Candidates lay platform and plans during board forum

Three of the four candidates in the run to fill the current vacancy on the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors shared their perspective and priorities during a candidates forum Thursday night.

The topics covered during the forum touched on the Salton Sea, unions, effects of the water transfer and other issues during the 90-minute forum.

One of the most covered topics during the discussion was the Salton Sea including the candidate’s perspective as well as their opinion of the plan the California Natural Resources Agency released in March.

Ed Snively a retired real estate agent was the first to address the matter, he stated he wasn’t satisfied with the ambiguity of the plan and the lack of a continuing method of funding and noted he has been speaking with residents living near the sea to get their perspective on the issue.

Blake Miles who is currently a teacher said the Salton Sea was the main reason for him to run. He pointed out that the current state’s plan doesn’t have a tourism and economic development in it. Miles said the Salton Sea used to be the second biggest tourism destination in the state and believes a revival of the sea can help in the environmental and economic aspect.

On the other hand, Juanita Salas who currently serves as an Imperial Valley College trustee, said the health concern are her priority, she feels the current plan by the state is a good start but noted that even if the state allocates the $400 million in funding it would not be enough to make a dent. She also supported the continuing joint efforts with the county to put pressure on the state.

A question brought forward by the public dealt with the candidates’ view on the role of unions for IID workers, although the three candidates support the role of the unions as a bargaining tool for the workers, Miles said he would only like to see a single union represent workers for a company or agency, he said balance is essential to avoid unions for elevating wages to a point where rate hikes would be needed.

Snively said he recognized the fact that unions represent a fact of life in California and said that the worker’s ability to be part of the labor unions appears to be working just fine. Salas said her family has a long tradition of being part of the United Farm Workers and noted that if it weren’t for the union she wouldn’t be able to get to where she is now.

Other issues in which the candidates mostly agreed on were on the IID’s decision to put a stop to the Net Energy Metering program once subscriptions for it surpassed the mandated 50 megawatt cap for the program, the IID’s legal actions taken against the California Independent System Operator for using IID’s system to transfer electricity without proper authorization, the end of fallowing program this summer and were in favor of the IID’s ability to use funds from the water transfer to be used for the water department.

The candidates shared a different view on other issues such as California’s Drought Contingency plan. Miles said he was opposed to taking part in water conservation mandates set by the state when its water comes from the Colorado River.

Salas said that even though the rain and snow from this past winter were very beneficial to the state’s reservoirs, she believes IID should be involved and look into the role they can play in such efforts.

On a similar note, Snively said it is a sensitive issue and thinks the IID should be at the table when those discussions take place to voice their perspective.

A submitted question by a member of the public asked the candidates whether they believed the IID should ensure the water in their canals should meet drinking water standards especially for outlying communities who don’t get the clean water from the cities.

Salas said her biggest concern were those who don’t have access to the water from the cities, while both Miles and Snively disagreed and said the IID is not in the business of selling potable water.

The Coalition for Labor, Agriculture and Business and the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association organized the candidates’ forum and is the only one that was scheduled ahead of the June 6 election.

Tony Gallegos, who is also in the running, was not in attendance at the forum due to a conflict of schedule.

The IID Division 1 seat became open in January after former board member Matt Dessert left the IID to take the Air Pollution Control Officer position with the County of Imperial.