"Democracy Is Messy" *

by Jessica Duboff

* Quote from Francine Diamond, Regional Water Resources Control Board

This morning in Simi Valley, a little known, but very important board met to choose their leadership for the coming year. The  Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) protects ground and surface water quality in the Los Angeles Region, including the coastal watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Their decisions on permitting, compliance and enforcement affect 10 million California residents.

The Chamber was there to join Glen Becerra, Councilman from Simi Valley and member of BizFed, in a statement encourging the Board to choose their new leadership with well established business and governmental principles in mind, as well as a transparent process and priorites influenced not by ideology, but by facts and economic realities.

The nomination committee had deadlocked on a recommendation; the battle was between an environmental faction that urged the nomination of current Vice-Chair Madelyn Glickfeld (filling the Recreation, Fish & Wildlife seat) and a moderate faction that endorsed Steve Blois (serving in the Industrial Water seat). The two sides argued over whether there was an understood and accepted precedent for the Vice-Chair to automatically succeed the outgoing Chair. With only 6 members currently appointed to what should be a 9 member board, the first round of voting deadlocked with the final deciding vote going to the brand new member.

Refusing to take public comment until after the Board had made a decision, more debate ensued, followed by the same deadlocked result. At that point, Ms. Glickfeld made a motion to nominate an Interim Chair until a new member is appointed to the Board.

While still without a permanent decision, the public comment praised the debate and process that had taken place in the public sphere, not deals cut behind closed doors. The Chamber committed to a deeper engagement with the Board on water quality issues that affect the business community and quality of life in the region.

We also hope Governor Brown selects quality candidates in the near future for the regional RWQCB. Leadership debates are entertaining for one morning, but dont make for good, dependable policy.