Director, Division 2 — Padre Dam Municipal Water District

Clean, safe and affordable water for all Californians is a huge challenge in a time of drought and fire.  As Director with Padre Dam Water Board, I will work with water agencies and the State of California enabling Padre Dam MWD to provide clean, safe, and affordable, water to rate payers. Below are six possible strategies:   

• Promote water repurification in East County and reduce costs of water repurification.
• Promote on-site water production through rain water harvesting, storm water retention and water reclamation. 
• Promote water conservation and landscaping for a Mediterranean climate.  For more information please read Reimagining the California Lawn.
• Research how Padre Dam MWD, can operate on reduced water revenue, given the reduced demand for water, and the reduced available imported water supplies.
• Collaborate and work with partners to protect the aquifer beneath the San Diego River, a low-cost alternative to purify and store locally produced water.   
• Protect wetlands (which recharge and purify our local water resources) in the San Diego River watershed, including Santee Lakes. 

I grew up in Lakeside.  My father was Joe Till former football coach at El Capitan High School. I have lived in Santee since 1991. Like my father, I served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps.  I have a Ph.D. in Water Resources Geography from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Masters in Geography and Urban Planning from SDSU.   In 2017, Padre Dam MWD held hearings on a 5-year water plan including planned rate hikes.  I attended those hearings and explained to the Board, that even though we (our family) conserve and use little water, our water bill is the most expensive utility bill.  This past year, Padre Dam MWD implemented two water rate hikes; rate hikes may continue. If elected, I will work to provide clean, safe and affordable water, especially for rate payers on fixed incomes and families.  I will use my water science expertise to control water rate pricing through diverse and locally produced water supplies.  As a Girl Scout I attended summer camps at Santee Lakes.  Consequently, I will protect and improve Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. I will facilitate partnerships and funding to enhance and preserve the San Diego River that flows through Santee, for current and future ground water storage needs.