San Diego LAFCO
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The Special Districts Advisory Committee was created in August 1971 by San Diego LAFCO and consists of 16 members collectively drawn from the 57 independent special districts in San Diego County. Members serve four-year terms and are appointed by the independent special districts through an election process administered by LAFCO staff. Committee rules also allow the Committee Chair to appoint members to fill unexpired terms as needed. The Committee is tasked with providing feedback – including recommendations – on germane topics to assist LAFCO in fulfilling its regulatory and planning functions. The Committee meets quarterly with its current roster provided below.
Ms. Thorner began her tenure with Olivenhain MWD in October 1996 and was unanimously selected by the Board of Directors to become OMWD’s fourth general manager beginning January 1, 2007. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado (Boulder) and a juris doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. She is a licensed attorney in the State of California and is certified as a Special District Administrator by the Special District Leadership Foundation. Currently, Ms. Thorner serves as Chair of the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission’s Special Districts Advisory Committee, member of the San Diego Integrated Regional Water Management Regional Advisory Committee, and is on her fifth term as a member of the Association of California Water Agencies Federal Affairs Committee. Previously, Ms. Thorner served as Project Manager for the David C. McCollom Water Treatment Plant, member of the American Membrane Technology Association’s board of directors, and as a state and federal registered lobbyist. She resides in Carlsbad with her two daughters and serves on several local community and non-profit boards. Ms. Thorner's current term ends on October 2023.
Mr. Bebee is a civil engineer with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Washington and Lee University. He also holds two master’s degrees: one in civil engineering from University of Illinois and another in business administration from Cal State University San Marcos. He has been with the Fallbrook PUD 10 years and came from the private sector. He was hired as a consulting engineer working for Malcolm Pirnie (now Arcadis), an environmental engineering company with a primary focus in water and wastewater, where he managed large-facility treatment projects. Mr. Bebee was the lead in the job to begin the state-of-the-art process of using ultraviolet light to disinfect the water in Red Mountain Reservoir, the district’s 440-million-gallon reservoir. Mr. Bebee's current term ends on October 2023.
Ann Baldridge is the Executive Director of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County and the Vice President of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County. She joined the RCD in 2012, and throughout her time at the RCD, Ann has led and developed many of the agency’s programs and projects before becoming the Executive Director in December 2021. The RCD’s work focuses on the protection and conservation of our area’s precious natural resources. We collaborate with private landowners, communities, non-profits, schools, local, state and federal agencies, and other RCDs to implement programs that address wildfire risk reduction and forest health, improve pollinator habitat, and support youth and adult education. We also manage two community gardens and an educational farm, and provide technical assistance on soil health and climate-smart agriculture to farmers and ranchers. Ann holds a BA in Psychology from UC Davis and a Master’s degree in Environmental Psychology from the University of Surrey (UK). Ann's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. Bushee has been with the Leucadia Wastewater District since 2003 and began serving as its General Manager in late 2004. Prior to Leucadia, he worked for the Encina Wastewater Authority for 13 years, serving in various capacities and concluding as the Authority’s Capital Program Manager.
Mr. Bushee has been active with several statewide organizations and served as President of the California Association of Sanitation Agency’s Board of Directors in 2018 and as President of the California Sanitation Risk Management Authority’s Board of Directors from 2014 to 2018. Mr. Bushee holds a B.S. Degree in Resource Economics and a M.S. Degree in Environmental Management. He and his wife reside in San Marcos and have three adult daughters. Mr. Bushee's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. Gordon retired in 2014 after a successful international consulting career and is serving his second term (till 2022) as a Director of the Deer Springs Fire Protection District. Mr. Gordon’s professional career includes more than 30 years of experience and expertise advising clients faced with complex high stakes business disputes, litigation and investigations, especially in cross-border matters. Mr. Gordon has served as a consulting and testifying expert as well as a third-party neutral in a diverse range of business and discovery disputes involving many billions of dollars.
Prior to moving to San Diego in 2013, Mr. Gordon was based in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2012 as Managing Partner for a global NYSE listed expert services and consulting firm. Mr. Gordon's work in Asia included leading special committee forensic investigations for Boards of U.S. listed Chinese companies; cross-border discovery; allegations of business fraud; undisclosed related third party asset transfers and matters relating to allegations of foreign corporate corrupt practices. Mr. Gordon's current term ends on October 2023.
Diane Hansen, CPA, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Palomar Health. With almost 20 years’ experience in the healthcare industry, Diane has held positions in the for-profit, not-for-profit, and governmental acute care hospitals in both academic and community medical centers. Diane brings a deep breadth of knowledge in strategic financial planning and management, capital formation, as well as high-performing revenue cycle teams to Palomar Health. Under her executive leadership of the largest hospital district in California, Palomar Medical Center Escondido—Palomar Health’s anchor hospital—earned the titles of “Best Regional Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report, “World's Best Hospitals” by Newsweek and “America's 250 Best Hospitals” by Healthgrades.
Diane serves on the executive committee and board for the California Hospital Association, as well as serves as Treasurer for the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties. She most recently joined the Conference Board’s Committee for Economic Development (CED). Since its inception in 1942, CED has addressed national priorities that promote sustained economic growth and development to benefit all Americans.
Recognized for her achievements at Palomar Health, Diane received the title of CEO of the Year in 2021 by The Association of California Healthcare Districts for her leadership and efforts in positively benefiting the district and community. The San Diego Business Journal also named her Women Leader of the Year for her dynamic contribution to the San Diego workplace. Diane is a licensed CPA and graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Diane's current term ends on October 2024.
