Supporters Come Together To Endorse Jose Olivar During Campaign

COLTON>> Friends, family and supporters of Jose Olivar, former Colton Utilities Commissioner, came to support his run for Director of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District Division II July 2nd in San Bernardino. Las Concitas Restaurant, located at 168 S. E Street in San Bernardino, held a breakfast event where the community had the opportunity to enjoy food and speak with Olivar. Growing up, Olivaro said he played in many lakes throughout the Inland Empire. He recalled meeting a 98-year-old man who grew up in Colton and played in the canals off of La Cadena Avenue and the Santa Ana River. In a time where the water was high, there was also a tree he would swing off of and into the canal. Olivaro said he played in the same canal and the swung off the same tree. Now, the tree is no longer there and the canal became dry as water was extracted from the canal. “We need to retain the water from our area so that (it) can be extracted without depleting all the water,” Olivaro said. “No. 1, I want to have water to play in. Two, I want other people to have water to play in. I would like our San Bernardino valley to have lakes in it where people can enjoy it.” He said if we allow water to leave the area, the water is not going to percolate into the ground and will not replenish the agricultural where the water comes from. “You want to take ownership of your own water and not purchase it from Northern California and deplete their water, it’s all about water conservation,” Olivaro said. Olivaro said he wants voters to know he has the education for the position and does not talk the talk, but walks the walk. “I want the position to work with people to bridge communities together and make it beneficial for everyone,” Olivaro said. “We are a community, it’s not about me. It’s about us.” He said leaders should not be enablers, but should be team builders and bring people together. He said he is not afraid of talking to members of different parties, as long as they are in it for the common good. “It has to be a win-win,” Olivar said. “The key is to do something progressive.” Through serving as the District I Colton Utilities Commissioner, Olivar has had years of experience as he established the Agua Mansa solar farm, worked toward lowering the utility rates along with the electric rates, was proactive in finding out about the sewer rates in Grand Terrace, opposed the city council from taking money from the general fund and stepped up when a land fill company was going to bring toxic land soil, encapsulate it in concrete and put it next to the Santa Ana River in San Bernardino. Although he was a part of many successes, Olivaro said as the commissioner, it was hard to have anything done when the council and directors had ultimate control and power without the interest in serving the people. “Their sole interest was to get paid, go home to the city where they lived which was not the city they served in,” Olivaro said. “That’s the problem we have with San Bernardino and Colton. Their interest lies elsewhere and does not stay with our community. It’s not about the money; it’s about providing the service for what’s intended.” As a firm believer in conserving water, Olivaro said the election should not be about popularity but about the quality of the candidate. “The problem we have with a lot of politicians is that it is more of a popularity contest,” Olivaro said. “We need people that have to have in their heart and in their mind of helping others to progress for tomorrow. Because it’s not about us, it’s about those who are to come." George Aguilar, Vice Chair of Colton Utilities Commission and former Director of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, said he supports Olivar’s run for director. With 28 years of experience as the director, Aguilar has also helped bring in more than $225 million in reserves, build facilities and has also served as a commissioner for the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority. “We need somebody to be a real representative,” Aguilar said. “Someone that’s going to really be there and care about our water, know about water and care to learn more about what the future of water will bring." Aguilar said he believes the people of San Bernardino, Colton, Bloomington and parts of Fontana are not being represented well. “I want someone who is a real water person and Jose has that background,” Aguilar said. "He is a businessman, so he knows how to squeeze a dollar and not just waste a lot of money. You need to have somebody who has an interest and heart for it. Water is one of the most important elements that we have.” He said there are too many private companies that want to come in and monopolize the water which should remain in the public domain, affordable and in the best quality. “Without water, California's agriculture drys up,” Aguilar said. “California grows 16 percent of all the food, not just in the U.S., but in the world. So as a state water contractor it’s important that we utilize our water.” Aguilar said he hopes voters do not look at the election as a popularity contest, but as a candidate who is the most qualified for the position. “(In California,) we have a water system right now that was built for 18 million (people) and now it's over 38 million. Unless we have professional people running the water system, we are were going to be in a lot trouble and have a lot of problems in the future. We need to have someone who knows what they are doing.” Bruce Milne, former elected board member and director emeritus of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is also endorsing Olivar. After meeting Olivar through Aguilar years ago, Milne said Olivar has learned a lot of what he and Aguilar have been talking about as far as how water districts work. Milne said most people are unaware of where their water comes from, whether its groundwater, imported, or from a reservoir. “He is a really good person, he is a fast learner, and he believes in one of the key things for a water board member to conquer, especially a new one, is you have to do the homework,” Milne said. “I know Jose will. You have to learn the entire water system in California if you’re going to really want to do a good job.” Milne said knowing the water system in California also includes knowing where the water is coming from, what the regulations are and who is in control of what. “He has picked up a lot (of knowledge) and is an intelligent guy,” Milne said. “He is a people person so he is going to do what’s best for the community.”