President of Nipomo CSD applies for Teixeira's supervisor seat

James Harrison, president of the Nipomo Community Services District, has applied to be appointed to serve the remainder of the term of the late San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Paul Teixeira.

Harrison, 69, is a retired division chief for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. He was elected to the Community Services District in 2006 and has served there ever since. He has been president for the past five years.

He cites as accomplishments the district’s $13 million sewer upgrade that is underway and a $17 million supplemental water project that is set to start construction.

One of the big issues facing the Board of Supervisors is the Paso Robles groundwater basin crisis. He said he has had experience dealing with a similar problem on the Nipomo Mesa.

“I believe that there are many issues facing the board at this time,” he said. “One is an adequate supply of water for all the citizens of the county.”

He is also a member of the South County Advisory Council and the SLO County Fire Safe Council, and he is a board member of Ride Nipomo, an equestrian and trails advocacy group.

Harrison is the fifth person to announce that he or she has applied for the vacant supervisory seat. The others are Mike Winn of Nipomo and Arroyo Grande residents Caren Ray, Michael Byrd and Mark Millis.

Others may have applied to Gov. Jerry Brown, but his office will not reveal the number of applicants or their names. No timeline has been set for filling the seat, the term of which expires at the end of 2014.

This story was originally published August 23, 2013 at 6:36 PM with the headline "President of Nipomo CSD applies for Teixeira's supervisor seat."