Four of the Rancho Murieta Community Services District’s five board seats are at stake in the Nov. 3 election, with 10 candidates vying for office. Photo courtesy of CSD

RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Nov. 3 election could shape the direction of the Rancho Murieta Community Services District for years to come. Four of the five board seats are at stake, with 10 candidates offering differing approaches to water security, aging infrastructure, financial accountability and future development. Board President John Merchant is the only director whose seat is not up for election.

To help voters compare the candidates, the River Valley Times invited all 10 to answer the same three questions, with their responses limited to 250 words.

The questions were as follows:

Please provide a brief biography, including your occupation and professional, public-service or community experience relevant to serving on the RMCSD board.

Why are you running for the RMCSD board?

What do you believe are the most urgent issues facing the district? Identify up to three and explain what you would do to address them.

The ballot will feature two separate contests for the district board. Eight candidates are competing for three seats with four-year terms: Jeff Berkheimer, Stephen Booth, Maria Caudill, Tim Dec, William Gere, Peter Reagan, Tom Shewchuk and Catherine Silvera. Michael Martel and John Van Doren are competing for one seat with a two-year term.

Seeking Four-Year Terms – Three Seats

Jeff Berkheimer

Biography
Jeff is a public utility executive with more than 23 years of experience, including 16 years at SMUD. He is now utility director for the city of Lodi. He oversees a municipal utility serving over 27,400 accounts with a $100-plus-million annual budget. His experience includes operations, engineering, infrastructure, planning, rates, and resource management, regulatory compliance, capital planning, reliability and technology. He has led major initiatives in decarbonization, infrastructure, and long-term resource planning and holds multiple utility-related patents. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and is a licensed professional engineer.

Reason Running
Rancho Murieta faces critical decisions about water, infrastructure, finances, and long-term growth. I am running to bring practical utility leadership focused on solving problems rather than prolonging political disputes. We must aggressively pursue water-supply augmentation, maintain our infrastructure, restore financial accountability and responsibly plan for future needs. Future development should pay its fair share, but litigation and delay cannot substitute for solving our underlying water challenges.

Urgent Issues
Financial accountability: Complete overdue audits, restore financial discipline and protect access to grants and affordable infrastructure financing.

Water supply: Pursue every viable augmentation option—including Clementia, additional wells, storage, and inter-agency backup connections. Under a 1977-type drought scenario, existing demand could exhaust available water in approximately 17 months; adding about 600 homes could accelerate depletion by roughly 3.6 months. The objective must be ensuring adequate water for the entire community.

Effective leadership: Put community needs ahead of political agendas, with decisions based on reliable water, sound finances, infrastructure and long-term planning.

Stephen Booth

Biography
Booth brings experience in labor contract negotiations, human resources, governance, and dispute resolution. He retired in November 2021. Booth worked for labor organizations and three state departments, including a governor’s appointment, and served as associate vice-president at SacRT. Booth also served four years on the Sacramento County Civil Service Commission and as an RMCSD director, gaining firsthand experience in district governance, operations, and community issues.

Reason Running
Booth is running to serve the community’s best interests and help ensure current residents and businesses have access to safe, reliable water. Booth believes future development should be carefully evaluated to ensure it does not compromise water reliability, create demands exceeding available supply or require disproportionate reductions for existing users.

Urgent Issues
Financial accountability: Complete reconciliation of financial records and audits to strengthen community confidence and establish a clear understanding of service-fee and tax revenues, operating expenditures and reserve balances for each of the five utilities; information imperative for planning future water supply, treatment and infrastructure needs.

Water storage: Address the storage-tank capacity shortfall affecting current and entitled properties, including determining the appropriate location, specifications and allocation of costs. The district engineer projected the Rio Oso tank has capacity for current households and 50 of the 198 lots being developed near Stonehouse.

Long-term planning: Develop timely plans and policies addressing water supply, storage, and infrastructure needs. Booth supports improved communication, conflict resolution, and cooperation among community stakeholders as the district evaluates whether and how to support future development.

Maria Caudill

Biography
I have more than 20 years of leadership experience in the public and private sectors and have called Rancho Murieta home for 24 years. My career in California state government and healthcare has given me extensive experience in public-agency operations, regulatory compliance, organizational accountability and stakeholder engagement. My career has focused on strengthening organizations, accountability, stakeholder engagement and practical problem-solving.

Reason Running
I am running to bring an independent, experienced voice focused on facts, solutions and results. RMCSD cannot continue moving from crisis to crisis while critical work goes undone. I will work with the board and general manager to establish clear priorities, strengthen planning and accountability, improve transparency and restore public trust. It is time to move RMCSD from reacting to problems to planning for the future.

