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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Voters to decide on changing CSD representation
Measure S calls for CSD directors to represent areas
By Cameron Macdonald
Staff Writer
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For the first time, Galt voters will get to choose candidates for the Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD) board this November.
They will also vote on a measure that proposes to change the way that CSD directors represent their district.
Measure S calls for directors to represent a specific area while being elected district wide. If it passes, the changes would occur for the November 2010 election. The directors currently do not represent any area besides the district at large.
The CSD board voted to place the measure on this November’s ballot during their April 16 meeting.
CSD spokesperson Steve Capps said that the measure came from one of the election options raised when a study was conducted on the proposed Elk Grove-Galt fire district merger in 2006.
“The board looked at those and decided to put the question before voters,” he said.
More interest in Measure S’s proposal arose when the opportunity for Galt residents getting elected to the CSD in 2008 became possible.
If elected, a Galt-based director would make decisions that affect fire services for Galt and Elk Grove, along with Elk Grove’s parks and recreation programs.
Under Measure S, the CSD directors would determine the new geographical areas that they would each represent. Capps noted that each area has to be equally populated.
When the new areas are set, the board then assigns a director to represent each of them even if he or she does not live in that area. When a director’s term expires, he or she can run for reelection in his or her home area.
The CSD board chose to have voters decide on this system rather than the option where voters would only elect directors within his or her represented area.
A few directors were worried about possible conflicts of interest and favoritism.
“(This) makes it, in my judgment, too easy to buy an election,” CSD Director Gil Albiani said during the April 16 CSD board meeting.
One Galt-based candidate has filed for the CSD board election so far.
Candidate Guy Rutter was a member of the former Galt Fire Protection District and now serves on the committee that advises the CSD on fire services for Galt.
The committee plans to dissolve at the end of this year as part of the fire district merger agreement.
The rest of the CSD candidates are based in Elk Grove, including incumbent Albiani and challengers Jimmie Johnson, Sandi Russell and Michelle Orrock.
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