This position is currently vacant.
Mr. Lau has served as the General Manager for Santa Fe Irrigation District since January, 2019. Mr. Lau holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Cal Poly Pomona, a master's in civil engineering from the University of Colorado (Boulder), and an MBA from San Diego State University. Mr. Lau has over 25 years of experience in the water/wastewater industry. Previously, Mr. Lau served as Director of Engineering and Planning at Padre Dam MWD, where he was responsible for planning, engineering, capital improvements, and contract negotiations. Mr. Lau also oversaw the East County Advanced Water Purification Program, a new local and reliable water supply project for East San Diego County. Prior to Padre Dam, Mr. Lau worked at various private engineering consulting firms focus on water and wastewater projects. Mr. Lau also serves on the American Society of Civil Engineers, region 9, Water and Environment Committee, member of the San Diego Integrated Regional Water Management Regional Advisory Committee. He was a member of the Advisory Group on Feasibility of Developing Criteria for Direct Potable Reuse and served as the vice-chair for the Technical Advisory Committee for the Metro Wastewater JPA. Mr. Lau's current term ends on October 2023.
Mr. Martinez is a civil engineer with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. He holds two master’s degrees: one in Management and the other in Public Administration from National University. He is a U.S. Army Water Treatment Specialist veteran and Green Housing Development business owner. He has served on the South Bay Irrigation District Board of Directors since 2018. He was the South Bay Irrigation District Vice President in 2019 and President in 2020. He is a member of the Sweetwater Authority and was appointed its Chair in 2021. Mr. Martinez's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. McQuead is the Fire Chief for the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District (RSFFPD) as of December of 2021. He has been with the RSFFPD since 2003 with 19 years of fire service experience. Mr. McQuead has an Associate’s in Fire Science from Rio Hondo and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University. Mr. McQuead's current term ends on October 2023.
Mr. Miller has served on the Vista Irrigation District (VID) Board of Directors since 2008, leading the Board as its President in 2013 and 2017. At VID, he has been on every Committee, serving as Chair of the Water Sustainability, Fiscal Policy, Public Affairs, and Warner Ranch committees. Miller has represented VID on the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) Board of Directors since 2011, and has served on the CWA Engineering & Operations (E & O) Committee his entire tenure; he served as the Committee Chair in 2016, 2019 and 2020. As a CWA Board member, Miller also serves on the Legislation & Public Outreach Committee and the San Vicente Project Negotiations Work Group. He has completed the California Special Districts Association’s Special District Leadership Academy; Miller is also an active member of the Association of California Water Agencies Energy Committee. Miller owned a general construction company for 40+ years; he graduated from the College of Southern Idaho, is a member and former President of the Vista Optimist Club and a member of the Board of Directors for the Rancho Buena Vista Little League. Mr. Miller's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. Robak was first elected to Divison 5 of the Board of Directors of Otay Water District in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, 2012 & 2016. He has fought to keep rates fair and costs under control. He is also a commissioner of the Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority for the past 15 years. Mr. Robak has been a commercial real estate broker since 1990 (30 years). Mr. Robak's current term ends on October 2023.
Mr. Scalzitti is the Division 5 Director of Helix WD. He represents the Board on: Chair of Helix Water Quality and Resources Committee, Vice Chair of Helix Parks, Land, Lakes and Garden Committee, Helix Advanced Water Purification Ad Hoc Committee, San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors, SDCWA Audit Committee, SDCWA Engineering Committee, SDCWA Imported Water Committee, Urban Water Institute, WateReuse Association San Diego Chapter, Council of Water Utilities, Cleantech San Diego and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Scalzitti is the alternate representative to the Helix Engineering and Operations Committee. Mr. Scalzitti's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. Sims has been Fire Chief for the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Protection District since January of 2019. He has 30 years of fire service experience with 25 of those years being at the BSFPD.
Mike was the President of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association’s Training Section for three years and is now the County Chiefs liaison to that Section, as well as a member of the Executive Board for the County Chiefs.
With an AS Degree in Fire Science from Miramar College and a BA Degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern, Mike has been a lifelong learner. In addition, Mike has always had a keen interest in local politics and how they effect Special Districts. These have been the driving forces behind his involvement with this LAFCO Advisory Committee. Mr. Sims's current term ends on October 2023.
Mr. Smith was elected 3 times to the Board of Directors of the Valley Center Fire Protection District, serving from 2007 to 2018 where he served as Board Secretary. After overseeing the transformation of the VCFPD to a locally staffed and operated agency, he was then elected to the Board of Directors of the Valley Center Municipal Water District in 2018. His combined governance and policy experience has given him an in-depth understanding of how to provide cost effective critical services and fiduciary oversight for Valley Center’s fire and water independent special districts.
Oliver’s diverse public background also includes serving on the Valley Center Community Planning Group, a public advisory group to the County of San Diego for land planning issues in the Valley Center area. He was first appointed, then elected 3 times from 2005 to 2020, serving as its Chair for the last 12 years of his tenure. Mr. Smith's current term ends on October 2024.
Mr. Egkan was elected to the Board of Directors of the North County Fire Protection District in 2020. He presently serves as Vice President of the Board.
Mr. Egkan retired after a thirty-three-year career with the United Parcel Service. He and his wife currently own and operate a wedding/event venue in Big Bear, California. They have three children and many grandchildren. Mr. Egkan has lived in Fallbrook for seven years and has lived in San Diego County for twenty-five years. Mr. Egkan's current term ends on October 2024.