Politics & Government

Election for Rancho California Water District Board Begins

Candidates are vying for five seats on the seven-person board of directors. The election is vote-by-mail only, but early voting can be done at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office.

The Riverside County Registrar of Voters Office on Monday began mailing out approximately 66,000 vote-by-mail ballots to customers of Rancho California Water District in Murrieta, Temecula and unincorporated areas of southwest Riverside County.

The ballot lists candidates for the board of directors and should arrive in mailboxes by the end of the week for the Aug. 27 election, according to a news release. 

The election is not countywide and applies only to RCWD customers. As such, there will be no established polling places.

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There are five seats available on the seven-person board of directors, with four of those for four-year terms and one for a two-year term.

Rancho California Water District serves the City of Temecula as well as portions of Murrieta that include Bear Creek and Copper Canyon, a portion of The Colony, businesses in the Target Shopping Center on California Oaks Road and nearby apartment complexes, RCWD spokeswoman Meggan Valencia told Patch Monday.

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Unincorporated areas such as La Cresta, De Luz, and Temecula Wine Country also receive their water from Rancho California Water District.

Incumbents seeking re-election for four-year terms are: Stephen Corona, Bennett Drake, John Hoagland and William Plummer.

Challengers seeking election to a four-year term are: Everton Cope, James Fredette, Larry Libeu, John Reddick, Kory Roberts and Franco Vessia.

Larry Libeu, who previously served on the board but not within the last four years, is also seeking a four-year term.

Vying for the two-year term are incumbent Roland Skumawitz and newcomer Roger Ziemer. The shorter term is due to Skumawitz being appointed to the board following a conflict of interest by the person who was initially elected, Valencia said.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the postal service or deposited in the 24-hour drop box located outside the main entrance of the registrar’s office at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside. 

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office began Monday and runs through Aug. 27, Monday through Friday (excluding county holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Completed ballots must be received by the Registrar of Voters office by 8 p.m. on Aug. 27 to be counted.

The Registrar’s office can be reached at 951-486-7200 with any questions.


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