Urgent Issues
Strengthen RMCSD operations. RMCSD needs clear procedures, defined roles for the board, staff and volunteers, stronger fiscal controls and greater accountability. I will work with the board and general manager to establish clear priorities, responsibilities and measurable results. My experience has taught me that effective oversight and compliance build stronger organizations. I will bring that same discipline to RMCSD.

Improve decision-making. RMCSD cannot afford delayed or reactive decisions. The board needs sound analysis of facts, costs, and options, meaningful stakeholder input, and clear communication before major decisions are made. This disciplined approach is essential to addressing the district’s financial, infrastructure, and water challenges.

Timothy Dec

Biography
My wife and I moved to Rancho Murieta to be near our son’s family in Elk Grove. Rancho Murieta was hands-down the most appealing community we found in the area. I spent my career in the tech industry, concluding at Apple Inc. I now run a technology coaching business and volunteer with a national nonpartisan organization advocating for bipartisan climate solutions. My leadership experience includes serving as an advisory board member, group leader, and state coordinator for that climate organization, as well as treasurer for a local political organization. In 2022, I ran for State Assembly.

Reason Running
I am running because a review of the 2024 RMCSD reserve study revealed that the financial reserves required to maintain our vital water and sewer infrastructure are severely underfunded.

Urgent Issues
Infrastructure reserves: We must establish a transparent, fiscally responsible plan to right-size our maintenance reserves so the district can reliably manage aging infrastructure.

Water security: We need to prioritize our long-term water security by completing viability, cost, and timeline studies. This includes evaluating groundwater wells and assessing Lake Clementia as an additional supply during severe droughts.

Development: Only if additional water supplies allow, I would support limited development using dedicated developer fees first, supplemented by community funds.
For all rate adjustments or bond issuances linked to these priorities, the community will have the final say through a formal Proposition 218 rate process or bond measure.
For more details, visit tim4csd.com.

William Gere

Biography
I began my career as an officer in the U.S. Army. After five years on active duty, I became a professional pilot and business owner. For seven years, I served as the airport business liaison to the city council and was later hired as airport manager. These roles provided valuable experience in municipal government, budgeting, long-range planning, regulatory compliance and public safety.

Reason Running
I am seeking office to continue protecting Rancho Murieta’s water and essential services while preparing the district for the future. We need thoughtful long-term planning, accountability, and investment in critical infrastructure rather than waiting for systems to fail. Development proposals should be neither rubber-stamped nor automatically rejected but evaluated through open communication and careful deliberation.

Urgent Issues
Water security: Our water resources are limited. We must protect existing supplies while evaluating reliable alternatives, including groundwater, lake conversion and partnerships with neighboring water agencies. New development must pay its appropriate share of infrastructure expansion. Committing water to development creates a lifelong obligation, so drought and future supply must be considered carefully.

Aging infrastructure: Our water and wastewater systems require rehabilitation and replacement. I have initiated efforts toward a prioritized, long-term capital improvement program based on condition, risk, cost and reliability.

Financial management and public safety: We must control costs, maintain adequate reserves, pursue outside funding, safeguard ratepayer dollars, and maintain a responsive, financially sustainable security department.
I remain committed to putting existing residents first and protecting our community’s future.

Peter Reagan

Biography
I have worked in underground public utilities for over 60 years in Sacramento County, first as a laborer, then an owner, and now a consultant to public agencies and engineering firms. I installed pipe in Rancho Murieta’s first unit in 1972. We bought our first lot here in 1976 and currently live on Via Del Cerrito. For several years, I have served as CSD’s inspector for contractors installing utilities. I enjoy resolving engineering problems before they become construction mistakes.

Reason Running
The board needs someone who understands waterworks and how development can improve our community. We should work with developers as partners to improve infrastructure, amenities and services. We need more development. Working together with a comprehensive plan will provide the best outcome for Rancho Murieta.

Urgent Issues
Water storage: We need to pursue a second water source or additional storage. Paying legal fees is not accomplishing anything, and eliminating advisory committees does not help. Good ideas should not be buried because they do not fit a narrative.

Water distribution: Moving two control valves and installing a booster pump at the Rio Oso Tank would help the gravity and pressurized systems work together. A third tank would improve water movement throughout Rancho Murieta.

Aging infrastructure: We need to begin lining or replacing deteriorating sewer mains and replacing storm drainpipes. These pipes were designed for 50 years and will not last much longer.

