Orchard Dale Water Board candidates
Octavio “Toby” Chavez
Age: 74
Occupation: Retired postal manager
Public offices held: South Whittier School Board, 1985-89, 1997-2001
Whittier Union High School District, 1989-93,
Family: Married with three children
Education: Associated of science degree from L.A. Trade Tech
H.C. “Hal” Estabrook
Age: 85
Occupation: Retired purchasing director
Public offices held: Member of the Orchard Dale Water Board since 2002
Family: Married with two children
Education: Attended Ithaca College
Bob Noonan
Age: 82
Occupation: Retired insurance brokoer
Public offices held: Member of Orchard Dale Water Board, 1993-present
Family: Married with five children
Education: Attended University of San Francisco
Joseph Velasco III
Age: 43
Occupation: Employment representative with the state of California
Public offices held: Member of the Orchard Dale Water Board since February 2008
Family: Married with two children
Education: Attended University of Southern California
SOUTH WHITTIER This year’s Nov. 5 election for three seats on the Orchard Dale Water District Board of Directors has the feel of deja vu from four years ago.
Incumbents H.C. “Hal” Estabrook, 85, Bob Noonan, 82, and Joseph Velasco III, 43, were challenged then by two challengers — one of whom was Octavio “Toby” Chavez. 74.
And this year, those are the four candidates in 2013 for this district that has 4,200 customers and serves water to about 20,000 people.
The issues also aren’t much different.
The three incumbents say the district is doing a good job and Chavez, a former school board member, said he has the experience to contribute.
“It’s the incumbents who understand the issues,” said Velasco.
“We spend countless hours discussing how we can save the district and ultimately our customers’ money,” Velasco said. “As president, under my management team, we’ve saved the district $100,000 in spending and in staffing.”
Noonan cites his 19 years on the board.
“I was instrumental in the construction of a new office and the building of a new reservoir,” he said. “In the next four years, I want to be part of the redoing the master plan to remodel a 50-year-old water system.”
Estabrook said the district is in good shape financially.
“We’ve set aside in excess of $1 million for infrastructure,” he said.
The board also works well together, Estabrook said.
“We’ve got a combination of seniors and juniors on the board,” he said referring to the age. Two are under 50 and three are over 65.
Chavez said he brings his experience of involvement in the community, including eight years on school boards and his time with the Whittier Coordinating Council, where he’s now vice president.
“I have a little free time and I’m willing to contribute, serve and hopefully improve and help the district,” he said.
Chavez also said he has some new ideas.
“I think they should consider figuring a way to use recycled water,” he said. “It’s a little cheaper for landscaping.”
Estabrook said the district has looked into bringing reclaimed wastewater to Orchard Dale.
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