Yermo CSD candidates find themselves in a race this year

YERMO • It has not happened in more than 20 years.

For the first time in a decade, there is a race for seats on the Yermo Community Service District board. Incumbents Michael Henderson and Loney Weems and challenger Bob Smith are running for two seats, making it first competitive race in a long time in the community of Yermo.

“I’m looking forward to the competition,” Henderson said. “No matter what happens, it will be good for the community.”

Henderson said he anticipates a higher than normal turnout when the citizens of Yermo show up to vote on Nov. 4. He has been on the board since 1997 and served as the board president since 2003. One of Henderson’s top priorities for the community of Yermo is cleaning up the area. During his tenure on the board, he started a blight abatement program and the Yermo Adopt-A-Highway program with CalTrans. He said the several clean-up events he helped organized produce impressive results.

“We have a need in that area for clean up,” he said.

Smith said as he has walked around the community introducing himself, several residents were not even aware that they could vote for CSD members. He said the long history of appointing board members when no resident filed to run for open seats has made some people believe that how the board was chosen. Smith is a retired sheriff’s deputy who is now the assistant chief of the Yermo-Calico Fire Department. Smith, who ran for the Republican nomination for the area state Assembly seat in June but came up short, said it was time to turn his attention closer to home.

“It’s just time for me to step into my own community where I live,” he said. “I need to help out my own community.”

Smith would like to increase public awareness of the CSDs doings by better maintaining the Web site. He also wants to continue to improve the community’s public safety services. Since joining the fire department, Smith has been instrumental in increasing the number of volunteers and re-equipping the department with new engines.

Weems has been a long-time presence on the CSD board, serving for 15 years. He did not want to comment on the issues facing Yermo and said if they people chose not to support him this year, he would retire.

ON THE ISSUES

Michael Henderson
Current CSD president

YERMO GROWTH
Looking into the future, Henderson sees the possibility for growth in Yermo and wants to make sure the community is ready to accept and keep up with it. During his time on the board he has secured funding from the county to upgrade some of Yermo’s facilities.

WATER
Since the three-day water failure in Yermo in 2006, Henderson said he has led the community and the CSD in efforts to stabilize the water system. He has worked with county and state agencies to make sure it does not happen again.

COMBINING CSDs
The Local Area Formation Commission may recommend combining the CSDs of Yermo, Daggett and Newberry Springs. Henderson said all three communities must come to a consensus on what will be the best solution to maintain a high level of service throughout the area.

Bob Smith
Retired sheriff’s deputy

YERMO GROWTH
Smith believes that Yermo should become involved in development around both of Yermo’s freeway exits. The Ghost Town Road exit already has some businesses but Smith would like to see more there and consider bringing businesses to the Yermo Road exit.

WATER
For Smith, the water issue is an issue of public safety. When the fire department responded to an abandoned building fire in August, the nearest fire hydrant did not work. Smith said the people of Yermo have a right to know that when they turn on their faucet they are going to get good, clean water.

COMBINING CSDs
Public participation and input is key for Smith when considering the combining of CSDs. He said the issue needs to be closely monitored and people need to be aware of when meetings and decisions are happening.

Incumbent Loney Weems did not want to comment.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4121 or aaupperlee@desertdispatch.com