SLO County CSD board needs candidates as key decisions loom
The Templeton Community Services District is encouraging residents to consider running for two Board of Directors seats that will appear on the November ballot as the district prepares to address several major infrastructure and service challenges in the coming years.
The Board of Directors oversees water, wastewater, fire and emergency services, parks and recreation, solid waste services, and some street lighting and drainage services within Templeton.
According to TCSD general manager Jeff Briltz, recent election cycles have highlighted the challenges some local agencies face in attracting candidates for public service roles.
“Some election cycles there have been strong interest and a number of candidates,” Briltz said in an email to The Tribune. “But for about half of the recent election cycles, there have been the same number of candidates as open seats, so no election was actually held.”
Briltz said the district faced additional recruitment challenges during the 2024 election cycle, when fewer candidates filed than there were available seats.
“We needed to recruit additional interested residents after the nomination period, and the county Board of Supervisors made an appointment based on the TCSD Board of Directors recommendation for that additional seat,” Briltz said.
Briltz said the next board will likely face several significant issues, including balancing funding for fire and emergency services with rising operational costs, complying with a recently issued waste discharge permit requiring upgrades to the district’s wastewater treatment facility, and implementing the planned Nacimiento Recharge and Recovery Project intended to expand the district’s water supply.
He said prospective board members should be willing to collaborate and engage with residents.
“Interest in serving the community, willingness to work with fellow board members on developing solutions collaboratively, and being open and listening to constituents are the type of qualities that make good board member,” Briltz said.
Briltz said serving on the board gives residents an opportunity to directly influence decisions affecting daily life in Templeton.
“Board members make decisions that impact the day-to-day lives of Templeton residents, including setting rates charged for utilities,” Briltz said.
The seats currently held by board members Wayne Peterson and Eric Mortensen will be up for election this year. Briltz said he did not know whether either incumbent plans to seek reelection.
Candidate filing information and election details are available through the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office and Templeton Community Services District.