stepped down to pursue the position of general manager in 2013. Doolittle, a former project manager for Boeing and Dell Computers, has been active in local conservation issues since relocating here 11 years ago.
Candidates unedited responses to written questions from Z107.7 News.
Candidate Stacy Doolittle
Z107.7 NEWS: How long have you resided in this water district?
STACY DOOLITTLE: I’ve been lucky enough to live in Joshua Tree for 11 years.
Z107.7 NEWS: What do you see as your qualifications to serve on the water district board of directors?
STACY DOOLITTLE: I have a passion for water issues and have been involved with these issues since moving to the desert. I have worked closely with the Morongo Basin Conservation Association, both as a consultant and volunteer and I co-founded Transition Joshua Tree, an organization which focuses on the sustainability of our local natural resources.
Also, as a former project manager for Boeing and Dell Computers, I have a lot of experience managing and overseeing large budgets and successfully dealing with the various stakeholders who are invested in a project. I think a water board elected official should first represent the voters from her district, and second navigate and address the issues of other stakeholders.
In the case of Joshua Tree’s water district, some of these include residents, small business owners, governmental agencies located in JT; we have the engineers and employees of the water district, other water districts in the area, as well county, state and federal stakeholders due to the unique nature of Joshua Tree’s location. I think these are important qualifications at this critical juncture in the water district with big budget projects in the works.
Z107.7 NEWS: What would you bring to the board that is unique?
STACY DOOLITTLE: I am a big picture person who can manage the details and I find that’s actually a very rare quality. In addition to being a long-term planner, I am also a proactive collaborator and really enjoy working with other groups to achieve a common goal. I can bring these skill sets to bear for the water district.
The challenges the water district faces in the near future are infrastructure improvements and a plan for wastewater. I want us to go in with eyes wide open with a creative plan to address and finance wastewater solutions and I want to make sure we have the necessary resources in place, however far in the future it will be.
Z107.7 NEWS: Are there any aspects of the water agency that you would want to change?
STACY DOOLITTLE: I would want to ensure maintenance and upgrades to the infrastructure. At the same time, I would also want to ensure that our water bills are affordable. How to balance these two objectives? I’d like to control overhead costs. One way could be through more collaboration with the many other water districts up here. There’s 29 Palms, Bighorn and Hi-Desert to name a few. While we don’t want to lose Joshua Tree’s independence, it just makes sense that we should be collaborating more with these other districts to reduce redundancies and take advantage of the other district’s best practices. Perhaps a sharing summit is in order? I want us to work smarter!
Z107.7 NEWS: Are there any aspects or issues that are unique to Division 5 and if so, how might you address them?
STACY DOOLITTLE: I know more than half of the voters in Division 5 are retirees who enjoy small-town living in Joshua Tree and retired here for its beauty and affordability. I want to ensure the residents of my district, many who are on fixed incomes, are protected from shouldering the burden of Joshua Tree’s wastewater challenges due to the recently increased tourism and real estate boom.
Candidate PAUL FRANKLIN COATE
Ballot Designation: Retired Utilities Supervisor
Z107.7 NEWS: How long have you resided in this water district?
PAUL COATE: 28 Years
Z107.7 NEWS: What do you see as your qualifications to serve on the water district board of directors?
PAUL FRANKLIN COATE: I have dedicated 40 plus years to the field of water and wastewater treatment. I worked for JBWD for three years, managed Bighorn Water Agency for three years, been on JBWD board twice. I am currently on the (JBWD) Citizens Advisory Council.
Z107.7 NEWS: What would you bring to the board that is unique?
PAUL FRANKLIN COATE: Water and wastewater experience. A true desire to want to serve the people of this district I call home.
Z107.7 NEWS: Are there any aspects of the water agency that you would want to change?
PAUL FRANKLIN COATE: I would like to keep water rates as reasonable of a price as possible for all users. I believe we also need to take another look at the election process. We need to go back to an at large election. Right now, only 20 percent of the District gets to vote for each Division. Like Divisions 3 and 4 only had one candidate run therefore they are put on the board and nobody votes on them at all. Also when you are on the board you represent the entire district not just your division.
Z107.7 NEWS: Are there any aspects or issues that are unique to Division 5 and if so, how might you address them?
PAUL FRANKLIN COATE: As with all divisions it is infrastructure that continues to need to be done. But the District is currently doing a good job on Capital Improvement Projects inhouse.
Z107.7 News Candidate Q&A
JBWD Division 5 Candidate ROBERT “Bob” JOHNSON (Incumbent)
Ballot Designation:
Joshua Basin Water District Member, Board of Directors
Z107.7 NEWS: How long have you resided in this water district?
ROBERT JOHNSON: My family and I have been full-time residents in Joshua Tree since 1993. I have served as a volunteer for years on a variety of local community group’s projects. I have been involved with the Water District serving on the Citizens Advisory Council for many years before becoming a board member.
What do you bring to the board that is unique?
ROBERT JOHNSON: Proven trusted, tested, accountable, reliable, balanced non-partisan leadership. I bring to the Board a vast array of varied professional experiences: financial program oversight and managerial experience. Personnel hiring, job description review and drafting, program development services, budget proposals and fiscal yearly audit reviews. I have policy-making expertise and strategic planning experience. Participation with union labor negotiations / labor disputes /plus local community, state and federal government involvement.
What would you say is the district’s greatest accomplishment during your tenure?
ROBERT JOHNSON: The current Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors is one of the most dynamic and dedicated groups I have ever had the privilege of working with. The board has taken bold and decisive action to ensure the future viability of clean, safe, and healthy drinking water for the future. We have addressed and updated antiquated accounting systems and upgraded record keeping storage and started a massive Infrastructure pipeline replacement program. The Board has been focused on attracting the most talented staff and providing the best working environment possible. The Board has selected a new and energetic general manager, with a most impressive resume, providing us with the potential for a self-sufficient and reliant organic district.
Also during your tenure, what issue or action do think might have been handled better, if any?
ROBERT JOHNSON: I believe that the previous boards have all paved the way for this board to successfully engage with facilitating and addressing the merging new generation of technology and services. I believe we need to continue with long-range planning to address: community services/expansion /development and population issues. Ensuring a viable and reliable source of water at a reasonable rate is crucial.
Are there any aspects or issues that are unique to Division 5 and if so, how might you address them?
ROBERT JOHNSON: Division 5 has been our home for over 26 years. Our family loves where we live. We have lived in the Highlands and now in Monument Manor. I have had the opportunity to meet many of the original pioneer residents and learn about the neighborhood and their early day experiences. Our aging infrastructure and changing demographics in the area bring many new and exciting opportunities for our old and new neighbors. We need to address how to balance the cost and expense of water and the cost of utilities in the area manageable. We need to be mindful of those on fixed incomes and ensure all have access to clean, safe, and affordable water.
