I am running for the position of North Beach Water District Commissioner. NBWD serves over 2,800 residents and businesses in our community with an annual revenue of $2.5 million. It has been an honor to serve as part of the leadership team on this board of three commissioners for the last 16 years.

Sixteen years ago, voters voted to create a water district combining two privately owned water systems. It was an effort to protect a critical community resource plus serve the daily needs of north peninsula residents (including the Ocean Park area). Newly elected commissioners worked hard to pull the fledgling system out of what looked like a perilous financial future. We conducted numerous rate studies to understand and match industry standards of fairness. We put an emphasis on customer service and established strong, safe and efficient measures for operations and the workplace. We promised customers we would provide an uninterrupted supply of safe, high-quality, dependable water. And we are vigilant in keeping an eye on our emergency preparedness.

If you are not a subscriber of North Beach Water, you may not be aware of our solid service record. We don’t make headlines for having a strong commitment to regular maintenance nor for identifying and implementing long term goals to meet future infrastructure needs. We don’t make headlines for making investments that have a direct impact on system improvements. We don’t make headlines for working closely with partners like the fire district that resulted in lower fire insurance rates for local residents.

We don’t make headlines because we have good leadership team and are doing good work.

NBWD faces some important issues ahead. While I applaud civic engagement, and encourage everyone to vote, I don’t understand why my opponent hasn’t taken a moment to attend a single meeting to help him understand the issues. Why is he running?

Voters need to elect someone with a proven track record. I hope to continue serving. Re-elect Gwen Brake.

GWEN BRAKE

Ocean Park