Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
North Fresno Water District Reverses Course, Rejects Nominee for Vacant Board Seat
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
March 2, 2021

Share

Amanda Castro entered the Pinedale County Water District happy on Monday, perhaps a smile hidden behind her mask. A vote to appoint her to a vacant seat on the board seemed like a formality.

After all, she received a 4-0 vote last week from the board. But, because of a problem with her voter registration, the board had to vote again. Its decision last week was invalid. Although she lives in the district, a requirement to be appointed, her voter registration address did not match her actual residence address.

Amanda Castro

Castro fixed the problem and the board was set to vote again.

But, the board split 2-2 in its latest vote on Monday night regarding Castro’s appointment. It failed as a result, and the board seat remains vacant.

“That was a fault of my own, that I’m willing to acknowledge that I should have been more on top of what was in my control,” Castro said after the meeting. “I was a little shocked and disappointed that it didn’t happen, but overall, it was a good learning experience.”

Two Directors Change Votes

Board directors David Rodriguez and Brad Peranick changed their votes from last week. Both offered no comment when asked why.

Director Tyler Mackey expressed his frustration during his comments.

“The only thing that changed in the room was politics,” Mackey said. He referred to a GV Wire story last week about the vacancy and transparency in the district. “I’m deeply disappointed and troubled that and with no change in the world, something changed in the room.”

Zach Baroni, who won an uncontested election for the seat last November, apologized to his colleagues. Last week, he joyously tweeted that with Castro on board, “progressives” now have a majority. He called it a “rookie mistake.”

“I think I was possibly ill-advised to make the tweet I did. And I apologize if that swayed your guys opinion at all. I don’t have any goal other than good governance,” Baroni said.

Pinedale County Water District board members Brad Peranick (left) and David Rodriguez. (GV Wire/David Taub)

The Turnover Continues

Vacancies on the board are common for the small water agency that serves about 2,500 customers in north Fresno.

In the last five years, the board has seen 10 different directors, with six vacancies filled by appointments. There has not been a competitive election for a board seat since 2007.

The board was considering Castro to replace director Carlos Aguilera, who resigned on Dec. 31.

Castro said she would consider applying again, or run when the seat is up for election in 2022.

One other person previously applied for the vacancy — Robert Bagdasarian, owner of Kings River Winery. He said he was approached last week after Castro’s residency issues arose, but he declined the offer of an appointment.

According to PCWD attorney Neal Costanzo, because the district did not fill the vacancy within a 60 day period, the appointment decision now goes to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Their decision is required within 90 days.

[activecampaign form=27]

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

Fresno County to Open New West Annex Jail, Replacing Aging Facility

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified Reform Is a Must. Force It With a ‘No’ on Measure H.

UP NEXT

Ag Recession? Years of Plenty May Be Over, but Reality Isn’t as Bleak as Painted

UP NEXT

On Elon Musk’s X, Dems Are an Endangered Species While GOP Goes Viral

UP NEXT

New Vehicles, Face Paint and a 1,200-Foot Fall: The US Army Prepares for War With China

UP NEXT

CNN Bars Pro-Trump Guest After His ‘Beeper’ Remark to Mehdi Hasan

UP NEXT

LGBTQ Supporters Drown Out Westboro Baptists’ Anti-Gay Message in Fresno

UP NEXT

Despite Being Shot Twice, Fresno Police Sgt. Keeps Cool in Deadly Shootout With Gang Member

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

5 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

6 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

18 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

19 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

19 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

19 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

19 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

19 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

19 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

20 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

4 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

4 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

5 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

6 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

18 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

19 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

19 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend