November 2024 Election
Four candidates are running for two four-year seats on the SLVWD Board in the election being held this November 5, 2024. FSLVW believes that it is important for voters to know more about these candidates’ unique perspectives than can be gleaned purely from campaign material. To this end, FSLVW has developed questions about five key issues currently facing SLVWD and is publishing the candidates’ individual responses below.
NOTE: The candidates are listed in alphabetical order (by last name), and their responses are published verbatim. Two candidates did not respond to our request to participate.
NOTE: FSLVW, as an organization, takes no position with regard to any candidate running for the Board (or seeking an interim appointment to the Board). There are two key reasons for this:
FSLVW is a strictly nonpartisan organization. Its mission is to serve the SLV as a reliable source of accurate information and in-depth analysis concerning local, water-related issues. FSLVW sometimes advocates for a specific course of action, but it never advocates for or against individual candidates or Board members.
FSLVW works to build positive relationships and to engage in constructive dialogue with all Board members. Taking positions for or against specific individuals would be detrimental to this goal.
Individual FSLVW members are free to privately campaign for specific candidates, but any member who chooses to do so is prohibited from participating in any election-related FSLVW activities. This ensures that neither the questions nor any aspect of their presentation is influenced by anyone actively involved in campaigning.
More generally, individual FSLVW members are free to voice their personal opinions in public forums, but they strive to make a clear distinction between speaking on their own behalf and speaking on behalf of FSLVW. All material on this website is FSLVW-approved for public release.
Voters seeking additional information about the four candidates may wish to consult their respective websites:
Bruce Holloway (No website)
SLVWD Board of Directors Candidate Questionnaire
2024
1. What qualifications and experiences (e.g., education, professional background, relevant technical expertise, experience with collaborative decision making, etc.) do you bring to the SLV Water District Board of Directors? How many hours per month do you expect to commit to this role?
Bruce Holloway (No response)
Bill Smallman (No response)
2. Please list in order of importance the top three issues you would prioritize as a member of the Board, and briefly explain why.
Bruce Holloway (No response)
Bill Smallman (No response)
3. The District is experiencing extraordinary difficulty in attracting and retaining highly qualified senior staff. How do you think the District should address these staffing challenges?
Bruce Holloway (No response)
Bill Smallman (No response)
4. The District enacted a new rate structure in the spring of 2024, but Measure U seeks to repeal portions of the new rate and to restrict further increases in the base rate to 2% per year. What is your view of Measure U?
Bruce Holloway (No response)
Bill Smallman (No response)
5. What responsibilities and challenges do you see for the District in working with neighboring water districts/companies such as Bracken Brae, Forest Springs, Big Basin, Scotts Valley, the City of Santa Cruz, and Soquel Creek and organizations such as the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency?
Bruce Holloway (No response)
Bill Smallman (No response)