Candidates file for water board seats

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Six people have filed nomination papers to run for the

Mesa Consolidated Water District Board of Trustees this November, three

of whom are incumbents.

Positions are opening in three districts as directors Fred Bockmiller,

Dana Haynes and Trudy Ohlig-Hall end their terms.

Bockmiller, in Division 1, is the only incumbent running unopposed.

Division 1 covers the area south of Wilson Street, west of Harbor

Boulevard and east of the Santa Ana River.

Three candidates -- Rod Black, Paul Shoenberger and Ted Crisell -- are

running for Haynes’ Division 2 seat.

Haynes has chosen not to run for a second term. The division is

bordered by the Santa Ana River, Wilson Street, Harbor Boulevard and

Gisler Avenue.

Shoenberger is the chief of engineering and operations for West

Central Basin Municipal Water Districts in Los Angeles County.

“I knew the incumbent was not running and I have an interest in the

water industry, being in it,” he said. “I want to work with Costa Mesa to

provide good quality water at a low price.”

Crisell, who is also the Democratic candidate for the 45th

Congressional District, said he is running for the water district

position because of his concern for the natural environment.

“This is a way for me to express my concern about environmental issues

relating to water,” he said. “Water is a concern for everybody. I’m not a

politician. I’m just tired of sitting at home watching television and not

doing anything. I’m ready to step in and speak out.”

Crisell, a business consultant who grew up in Costa Mesa, said he

plans to be accessible if he is elected. If he wins both the

congressional race and the water district race, he plans to hold both

offices.

“I am just a regular guy sick and tired of hearing about corruption in

politics and I think we’ve got to take back our government,” he said.

“I’m tired of automatic computerized messages, recordings and forms. I

will personally talk to people and give out my home phone number if I’m

elected.”

Black and Schoenberger were unavailable for comment at press time.

Ohlig-Hall, the first and only woman on the board, faces one

challenger in Division 3, which encompasses the northern part of the

city.

Richard Pascoe, a computer technology business owner, has applied to

run against Ohlig-Hall.

“I recently purchased a house in Costa Mesa and always wanted to be

active in the community,” Pascoe said. “My college background is in water

chemistry and aqua biology, so I thought I would be able to provide

useful information and get involved in the community. I haven’t been

sufficiently involved to see what needs to be changed, but there’s always

room for improvement no matter where you stand.”

Ohlig-Hall, running for her fourth term, said she thinks experience

will give her an edge over Pascoe.

“The water industry is very complicated and I think there are just too

many irons in the fire right now for someone new,” she said. “In any job,

you need experience and I think I have that.”