Monterey County Herald Endorsement (October 22, 2009)

By Judi Lehman

The Herald's View "Monterey Peninsula interests safe with Lehman."

Editorial: Monterey Peninsula interests safe with Lehman THE HERALD'S VIEW The Monterey County Herald Updated: 10/22/2009 08:55:45 AM PDT

In some ways, the race between water board veteran Judi Lehman and challenger Andrew Clarke puts faces on the competing camps in the long-running debate about how the Peninsula should solve its water problems, which show every sign of becoming much worse before getting better.

Lehman ably represents the conservationist bloc that would never support a water-supply project if it would lead to significant new development in the area. Business interests may criticize her point of view, but it does reflect the feelings of a large segment of the population.

Here's what we wrote about Lehman when we endorsed her re-election to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management board four years ago.

"Lehman has quietly studied the issues to become as technically adept as anyone on the seven-member board. She quietly promotes additional conservation methods, completion of the aquifer storage and recovery program and completion of the district's plans for a Sand City desalination plant of its own. She also is pushing greater recycling of waste water.

"...While honoring the views of her slow-growth constituents, she has demonstrated willingness to explore creative ways to expand the water supply, at least to some degree, and to make better use of the limited acre-feet we already have."

Clarke, on the other hand, is an unabashed supporter of expanding the water supply ASAP, to meet the current challenge and to provide for growth. He says the water management district hasn't done nearly enough to develop new water supplies, an assertion that could be applied just as well to California American Water and every other entity involved in water issues.

Clarke's campaign Web site could hardly be more direct -- or simplistic. [. . . . ]

Clarke, by the way, is the controller for Alco Water in Salinas, the remnant of a network of privately owned utilities with a long and not-so-distinguished record in Monterey County water circles.

Still, if we thought Clarke truly held some key to accomplishing what he proposes, we would be tempted to endorse his candidacy.

Now that the State Water Resources Control Board has followed through on its threat to force a reduction in the Peninsula's use of Carmel River water, it is more obvious than ever that the need to find water, create water and conserve water is urgent. But his election would not tip the water board away from its conservationist leanings or accomplish anything except to push an exceptionally qualified and conscientious trustee off the board.

Solving our water problems is not simply a matter of will. The issues are complex and each solution presents its own set of complications. There has been serious progress toward a significant desalination plant in Marina, one large enough to offset the state's cease-and-desist order. But even though many consider it the best solution on the table, serious questions about its viability remain unanswered.

Getting through the difficulties brought on by the state order will require considerable effort, and finding a solution to the short water supply will require extreme effort. Lehman remains as knowledgable as anyone about the perplexing world of Peninsula water politics and policies, and she is well placed to help find the elusive answers. She should be re-elected.

------------------------------------------------ THE HERALD'S 2005 ENDORSEMENT:

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/opinion/12798607.htm

Posted on Sun, Oct. 02, 2005

The Herald's View Give Lehman another term on water board

.... Lehman has quietly studied the issues to become as technically adept as anyone on the seven-member board. Lehman quietly promotes additional conservation methods, completion of the aquifer storage and recovery program and completion of the district's plans for a Sand City desalination plant of its own. She also is pushing greater recycling of waste water.

.... While honoring the views of her slow-growth constituents, she has demonstrated willingness to explore creative ways to expand the water supply, at least to some degree, and to make better use of the limited acre-feet we already have.

In short, she has earned another term.

Lehman's measured approach won't solve the Peninsula's water supply problem any time soon, but neither will any other plans on the table. The Moss Landing desal plants proposed by California American Water and the Pajaro-Sunny Mesa Community Services District would take years to get through the regulatory process and may, in fact, never win enough public support to make it over all the bureaucratic hurdles. .... [A]ny renewed talk about a new dam on the Carmel River is just that. Dams are coming down these days, not going up.

With state regulators threatening to clobber Cal Am and its Peninsula customers with huge fines because of the not-so-slow death of the Carmel River, the Peninsula's primary water source, there is pressure to do something, anything, even if it's wrong. Combine that with the near elimination of the building industry on the Peninsula, the certainty of another drought and the number of homeowners unable to add a simple bathroom, and it's obvious that the status quo isn't acceptable.

More affordable housing? It's nearly out of the question without more water.

Some no-growth environmentalists, of course, feel things are just fine the way they are. But Lehman and others with strong environmental credentials understand that something must be done, even if it has some growth-inducing potential, because it is important to stop destroying the river. Even Cal Am recently started making the river the focus of its public relations campaigning. Lehman seems to understand that the status quo isn't acceptable to anyone who truly understands the full range of issues, and she knows the issues well enough to help the board find some real solutions.

"There will be growth," she acknowledges.

....

Electing Lehman would leave the board more evenly divided on most issues but not necessarily at loggerheads. With Lehman frequently siding with lawyer Kristi Markey and Seaside fire Capt. Alvin Edwards, veteran board member Dave Potter could become the swing vote. He has shown that he's capable of siding with the environmentalists and development interests alike, depending on the issue.

....

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