Tom Shewchuk

Biography
I moved to Rancho Murieta in 1991. I worked for Intel in high technology for more than 31 years as an engineering leader. I am very data-driven and taught effective meetings throughout my career.

Reason Running
I’ve attended RMCSD board and improvements meetings for more than two years. It was obvious these would benefit from my data analysis and organizational skills. I tried to help through the Water Vision Working Group, chartered to work on wells; Lake Clementia re-permitting; the UWMP; and water audits. But this was recently disbanded by the SOLOS-controlled RMCSD board, with no new owners defined.

Urgent Issues
Water: For more than 20 years, Rancho Murieta would have run out of water if a drought like the one in the late 1970s occurred. But there have been no new wells, no new potable water storage, no new tanks, a $400,000 IWMP that remains in draft form, and no RMCSD-led water audits. We need a new RMCSD board that will stop arguing about the problem and start fixing the problem.

Finance: All agree that RMCSD finances need help. Once audits are complete, I would like to see Cecilia focus on a true rate study - why are RMCSD rates about twice as high as those in other districts and consider tiered or seasonal billing.

Meetings: A meeting lasting more than four hours with board members arguing among themselves and with the audience is both painful and embarrassing. I’ve offered numerous times to teach “Effective Meetings” to RMCSD. There are easy fixes for this, and significant improvements can be quickly made.

Catherine Silvera

Biography
I’ve spent over 30 years as a local government attorney, representing the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and serving as chief counsel to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. I provided legal advice on topics vital to a well-run public agency, including liability, personnel, and the Brown Act.

Reason Running
In January of 2026, the current CSD board majority attempted to declare a water emergency that would have resulted in a building moratorium. The evidence presented by the RMCSD - a Draft IWMP - fell far short of legal requirements. Seeing this sparked my interest and led me to believe that my expertise in public agency law could make a difference to our community.

Urgent Issues
Legal process: RMCSD needs a strong board that follows sound legal advice to avoid unnecessary legal costs. The agenda policy should be clarified. Committees should work out details first to minimize long board meetings. Staff should manage day-to-day operations and implement policy, while the Board sets policy and provides oversight. There should be better community access to board and committee meetings.

Water goals: Adopt a current set of legally defensible numbers for supply, storage and drought planning. Finish and adopt or supersede the Draft IWMP. Determine solutions, including necessary financing; grants are available and should be explored. Negotiate to preserve open space through a conservancy instead of wasting resources on lawsuits. Open communications and fair treatment get agreements done.

Personnel: Equip the new general manager with the tools to succeed. Hire a director of operations as soon as possible.

Seeking Two-Year Term — One Seat

Michael Martel

Biography
I retired from the Department of Corrections after a 38-year career culminating at the rank of warden, appointed by both Govs. Schwarzenegger and Brown. I was responsible for the complexities of a 24-hour operation: keeping staff, visitors, and inmates safe; managing a multi-million-dollar budget accurately; navigating government regulations and laws; and working with outside agencies. I have previously served this community on all boards, RMA, CSD, and RMCC since I arrived here in 1987. I participated in the selection of principals at CRES and was selected to serve on a county commission overseeing the sheriff’s office. I helped start and continue to serve at Summerfest since I began in 1999.

Reason Running
My wife of 44 years, Melinda, and I raised our two sons here and now enjoy watching our grandsons grow up using community amenities I helped develop. My sister Renee also moved here, joining us, my late brother Dennis, and his wife Pahl. The community has changed significantly since the 400 homes were here when we moved in, and many longstanding issues remain unresolved. I can make a difference with my community knowledge, experience, and common sense.

Urgent Issues
The quality and quantity of water, our security, and fiscal prudence are paramount. The developers and staff need to be held accountable, and it's important that the board earns the trust of the community. Involvement of ratepayers on committees is a must to ensure everyone is heard.

John Van Doren

Biography
I am a practicing attorney in both civil litigation and criminal defense and have been for 37 years. I have lived in Rancho Murieta for 32 years and am in my second term serving on the Rancho Murieta Association Board of Directors. I am a founding member of SOLOS.

Reason Running
I am running for the RMCSD board to serve the community on water rights, contractual obligations, and security issues.

Urgent Issues
The most pressing issue facing members of our community is water. We have one source of water, the Cosumnes River. We have two lakes where we can store our water: Lake Chesbro and Lake Calero. Our maximum amount of storage is 3,900 acre-feet of water. A conservative estimate of water loss due to seepage and evaporation is 20 percent.

A drought is not a question of if, but of when. We do not have enough water to continue to build homes beyond what we are contractually obligated to. Our lifestyles and property values are at risk if we take a less conservative approach.