I have had the honor and privilege to serve as your representative on the Alameda County Water District’s Board of Directors for the past four years. Since my election to the Board in 2016, I have focused my efforts on improving our infrastructure, protecting our precious water resources, and advocating for our customers. I currently serve as the Vice President of the Board, the Chair of the Engineering and Information Technology Committee, and a member of the Finance Committee.

I am excited at the prospect of continuing my service on the Board, and furthering our investments in our infrastructure, maintaining financial discipline, and being good stewards of the environment. As a Director at the Alameda County Water District, I represent the voices of the 357,000 residents of Fremont, Newark and Union City.

It is our responsibility to ensure that we deliver safe, clean, and affordable water on a daily basis, to the tune of nearly 13.5 billion gallons per year. I have made it my mission to be out in our community, listening to your concerns and ideas, and working to ensure that we protect our water resources for future generations.

I grew up in Fremont and have spent the majority of my 26 years calling it home. I take pride in being a product of the Tri-City and all that it offers. I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities and lessons from members of this community as a resident, student, neighbor, and public official. These conversations have stressed to me the importance of protecting our most valuable resource for generations to come.

I’m a proud recipient of a public school K-12 education - I attended Parkmont Elementary, Centerville Junior High, and Washington High School. I then went on to study at the University of Southern California, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering with concentrations in Data Science and Resource Planning.

Apart from ACWD, I have worked in consulting, IT incident response software, and cybersecurity. When I’m not in the office, you’re likely to find me taking a stroll down Alameda Creek, catching the Sharks or Warriors on TV, or reading a good book. 

I have had the honor of servicing on the ACWD Water Board for many years but I still have many projects I want to see through.  I have multiple years of problem solving, organizing, and working together experience which have given me the tools to be a good Director.    Whether it be through my years as a Coast Guard Officer in Engineering, multilple Leadership trainings including the Coast Guard Academy and the Fremont Leadership Program, or today working for the Railroad as a Supervisor and Rules Instructor, I have what it takes to organize and plan to meet our many challenges.  The past few years have been very trying whether it be drought, fires, or the pandemic, strong leadership is needed.  Finally, my years in the Coast Guard taught me what it is like not to have enough fresh water, and I will do everything I can to ensure our residents do not have to experience not having a reliable water supply.

I believe Water Suppy Reliability is our most important issue.  Ultimately, the water can be as Safe, Clean, and cheap but if you turn on the tap and nothing comes out you have completely failed.  A strong part of Reliabilty is being good Environmental Stewards.  It is a delicate balancing act to provide water and limit impact to the environment, but we must, we can, and we have.  It is our childrens future at stake if we ignore environmental consequences.  Too many people today are "Right".  Leadership takes team work, listening, and compormise.  We must work together to solve our problems and this starts at home and in our community and right here at our District.  Together we have and will continue to make a positive difference.  

I grew up on a dairy farm is wisconsin. Life was good. Hard work produced results. At 18, I was drafted into the military. I made the most of my time in the service. I entered into the Naval Service School Command, (Electricians School). Training was intense. Mastering electrical theory and then practical electrical applications. After four years of various assignments, I left the service. 

Electrical Power Generation systems was my specialty. L. K. Comstock Electrical Contractor offered me a job as a Quality Assurance Inspector, at the Pierrie Island Nuclear construction site near Red Wing Minnesota. My job was to approve installations of the control and safegauard systems. 

After completion of the power plant I accepted a career in managing a water and wastwater district in Nevada. It was a great oppurtunity to get exposed to all subjects of water treatment, but understanding the necessary infrastructure such as installing water and sewer mains. 

The Nevada job was a perfect segway to apply at Union Sanitary District, here in Fremont Calif. 1976 I joined USD, eventually becvoming the senior operator that started the current wastewater plant located in Union City Calif. 

My career has allowed me to haver a indepted understanding what it takes to navigate Alameda County Water District.

Growing up in the "60's" . My generation experienced not only tough but sad evernts. I am committed to serve my cvommunity hoping tomake it a better place for the next generation. I will continue that committement until I cannot physical do so. As humans we have a obligation to serve and help those in need. 

Hello, I am a Ramesh Gopalan, 34-year resident of Alameda County and Fremont homeowner with two children in local public schools.  After graduating with BA,MA,PhD in physics from the University of California at Berkeley my career experience, as a senior technology manager for over 22 years, has taught me the importance of  listening to  customers to provide them with products   of consistent quality at low cost.    As a native of California who grew up near desert in India I am keenly aware of the importance of water as our most important natural resource on this only planet we all have.   I support drought-tolerant landscaping, the restoration of native fish – steelhead trout and salmon – back to Alameda Creek and development of hiking – biking trails and public parks in Niles Canyon.    As a member of the Water Education Foundation, I am keen on outreach to our diverse community’s vibrant younger generation as the future stewards of our beloved Golden state now facing unprecedented challenges in the pandemic, drought and wildfires.  

My priorities:

·      * Speed up seismic and other overdue critical upgrades to water supply infrastructure

·      * Stop water rate increases to below inflation.

·       *Reduce costs and create local jobs by employing graduates of local schools and training programs

·       *Long term planning for climate change – drought, wildfires, sea-level rise

·       *Revisit efforts to improve taste and quality of water

 I will bring a unique perspective to how our community can better interact with changing Nature around us,  while combining engineering knowledge and business experience  to provide real sustainable solutions -  I  would appreciate your vote to the Alameda County Water District Board!                                                                                                                                    

Contact: ramesh.gopalan69@gmail.com ;

https://youtu.be/nDtnCNic7a8  ;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramesh-gopalan-7b36614/

   As a life-long Democrat I strongly believe in social  inclusivity and civic,  fiscal responsibility

- which is why I  object  to the 33% increase in water rates over the past four years,

particularly when consumption has fallen by up to 27% of pre-drought levels.  

There is no economic system in the world - free market or otherwise -  that responds to reduced demand by raising prices !

Meanwhile, LESS than ONE MILE of overdue EARTHQUAKE SAFETY upgrades of 40 MILES NECESSARY has been completed -

 the funds have instead been put into investment portfolios instead!

-  it is time for new leadership,

one that actually understand engineering science &  free market economics! 

  As a native of California who grew up near desert in India I am keenly aware of the importance of water as our most important natural resource on this only planet we all have.     As a member of the Water Education Foundation, I am keen on outreach to our diverse community’s vibrant younger generation as the future stewards of our beloved Golden state now facing unprecedented challenges in the pandemic, drought and wildfires.  

My priorities:

·      * Speed up seismic and other overdue critical upgrades to water supply infrastructure

·       *Stop water rate increases to below inflation.

·       *Reduce costs and create local jobs by employing graduates of local schools and training programs

·       *Long term planning for climate change – drought, wildfires, sea-level rise

·      * Revisit efforts to improve taste and quality of water

 I will bring a unique perspective to how our community can better interact with changing Nature around us,  while combining engineering knowledge and business experience  to provide real sustainable solutions -  I  would appreciate your vote to the Alameda County Water District Board!                                                                                                                                    

Contact: ramesh.gopalan69@gmail.com ;

https://youtu.be/nDtnCNic7a8  ;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramesh-gopalan-7b36614/