Four candidates are running for three director seats on the Scotts Valley Water District board, according to Santa Cruz Local and Ballotpedia. The district serves about 10,700 people through 4,200 service connections. It was established in 1961, and all of its drinking water comes from the local Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin.
The candidates
- Bill Jager, 73, is a retired business executive. He is a former Scotts Valley representative on the county's COVID-19 recovery task force. His platform centers on groundwater sustainability, infrastructure, rate transparency and regional interties.
- Brody Knutson, 41, is a water operations manager who worked at the district for nearly 10 years. His priorities are managing high water pressure, adding storage for fire protection and securing long-term supply.
- Ruth Stiles, 69, is a consulting arborist and the current board president, with 10 years on the board. She points to a new intertie pipeline with Santa Cruz that will let the district rest its wells in winter.
- Brian Youmans, 30, works in the City of Scotts Valley's parks and recreation division. He says he wants the district's spending and projects to be easier for residents to follow.
The big issue
Stiles told Santa Cruz Local that the intertie was mostly paid for with a $10 million grant and was due to start operating this fall. Several candidates also mentioned the new Grace Way Well and the planned Bethany Tank replacement.
This explainer is based on official candidate lists and published reporting. It does not endorse anyone.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.