Letter: Why did supervisor vote against holding water board election? 

To the editor,

–On Nov.10th, District 5 Supervisor Debbie Arnold voted against holding elections to create and fund a water district in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (PRGWB). She did this in spite of state law that requires these elections, and she did this after the county clerk told her that he is required to hold these elections even without the supervisors’ authorization.

Supervisor Arnold’s reasons for denying us the right to vote? She stated there is just “too much confusion here.” What? Given her time on the board and her access to county staff, it’s hard to understand how she can still be bewildered about an issue of such importance to the future of our entire county. And, because she’s baffled, she assumes we simple tax payers don’t or can’t understand it either?

Yes, the groundwater issue is complex, but the facts are not confusing. State legislation and following the Local Formation Advisory Committee’s (LAFCO) actions pursuant to that legislation is the law. Supervisor Arnold choosing to not understand or to ignore that is not good leadership. And denying us our rights because we might not understand the issue is just insulting.

-Santa Margarita resident Kathleen Douglass