BACKGROUND

THREE VALLEYS MWD, Division III Candidate

Water is Life!

Our bodies are made up of over 70 percent water. Not surprisingly, we cannot survive without water for more than 3 days. Today, water has become a growing concern not only for California but for the world. We have challenges that involve

· the amount of water (supply),

· quality of water, and

· the affordability of water.

All three challenges are interconnected. Today, we need new innovative solutions to meet these challenges and not the failed approaches of the past. Our situation is urgent, and we must act with informed decisions not “politics.” Our lives depend on it.

My name is Javier "Javi" Aguilar. I am a Regional Planner with over 25 years of experience in land use planning (including natural resources), transportation planning, community development, and environmental justice.

My planning experience includes preparing environmental assessments and impact studies, site feasibility studies, transportation corridor studies, and socioeconomic analysis. All are practical studies informed by vetted data.
I have advanced technical skills that involve various types of mapping techniques, computer models, and socioeconomic analyses.
My work with public agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups, I have provided me in-depth understanding of the public participation process, and its importance.
Additionally, I am fluent in both Spanish and English.

I am running for Three Valleys MWD, Division III, because we cannot afford to let politics and failed policies continue to waste our precious resources. There is an urgency our region, state, and country to develop informed solutions to our water crisis. As a result of climate change, extreme weather events are happening with more frequency and severity, so the past methods are no longer effective in meeting today’s challenges. Today, we are living with hotter and drier seasons. Hence, we need to conserve more water and seek new technologies to increase our supply of water while maintaining the quality and affordability. We also need more transparency in our governance while informing our constituents of our progress in formats that people easily understand. Indeed, water is becoming a scarcer resource that is essential to life, so we must work collaboratively with all stakeholders through a transparent and thoughtful process to establish trust so that we move forward effectively. All of us must be good stewards of this precious resource that gives us life. Water is Life!

I have the background and training to drive the changes and develop the policies that will make a difference for our children, grandchildren, us and future generations. I respectfully ask for your vote and support so that together we can address our water crisis through informed decisions and transparency.