Cruz takes on Kennedy for water board seat, Harris battles Ritchie for judge
Published in the Sept. 3-16, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Tom Cruz
My name is Tom Cruz and I am running for the water district board representing the South County community.
As the son of a retired veteran, I was raised in a military environment with a high expectation of integrity. I attended college on a U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship studying electrical engineering and physics. I simultaneously became a licensed financial representative through the Securities and Exchange Commission. I subsequently became a financial consultant. My financial experience allows me to understand the water district’s detailed budgets, financial reports and investments.
Combining my educational and work experience background in science and finance, I am able to apply these skills to the water district projects such as the seismic retrofit to Anderson Dam, water treatment processes and groundwater management systems.
After a financial career, I chose to devote my energy toward being a public servant. I have been working at the County of Santa Clara for the past seven years and I am proud to be serving our community. As a resident of District 1 for almost 20 years, I have seen how the water district has used our taxpayer funds.
If elected, I will provide stringent oversight of the taxpayer funded budget and ensure that the water district uses our funds conservatively, wisely and on programs that directly support South County.
The drought that we are experiencing is one of the worst this community has experienced. I will push for aggressive water conservation strategies, enhanced rebates and focus on the need to increase distribution of recycled water to our community.
Furthermore, solutions to water loss problems in our water distribution systems also need immediate action due to pipeline water leakage. I will advocate for cost effective methods to end this problem quickly. I will ensure that the 15-year taxpayer funded Safe Clean Water projects be closely monitored so that the water district carries out what they promised within the timelines and budget they guaranteed.
I will also ensure seismic retro-fit projects are completed to protect South County dams and reservoirs as guaranteed and advocate for effective groundwater management for the community and agricultural businesses.
To learn more about me and all of my priorities and how I will serve you, I invite you to visit my website at www.votetomcruz.com or view and follow me on my Facebook page at Vote Tom Cruz. I would be honored to earn your vote.
By Dennis Kennedy
It seems like it’s been years since I was appointed to fill the vacant District 1 seat on the board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. So much has happened in the year and a half that I have served on the board: the worst three-year drought in recorded history, approval of the EIR and 90 percent design drawings for the Upper Llagas Creek flood control project, initiation of the Anderson Dam seismic retrofit project, representing our county on the board of the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority, the Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority, meeting with many of our local agriculturists, the Mariani’s, the Chiala’s, and other ranchers and farmers, as we all the struggle to survive the loss of surface water being pumped from San Luis Reservoir.
It didn’t take long for me to discover that this is a good fit for me, with a strong background as a professional engineer with water treatment experience. As an engineer and manager for IBM and the Parsons Company, I’ve worked on numerous water projects, serving as chairman of the South County Regional Waste Water Authority, where we installed one of the most productive recycled water systems in Santa Clara County. I give credit to my predecessors for building the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, which recycles waste water from San Jose and Santa Clara and brings it up to drinking water quality.
Although I am just one vote on the seven member board, I have been able to use my experience as mayor, as a VTA board member, as chairman of the Santa Clara County Cities Association and other leadership roles to build consensus on the board and to lead voting on many critical issues.
So, just to be clear, my life is not all about the water district. I am a single parent with an adult son, Matthew, who lives in Los Angeles. We communicate almost daily. I love him. I also love the water. I have a water-ski boat and love swimming. I am also active in various nonprofits including Morgan Hill Sister Cities, the Silicon Valley Land Conservancy, and the Morgan Hill Aquatic Foundation.
As we face this drought, we all must do our part. If elected, I will continue to do my best to serve you.
By Diane Richie
As a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge, a former District Attorney, and a former civil attorney in private practice, the experience I bring to the bench is vast and unique. As a District Attorney for three and a half years, I prosecuted cases including child molest.
As an attorney in private practice I brought a case in Morgan Hill to prevent students from being harassed based on sexual orientation. The students had been subject to violence and death threats. We settled the case for a complete change in policy, ensuring these kids the same rights as every other student. The result was lauded nationally.
My work as a mediator led me to become a judge. People need trustworthy individuals to help resolve their cases. I decided to become a judge based on the encouragement of other judges familiar with my work.
As a criminal law judge, I’ve presided over thousands of criminal cases including, domestic violence, gang, child abuse, rape, and other violent crimes. I have given severe sentences to convicted criminals designed to cause real changes in behaviour.
As a civil trial judge, I preside over cases, including high-tech, business disputes, personal injury, toxics, real estate, investment, probate, breach of contract, and fraud. I settle over one-third of these without trials. In court, I am fair and impartial. I know the law and have never had a conviction or judgment reversed on appeal. I spent two years as a judge in South County.
For more information, visit www.isupportjudgeritchie.com/index.html or at [email protected].
By Matt Harris
For almost 23 years, I have served the public as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County. In addition to prosecuting violent crimes including homicides, sexual assaults, and gangs, I also served as a “community prosecutor,” developing projects to reduce crime in neighborhoods. I was later cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney where I worked in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood, a special program targeting gun crime. Prior to beginning my career as a prosecutor and just after graduating from Notre Dame Law School, I worked as a civil litigation associate.
The best prosecutors have many life experiences and empathy for people of all backgrounds. The best judges have the same qualities. As a judge, I will provide fair and impartial decisions on all matters before me. I will make my decisions based solely on the law and the facts to ensure that everyone has their day in court. I will be a judge that residents can be proud of.
It is rewarding to have spent my time focused on the important goal of making the county a safe place to live, work and raise a family. I have volunteered as a youth sports coach for many years and my wife and I are proud to raise our two sons here. I am grateful to have the support of 27 judges (cur / ret), Mayor Steve Tate and the Morgan Hill Police Officer’s Association. Please read more about me on my website: www.MatthewHarrisforJudge.com.
