Dublin San Ramon Services District Candidates Q&A: Dawn Benson

San Ramon Patch has asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire to give residents information about his or her background. See other elections coverage here.

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

After running for the vacant appointed board seat last year, I received a lot of positive feedback. Since then, I have attended most of the DSRSD board meetings to study the district's current issues and found that my extensive water agency experience would be extremely helpful to the betterment of the District.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? 

My most important priority is to bring financial stability back to the district through refinancing the capital improvement debt to a fixed interest rate, applying for federal grants to offset capital improvements, lowering the temporary infrastructure water charge, and balancing the district's water, sewer and regional fund balance sheets.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I offer over 16 years of water agency experience in a broad range of sectors—customer service, administration, finance, project management and water conservation—both in large and small water agencies. I also worked for over 13 years in manufacturing, finance and project management in the public sector. I bring a breadth of fresh ideas, processes and information which can make the District run more efficiently and effectively. I not only understand how agencies operate but how to effectively implement practices that work in both the private and public sectors. Agencies are being asked to run leaner and more effectively while still maintaining good customer service practices. My work experience directly relates to solving these challenging issues.

Where do you work and what is your job title? 

Executive Assistant for the Department Manager of Customer and Community Services at EBMUD.

Age and birthplace?

Forty-nine; San Diego, CA.

Please list the schools and colleges you attended, the degrees you attained and when.

San Diego Mesa College, course work in Business and Accounting; Department of Defense, Security Specialist,1994; and UC San Diego Extension, course work in Microsoft network applications software

Have you ever held an elected or appointed public office?

No.

Have you run before for an elected public office?

I ran for the appointed position at DSRSD in July 2009.

Approximately how much money do you expect to spend on your campaign, both total spending and personal?

At least $2,000.

Have you ever served in the military?

No.

Have you ever been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?

No.

Have you or a business you owned or had principal interest in ever filed bankruptcy?

No.

Tell us about your family.

I live with my wonderful husband, Greg, and our two Aussie dogs. My parents live in San Ramon.

How long have you lived in the district?

I have resided in Dublin since 1998.

What's your favorite thing about the district?

I was very impressed in how DSRSD employees worked together, when asked, to contribute towards reducing the district's operating expenses over this past year. 

This demonstrated the great dedication of DSRSD employees to ensuring the residents of Dublin, San Ramon and Dougherty Valley are provided with reliable and quality water and sewer services. 

What is the biggest problem in the district?

The current critical issue is to refinance DSRSD's debt into a fixed rate. Additional issues include stabilizing water and sewer rates, building back reserves, securing future water sources, and promoting water recycling, water conservation and environmental stewardship.

Contact information:

E-mail: dawn.benson@comcast.net

Phone: 925-719-1615

Please visit my website, www.Dawn4water.com, to share your voice with me on any issues, ideas, thoughts, and concerns for improving your water district.