Political Philosophy

By R. William "Bill" Robinson

Emphasize smart Water Conservation. Building Drought Tolerant Communities

Strong leadership ethics. Elected government service are positions of public trust and financial responsibility/ oversight.

As an environmental chemist and the board's strongest water quality advocate, Bill is the only director that understands water quality and groundwater contamination from a scientific perspective. He understands the necessity for groundwater cleanup, while not allowing further future contamination by recharging inadequately treated sewer water to be recharged to the local aquifer as happens elsewhere in California.

Bill is the Only Director to oppose mixing to the groundwater with inadequately treated sewer water. The groundwater basin is not a sewage dump. Bill brought action before State Water Board, Sacramento to protect basin groundwater from poorly treated sewer water contamination.

Directors need water quality courses and understanding of the fundementals of applicable science. We must emphasize developing increased local water supply.

Despite recent rainfall valley groundwater is nearing record low levels (this winter supplied 90 percent of normal regional rain fall), largely due to water pumpers in the industry over drafting groundwater. The area is faced with several groundwater concerns, including over-drafting of the basin, a dropping water table, Perchlorate contamination, rising nitrate levels, possible future MTBE contamination. Board Members purchase endorsement in the local newspaper by wasting great quantities of your tax dollars as (one half million in newspaper ad revenue). We need to emphasize developing new, clean, secure, cheap local water supplies.

Much recent press coverage supplied over blown scare tactics and fear mongering. poorly balanced news articles. Local context in necessary. Most people don't realize that we live on top of a huge groundwater basin. Though levels are again approaching recent low levels we still have access to 7.5 MILLION ACRE FEET OF FRESH DRINKING WATER. ENOUGH TO SUPPLY OUR COMMUNITIES FOR TWENTY (20) years. Some water experts actually believe the groundwater basin may actual contain up to Eight to 9 Million acre feet of fresh water.

We have enjoyed some recent successes:

Despite the recently publisized state budget crisis. We recently received notice that the District garnered 28 million in grants and loans from California during this new fiscal year.

We dedicated the David Dreier Water Treatment facility in Feb. 2004 in Baldwin Park, paid for with substantial Federal Contributions. Moreover, October 2 was the date of the dedication of the second public drinking water well to go back on line this year. This new treated well is now undergoing final checkout and permitting procedures by the State Dept. of Health Services.

Despite political pressure to vote otherwise, Robinson dissented twice (2001, 2003 and 2005); on the General Manager's excessive salary package; at $178,500 including pay raises plus a 'generous' benefits package. Eight percent per year over two years plus annual cost of living increases. These grants are too generous for most struggling taxpayers to validate.

Bill cast the deciding vote on Districts return from a 4 to a 5 day work week (35 hours), more office hours for better service to public. We need far-sighted, improved public policy, not self-serving public relations gimmicks.