Many seats remained empty when the Rancho Murieta Community Services District Candidate Forum was held at the Rancho Murieta Association Building Oct. 7. Photo by Gail Bullen

RANCHO MURIETA (MPG) - Approximately 40 people attended the Oct. 7 Rancho Murieta Community Services District Candidate Forum, following social media criticism of restrictions on who could attend.

The Rancho Murieta Association limited attendance to RMA members and their guests because the event was held at the association’s building. The restriction drew objections from residents concerned that nonmember district voters outside the gates would be excluded.

RMA board members and two staff members helped set up the meeting.

Three candidates — Jeff Berkheimer, Catherine Silvera and Tom Shewchuk — hired a videographer to record the forum. Contacted on Oct. 9, Shewchuk said they would post a link to the recording and a transcript to Facebook and Nextdoor later that day.

The League of Women Voters of Sacramento County organized the forum, with local League board member Lilli Duval coordinating and Paula Lee moderating. The League is a nonpartisan organization that neither supports nor opposes candidates.

The League developed questions using suggestions submitted by community members. Topics included district finances, water supplies, aging infrastructure, board oversight and public trust.

To keep the discussion moving, Lee rotated questions among groups of candidates rather than requiring all 10 to answer every question. Candidates received one minute each for opening statements and closing remarks. But 90 seconds for answers. Each also received three cards allowing additional participation on questions directed to another group. Mary Kay Williams served as timekeeper.

The Nov. 3 ballot includes two separate CSD board contests. Eight candidates are seeking 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.

Campaigning has developed around two broad camps. Save Our Lakes & Open Spaces, known as SOLOS, has endorsed Booth, Gere, Caudill and Van Doren. The group opposes further development unless an adequate water supply can be secured and has organized numerous gatherings to promote its endorsed candidates.

Silvera, Shewchuk and Berkheimer are campaigning together, advocating changes in the district’s leadership and approach to water planning. Dec, Reagan and Martel generally shared their call for change and aligned with them on several issues discussed at the forum. All six participated in an invitation-only candidate meeting Oct. 5 that drew about 140 attendees.

The two groups did not agree internally on every issue. Candidates from both camps supported stronger financial planning and the exploration of grants or bond financing for major infrastructure improvements.

A separate story featuring all 10 candidates’ answers to questions about their experience, reasons for running and the most urgent issues facing CSD appeared in the Oct. 9 issue and is available at therivervalleytimes.com.